Adapting to climate change:
Climate change is arguably the most severe long-term threat to development facing this and future generations. By altering the hydrological cycle, climate change will exacerbate the water management problems that countries already face. Climate change will have significant, often dramatic, consequences— higher sea levels, more variable rainfall, more frequent and intense floods and droughts, and rapid desertification. Risks related to climate change impede agricultural development. They are a major challenge to the management of natural resources and barriers to the transition from poverty to prosperity.
GWP will promote better water management, 'climate-proofing' infrastructure and adaptation as the best ways to reduce the impact of climate change while maintaining socioeconomic development. GWP recognises that there are many actors involved in various aspects of climate change and will thus focus on contributing to work on adaptation with respect to water resources. GWP will offer practical, regionally relevant advice and guidance on adapting to climate change so that it becomes an integral part of current and future water resources management approaches. In this, GWP will work closely with the World Bank, UNEP Coordinating Centre at DHI, the UN-Water Task Force on Water and Climate Change, and the Cooperative Programme for Climate and Water. GWP will also seek to build on alliances with key organisations working at the forefront of climate change, including the International Research Institute for Climate and Society (IRI).
Achieving food security:
Producing enough food for one person for one day requires about 3,000 litres of water—or about 1 litre per calorie. When compared with the 2–5 litres required for drinking, it is clear that water for food production is a critical issue as populations and wealth grow. The trade–food–water nexus and virtual water are significant issues in water for food production. GWP recognises the importance of engaging with the agriculture sector and will convene informed multi-stakeholder negotiations to change the way decision makers think about water and agriculture. The productivity of water, for example, must improve. Yesterday's irrigation technologies must be adapted and upgraded to meet tomorrow's needs. In addition, since 60 percent of agriculture in developing countries is rain-fed, it is also important to emphasise rain-fed food production. In this area, GWP will work with the CGIAR system, particularly with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) to facilitate adoption of the recommendations emerging from the Comprehensive Assessment of Water Management in Agriculture and the Challenge Programme on Water and Food.
Tackling urbanisation:
Today, 50 percent of the world's population lives in urban areas and, with changing demographics characterised by massive migration into cities, by 2025 the percentage is projected to be 60 percent.
Urban water and wastewater management is a serious threat in most developing countries. Most cities are unable to expand basic water services or manage growing competition among users. Given the trends in urbanisation, the need to improve water and waste management in cities is urgent. But, this must take impacts over a wide area into consideration, both upstream and downstream, as well as across basin and aquifer boundaries. As part of this effort, GWP will continue its work with UN-Habitat Water Operators Partnerships, where the focus will be on managing 'used water' as an essential element in overall water management.
Resolving conflicts:
Development will increase the risk of serious conflicts over water and the negative impact on the poor and vulnerable that these conflicts will have. Demand for water, degradation of water resources, climate variability and sectoral and rural–urban conflicts over water are all increasing and will exacerbate already-serious disputes.
GWP will support dialogues that emphasise negotiation and compromise and that allow stakeholders to think through and make choices that result in optimal benefits for all. GWP will work with others, such as UNDP, UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science and regional organisations, to better understand conflicts related to water and to develop objective and realistic conflict resolution scenarios to assist policy makers in making decisions.