UNEP Water Programme...

UNEP accords high priority in its activities to the protection, conservation and efficient use of global water resources in response to the growing severity of water-related environmental problems worldwide.

Because freshwater does not stop flowing at river mouths, but flows right into coastal waters, UNEP has pioneered addressing integrated coastal area and river basin management in a holistic and integrated approach.

To address water issues effectively and fully, UNEP works in coordination with partner organizations, governments, the private sector and civil society.

Addressing Water Issues

UNEP’s strategic approach to the issue of water, in the context of the environment, includes:

1. Filling the information and knowledge gap on critical freshwater, coastal and marine issues through a more comprehensive assessment process;
2. Providing forums for intergovernmental policy dialogues and information exchange on issues relating to freshwater and the coastal and marine environment;
3. Monitoring, reviewing and analyzing freshwater, coastal and marine issues;
4. Identifying and promoting the use of appropriate integrated policy measures in tackling the root causes of major freshwater, coastal and marine environmental concerns;
5. Promoting co-operative actions for the protection, rational use and development of freshwater, coastal and marine resources;
6. Strengthening the process of consultations, co-ordination and networking and promoting dialogue with various stakeholders.

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What We Aim to Achieve

UNEP aims to achieve, through its adopted water policies, greater global understanding of freshwater, coastal and marine environments and to highlight the consequences of unsustainable water use. It also aims to support the efforts of Governments and stakeholders in the preparation and implementation of integrated water management and is promoting the application of precautionary, preventive and anticipatory approaches.

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UNEP Water Partnerships

UNEP provides strategic co-ordination and helps mobilize action and partnerships at the global, regional and subregional levels for the development of a common vision and perspective to address environmental aspects of water-related issues within its mandate.

UNEP has established the Environmental Management Group within the context of the GC21/21 International Environmental Governance. The Programme also served on the post WSSD working group set up by the UN Secretary-General to develop proposals on the WEHAB (Water, Energy, Health, Agriculture and Biodiversity). Initiative, which was a major contribution to the WSSD; and serves on the United Nations Millennium Project Task Force on Water and Sanitation mandated to identify strategies for the achievement of the Millennium Development goals of halving the proportion of people without access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation. UNEP has been named the lead agency for the World Water Day observance and is actively participating in the preparations of the World Water Forum. UNEP has also paired with a number of organizations in the implementation of water-related projects.For details on UNEP main water partners click here.
 

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UNEP Water Partners

Partner:

1. United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (UNCHS / Habitat)

Areas of co-operation:

A joint water project is currently being implemented to assist African countries to establish early warning mechanisms to detect hot spots where sustainability is threatened and to help them deal with the growing ecological impacts of large cities on the continent's resources. Cities around the world are currently participating in the development of freshwater management strategies, within the framework of the joint Sustainable Cities Programme.

Partners:

1. International Maritime Organization (IMO)

2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

3. World Conservation Union (IUCN)

Area of co-operation:

Regional Seas Conventions

Partners:

1. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

2. World Bank

Area of co-operation:

Global Environmnet Facility - GEF

Partners:

1. Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC)/ (UNESCO),

2. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

3. International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU)

Areas of co-operation:

Global Observing Systems

Partners:

1. World Health Organization (WHO),

2. World Meteorological Organization (WMO)

3. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

Areas of co-operation:

GEMS/Water.

More Global Partners:

1. World Water Council

2. World Commission on Dams

Regional Partnerships:

Frameworks for regional co-operation in water management were forged, comprising of ministerial conferences on the environment, the regional seas programme and intergovernmental agreements on internationally shared waters. A number of river and lake?basin organizations also participate in integrated river basin management programmes and the GEF international waters portfolio.

Civil Society Partnerships:

UNEP recognizes the importance of forging partnerships with non-governmental organizations, the scientific community and the private sector through a participatory approach, with a view to harnessing long-term, broad-based support on water-related issues.

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