PARTNERSHIPS AND COOPERATION FOR WATER

By Pablo González-Cebrián

The United Nations World Water Development Report 2023 on Partnerships and Cooperation assesses the nature and role of partnerships and cooperation among stakeholders in water resources management and development and their role in accelerating progress towards water goals and targets.

WATER SUPPLY AND SANITATION FOOD AND AGRICULTURE

E ective partnerships and cooperation lead to services that are more appropriate to the needs of poor communities and increase acceptance of systems

Water use has been increasing by 1% per year over the last 40 years

Agriculture uses 72% of global freshwater withdrawals

Urban water demand is projected to increase by 80% by 2050

WATER AND THE ENVIRONMENT

Watershed protection or rehabilitation measures are among the oldest of water-related partnerships

Over 80% of global wastewater is released to the environment untreated

The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to increase from 933 million to 1.7–2.4 billion people in 2050

1/3 of the world’s cities that are dependent on surface water compete with agriculture, and this is expected to grow due to rapid urbanization

80% of natural wetlands have been lost since the pre-industrial era

Partnerships

Voluntary and collaborative relationships between various parties, both public and non-public, in which all participants agree to work together to achieve a common purpose or undertake a specific task and, as mutually agreed, to share risks and responsibilities, resources and benefits.

Water Cooperation

Cooperation is a less formal practice of “working together to the same end” towards a common goal to peacefully manage and use freshwater resources at the local, national, regional and international levels.

WATER AND HEALTH WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE WATER, INDUSTRY AND ENERGY

Despite interdependencies between the WASH and health sectors, there are gaps in coordination and governance

Climate policy needs to better reflect the role of water and water policy needs to better integrate climate risks

Companies within industries that rely heavily on water for their core business have become increasingly attuned to water stress and the risks it poses to business interests

1.8 billion people using health care facilities lack basic water services and 800 million use facilities with no toilets

The global polio eradication programme is an example of a health partnership with wastewater laboratories, using wastewater as part of a wider surveillance approach

Between 2000–2019, floods are reported to have caused US $650 billion in economic losses

19% of the world’s freshwater withdrawals is used by industry and energy together

Between 2000–2019, droughts a ected another 1.43 billion people

70% of the world’s freshwater use and pollution are caused by 7 major sectors - food, textile, energy, industry, chemicals, pharmaceuticals and mining