Presentation delivered by Chris Spray of the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science at the University of Dundee, at a World Water Day workshop on 22 March 2010

1. 22/03/2010 1 WORLD WATER DAY22nd March 2010What would the world be, once bereft of wet and wildness? Professor Chris J Spray.

2. Inversnaid(Loch Lomond) What would the world be, once bereft Of wet and wildness? Let them be left, O let them be left, wildness and wet; Long live the weeds and the wilderness yet. Gerard Manley Hopkins – 1881 Inscribed on the walls of the Scottish Parliament http://outdoors.webshots.com

3. 22/03/2010 3 Overview – World Water Day 2010 What are we attempting to do here today? What is World Water Day exactly? Why do we need it? - facts, facts and more facts..... What are the legal and policy contexts? Where does Scotland and HELP fit in? What is the UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science at Dundee University doing? What can you do?

4. 22/03/2010 4 What are we attempting to do today ? Celebrating World Water Day with an online interactive conference For many of us trying to engage with a new form of communication – interactive, low carbon, inclusive – gathering knowledge, expertise and opinion from across Scotland and beyond Bringing together scientists, policy-makers, non-governmental organisations, conservation bodies, regulators, land managers and local communities Focussing on the HELP Basins in Scotland (the Tweed and the Dee) and with comparisons with other HELP basins elsewhere Focussing on the need to integrate the management of land an water at a catchment scale

5. 22/03/2010 5 What is World Water Day? Established at the Rio Conference on Sustainable Development in 1992 Annual event that focuses on Global Water Issues Theme for 2010 is “Communicating Water Quality Challenges and Opportunities” Many events happening world-wide: Scottish participants involved from Durham (UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science, Dundee University) to Malaysia (Tweed Forum).

6. 22/03/2010 6 Why do we need World Water Day? - Global Relevance Millennium Development Goals – to halve by 2015 – I billion without access to safe drinking water 2.6 billion without access to adequate sanitation Environmental change – climate, habitat and ecosystem loss Social change – population growth (9 billion by 2050), urbanisation Economic change – globalisation, financial crisis, debt “Water is the next oil…”

7. The global water challenge 259 major international rivers 1.2 billion without drinking water 2.4 billion without sanitation

8. Water supply challenges exist in many parts of the world

9. 22/03/2010 9 Some (virtual) Water usage facts...... It takes 10 litres of water to produce 1 sheet of A4 paper 40 litres 1 slice of bread 120 litres 1 glass of wine 140 litres 1 cup of coffee 1,300 litres 1 kgm of wheat 4,800 litres 1 kgm of pork 10,850 litres 1 pair of jeans 15,500 litres 1 kgm of beef IBM Global Innovation Outlook Report on Water 2009

10. 10 Some more Water usage facts...... Average Daily Domestic Use per capita: Canada 778 litres USA 616 Australia 605 Japan 373 Portugal 308 Mexico 300 France 232 Germany 151 UK 119 India 119 China 95 IBM Global Innovation Outlook Report on Water 2009

11. The world’s wetlands and wildlife are disappearing WWF’s Living Planet reports River dolphin Index of change of size of the populations of 194 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and fish.

12. Wetland Habitats are being lost: shrinking Aral Sea 1960-2003

13. The shrinking Aral Sea 1989-2003 –a lost ecosystem, its “goods” and “services”

15. European– Water Framework Directive; Floods Directive, Habitats Directive

18. Barriers to Fish migration

19. Nutrient enrichment by diffuse pollution in agricultural and urban environments

20. Invasive non-native speciesRivers (N = 2392)

21. Why are losses of wetlands continuing? Population growth Economic development Climate change Changes in Land use Nutrient enrichment Invasive species Over harvesting

22. Long term Temperature trend in Scotland Water and Climate change SNIFFER 2006 – Handbook of climate trends across Scotland

23. Temperature Scotland Four Seasons Average Temperature 1961 – 2004 (linear trend) SNIFFER 2006 – Handbook of climate trends across Scotland

24. Precipitation 22/03/2010 20 Changes in precipitation are very marked and very different even across a small area like Scotland SNIFFER 2006 – Handbook of climate trends across Scotland

25. Changing Patterns of River Flows Drier summers, less snow melt, lower spring flows Wetter winters Greater variability 22/03/2010 21

26. Changing river hydrology and water quality: stream chemistry (SEPA) Dissolved Organic Carbon Peat erosion in Shetland

27. Water quality theme: Scotland ? Diffuse pollution from run off from insensitive agricultural land use is a major cause of failure of ecological status for water bodies in parts of Scotland

28. 22/03/2010 24 Scotland and UNESCO IHP-HELP UNESCO’s contribution to Integrated Catchment Management Hydrology for Environment Life and Policy (HELP) global programme To deliver social, economic and environmental benefit to stakeholders through sustainable and appropriate use of water by directing hydrological science towards improved integrated catchment management basins

29. 22/03/2010 25 UNESCO HELP Programme “Hydrology, Environment, Life and Policy” – cross-cutting global programme within the International Hydrological Programme, established in1990’s Stakeholder-driven approach to integrated river basin management; participative, all water users Cutting-edge science and law-into-policy; how to ensure that the best research is reflected in the development of policy and law Global network of some 48 basins (since the 3rd global call this year); two Scottish HELP basins: - the Tweed and the Dee

30. 22/03/2010 26 Integrated Catchment Management River Tweed is one of Scotland’s HELP basins: building on work of Tweed Forum (voluntary association of key stakeholders), and working closely with SEPA’s Area Advisory Group to deliver Sustainable Catchment Management, and the EU Water Framework Directive River Basin Management Plans A partnership approach

31. 22/03/2010 27 UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy & Science, Dundee Our Vision and Mission is “Water For All” – the wise, sustainable and equitable use of water Our Aims: To promote effective water management that helps prevent water disputes and alleviates poverty at regional, national and global level To develop the next generation of water leaders To undertake and disseminate research of international relevance and standard

32. 22/03/2010 28 What We Do International Water Law– managing transboundary waters National Water Law– legal frameworks at national and local level Transnational Water Law– regulation and governance of water services Science and Policy– sustainable management of river basins UNESCO HELP Programme– European regional coordinators – stakeholder-driven river basin management; integration of cutting edge science into law-and-policy Water Law Water Leaders– suite of new taught masters programmes, developing the next generation of water leaders

33. 22/03/2010 29 What can you do? Reduce your own water consumption and water foot print Raise awareness of global and local water issues Engage in consultation, planning and delivery of river basin plans (see www.sepa.org.uk) Contribute online to this conference debate Thank You!