As we approach the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia, themed “Water for Shared Prosperity”, it is an opportune time to take note of the current state of water management in the world. How are we doing in managing our water resources, and what is the outlook for the future of water management? Will the world be able to achieve water resources management in a way that will continue to enable our society to grow?
Stakeholders in Ghana organized on 29 and 30 April 2024 a national workshop to review the integration of disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) policies, plans, and guidelines at local, national, and transboundary levels in the Volta Basin.
22 April is Earth Day. Celebrated since 1970, Earth Day has evolved into one of the largest civic events on Earth, activating billions of people across 192 countries to safeguard our planet and fight for a brighter future. The 2024 theme, Planet vs. Plastics, revolves around the idea of building a plastic-free planet for generations to come.
The 'Resilient Thessaly' project, based on partnership between GWP-Med, the Municipality of Trikala and The Coca-Cola Foundation, will implement stormwater management works, within the frame of a holistic intervention aimed to strengthen the city's climate resilience in response to the devastating floods caused by storm Daniel in September 2023.
Following the development of the two project concept notes to be submitted to the Green Climate Fund under the ongoing GCF Readiness program in CAR, stakeholders from the water and climate sectors met in Bangui on March 13th and 14th, 2024. The two workshops organized by the Ministry of Environment, the National Climate Coordination Unit (NDA), and GWP CAR aimed at enriching and adopting the project concept notes before submission to the GCF.
Growing populations and climatic impacts are placing unprecedented pressure on water resources. This is true of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region which comprises 16 Member States, whose population in 2018, was estimated to be at 345.2 million, a rise from 336.9 million as of 2017. Rivers play a pivotal role in the region's socio-economic development, as evidenced by its reliance on these waterways. Southern Africa boasts of 15 major transboundary river basins, shared among neighbouring countries, with 13 basins entirely within the region's borders. However, the equitable distribution of water resources remains a challenge, exacerbated by climatic factors influencing rainfall patterns and the geographical distribution of river basins. While these rivers can spark conflicts, they also serve as conduits for peace and cooperation. Therefore, prioritizing transboundary water cooperation is not merely about economic prosperity but also essential for nurturing stability and harmony throughout the region.
The theme of World Water Day 2024 is ‘Water for Peace’. On the occasion of World Water Day, we asked GWP CACENA partners what "Water for Peace" means to them.
