At a time of increasing water demand and the prospect of climate change, the problem of water scarcity in the Mediterranean region and in particular the Greek islands deepens and becomes more critical. Hence, there is an urgent need to enhance water efficiency and to explore further alternatives to ensure water availability using innovative approaches. The revival of traditional water harvesting and management techniques, which have been overlooked in favour of modern technologies, sometimes less sustainable, appears to be one of the most promising alternatives for supplying freshwater in the face of increasing water scarcity and escalating demand.
Climate change has long-since ceased to be a scientific curiosity, and is no longer just one of the many environmental and regulatory concerns. It is the major, overriding environmental challenge of this time facing decision makers, planners and regulators.
Around 100 participants, representing 50 different organizations around Nigeria, attended the General Assembly of Partners of the Country Water Partnership of Nigeria held on 14 February 2013. The General Assembly was opened by the Minister of Water Resources Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, also co-Chair of AMCOW for West Africa, who urged GWP Nigeria to strengthen and expand their activities towards achieving adequate management of water resource in the country.
Water security in many urban areas is under threat due to the stresses of population growth, urbanisation, water pollution, the over-abstraction of groundwater, water-related disasters, and climate change. Current planning and management have proven insufficient to address the challenges of water security. There is a need for a paradigm shift, which was introduced during a GWP workshop attended by more than 200 participants at Asia Water Week on 13 March in Manila, Philippines.
GWP-SEA further actions to the global event started with joining in Korean Water Forum.
GWP–SEA Steering Committee met Korea Water Forum in Discovery Suite, Manila,on 12 March 2013, to receive a briefing regarding the program of the 7th World Water Forum which will be held in Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea in 2015, and discuss possible areas for playing roles in this important global event.
GWP Chair, Ms. Ursula Schaefer Preuss and the Chair of GWP TEC, Dr. Muhammed Ait Kadi, attended the meeting shortly.
GWP Chair Dr. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss gave the introductory keynote to the Second Mekong River Commission Summit and International Conference in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam on 2 April. She presented some key elements related to the Post-2015 Development Agenda, stressing the need for a dedicated water goal in an ever-changing world.
In the River Basin District of the CEE region, the countries are cooperating to develop transboundary management, using the International River Basin Commission as a platform. The aim is to address national IWRM priorities, strengthen cooperation with major stakeholders and initiate changes in policies and legislation. This case illustrates the difficulties to balance national priorities in a transboundary context.
The Global Water Partnership's strategy, Towards 2020, outlines the direction for GWP with the goals of catalyzing change, sharing knowledge, and strengthening partnerships for a water secure world.
A one day workshop brought together around 20 journalists from various media houses and freelance journalists in The Gambia at the end of July. The topic was the ratification process of the 1997 United Nations Watercourses Convention, and how journalists can contribute to this process.