This document discusses the EU Water Initiative and the European Commission's work on water issues. It provides context on the global water crisis, noting that over 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and over 2 billion lack basic sanitation. It outlines the policy framework that has developed to address these issues, including the EU Water Framework Directive and commitments made at international conferences. The document then discusses the principal instruments the EU uses in its international policies related to foreign affairs, trade, development, environmental and scientific cooperation that can impact water issues. It provides the EU's commitment to the goals of the Water Initiative through partnerships with other actors.
Adapting to Climate Change in the Columbia Basin. Presented by Kindy Gosal at the "Perth II: Global Change and the World's Mountains" conference in Perth, Scotland in September 2010.
Making hydropower sustainable in the Western Balkans
International Roundtable on Protection and Sustainable Use of Trans-boundary Waters in South East Europe, 15-16 December 2011, Zagreb, Croatia
Environment Watch Karayan Abra - Save The Abra River Movement (STARM)No to mining in Palawan
Why should we be concerned about the
Abra River system?
Yearly fish kills, death of domestic animals that drink from its banks, skin disease among those who bathe in it, poor agricultural yield, disappearing fish and plant life – these are some of the complaints aired by communities living along the banks of the Abra River. The existence of rich river flora and fauna and the use of watercraft for small-scale trade even in the smaller rivers that the Abra
River supplied are now only familiar in oral accounts.
Is the Abra River biologically dying? Is it on the brink of environmental collapse? What will be the fate of the indigenous peoples, peasants and fisherfolk living along its banks? Let us act now before it is too late.
What is the historical significance of the Abra River system to the peoples of the Cordillera and Ilocos Regions? With its headwaters originating from Mt. Data along the Mountain Province-Mankayan, Benguet border and its estuary situated in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, the Abra River traverses the present Cordillera
Multidisciplinary Research Week 2013 at the University of Southampton. #MDRWeek. World Water Day and International Year of Water Cooperation 2013.
‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB): Water and Wetlands’, Presentation by Dr Daniela Russi, Policy analyst, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP).
See the latest videos, interviews, pictures, tweets and views from the floor at: www.southampton.ac.uk/multidisciplinary
Adapting to Climate Change in the Columbia Basin. Presented by Kindy Gosal at the "Perth II: Global Change and the World's Mountains" conference in Perth, Scotland in September 2010.
Making hydropower sustainable in the Western Balkans
International Roundtable on Protection and Sustainable Use of Trans-boundary Waters in South East Europe, 15-16 December 2011, Zagreb, Croatia
Environment Watch Karayan Abra - Save The Abra River Movement (STARM)No to mining in Palawan
Why should we be concerned about the
Abra River system?
Yearly fish kills, death of domestic animals that drink from its banks, skin disease among those who bathe in it, poor agricultural yield, disappearing fish and plant life – these are some of the complaints aired by communities living along the banks of the Abra River. The existence of rich river flora and fauna and the use of watercraft for small-scale trade even in the smaller rivers that the Abra
River supplied are now only familiar in oral accounts.
Is the Abra River biologically dying? Is it on the brink of environmental collapse? What will be the fate of the indigenous peoples, peasants and fisherfolk living along its banks? Let us act now before it is too late.
What is the historical significance of the Abra River system to the peoples of the Cordillera and Ilocos Regions? With its headwaters originating from Mt. Data along the Mountain Province-Mankayan, Benguet border and its estuary situated in Caoayan, Ilocos Sur, the Abra River traverses the present Cordillera
Multidisciplinary Research Week 2013 at the University of Southampton. #MDRWeek. World Water Day and International Year of Water Cooperation 2013.
‘The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB): Water and Wetlands’, Presentation by Dr Daniela Russi, Policy analyst, Institute for European Environmental Policy (IEEP).
See the latest videos, interviews, pictures, tweets and views from the floor at: www.southampton.ac.uk/multidisciplinary
Dan Leeming of the Planning Partnership provides an overview of sustainable planning principles for the CaGBC's Sustainable Building Advisor Program in Apr 2012
This document has been prepared by the Agham Advocates of Science& Technology for the People (AGHAM) to aid local communities threatened by dam projects. This reference document contain information and tools that can be used by the community to have a better understanding of dams and make informed decisions how to collectively approach the dam project in their area. This guide is not exhaustive and complete, but centers on basic questions to learn more about the dam project in the area and to guide further research.
Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program Stage 1 Scoping StudyNeil Dufty
The Hawkesbury-Nepean River system is a major
social, environmental and economic asset for the
state of New South Wales, Australia. This extensive estuary
system encompasses the Hawksbury-Nepean River,
Pittwater, Brisbane Water and Broken Bay, which
span the Greater Sydney and Hunter - Central Coast
regions. Together, these provide a stunning natural
environment, areas of cultural significance, a
multitude of social and recreational benefits, and are
a key contributor to the regional economy.
In accordance with the NSW Coastal Management
Framework, management of the estuary system and
its tributaries will be guided by a Coastal
Management Program (CMP). The six (6) councils
that border the tidal waterways of the system have
agreed to work together through Stage 1 of an
integrated, whole of system CMP. The councils are:
◼ Central Coast
Council
◼ Hornsby Shire
Council
◼ Hawkesbury City
Council
◼ Ku-ring-gai
Council
◼ The Hills Shire
Council
◼ Northern Beaches
Council
The purpose of the CMP is to set the long-term
strategy for the coordinated management of the
system and its catchment. The CMP seeks to
achieve the objectives of the Coastal Management
Act through a program that will identify coastal
management issues, pressures, and risks - and the
actions required to address these issues in a
strategic and integrated way.
This Scoping Study represents the first of five stages
in the CMP process.
Hydropower development in laos don sahong experience in addressing social an...CPWF Mekong
3rd Mekong Forum on Water, Food & Energy 2013. Presentation from Session 10: Private sector policies for contributing to environmental and social sustainability
Aquapol the first naturale rising damp resolution device and technology. More than 50,000 installations in Europe.
Greentech srl Cantù (Como) Italy is an authorized representative in higher Lombardy (Italy) but we answer to any inquiry.
Dan Leeming of the Planning Partnership provides an overview of sustainable planning principles for the CaGBC's Sustainable Building Advisor Program in Apr 2012
This document has been prepared by the Agham Advocates of Science& Technology for the People (AGHAM) to aid local communities threatened by dam projects. This reference document contain information and tools that can be used by the community to have a better understanding of dams and make informed decisions how to collectively approach the dam project in their area. This guide is not exhaustive and complete, but centers on basic questions to learn more about the dam project in the area and to guide further research.
Hawkesbury-Nepean River System Coastal Management Program Stage 1 Scoping StudyNeil Dufty
The Hawkesbury-Nepean River system is a major
social, environmental and economic asset for the
state of New South Wales, Australia. This extensive estuary
system encompasses the Hawksbury-Nepean River,
Pittwater, Brisbane Water and Broken Bay, which
span the Greater Sydney and Hunter - Central Coast
regions. Together, these provide a stunning natural
environment, areas of cultural significance, a
multitude of social and recreational benefits, and are
a key contributor to the regional economy.
In accordance with the NSW Coastal Management
Framework, management of the estuary system and
its tributaries will be guided by a Coastal
Management Program (CMP). The six (6) councils
that border the tidal waterways of the system have
agreed to work together through Stage 1 of an
integrated, whole of system CMP. The councils are:
◼ Central Coast
Council
◼ Hornsby Shire
Council
◼ Hawkesbury City
Council
◼ Ku-ring-gai
Council
◼ The Hills Shire
Council
◼ Northern Beaches
Council
The purpose of the CMP is to set the long-term
strategy for the coordinated management of the
system and its catchment. The CMP seeks to
achieve the objectives of the Coastal Management
Act through a program that will identify coastal
management issues, pressures, and risks - and the
actions required to address these issues in a
strategic and integrated way.
This Scoping Study represents the first of five stages
in the CMP process.
Hydropower development in laos don sahong experience in addressing social an...CPWF Mekong
3rd Mekong Forum on Water, Food & Energy 2013. Presentation from Session 10: Private sector policies for contributing to environmental and social sustainability
Aquapol the first naturale rising damp resolution device and technology. More than 50,000 installations in Europe.
Greentech srl Cantù (Como) Italy is an authorized representative in higher Lombardy (Italy) but we answer to any inquiry.
Aquapol presentation book English, renovation and elimination of moisture in ...GREENTECH SRL
A full description of the renown Aquapol system to dry humid walls in old and less old buildings and houses without the use of chemicals, totally natural ecologic system. Handles all water coming form the ground.
More than 50,000 installations in Europe. Totally non invasive with double warranty on the Aquapol device itself (20 years) and on the final result of dried walls. With sathisfied or refound formula.
Full diagnostic of the building, salt analysysi, checklist of collateral actions to do for humidity non coming form the ground, and 36 months of techcnical services include.
Please contact us at www.muriumidi.info or www.green-tech.it or www-aquapol.it (for Italy) or visit www.aquapol.com rest of the world
UNECE Session: Raimund Mair, ICPDR, 15th January UN Water Zaragoza Conferencewater-decade
Raimund MAIR, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
Intersectoral cooperation to support implementation of SDGs at basin level
Baltic Cities Environmental bulletin 2/2011
Implementing Baltic Sea Region strategy
- Towards cleaner waste water
- Actions instead of paperwork in Jyväskylä
- European Partnership for Integrated Sustainable Management launched
Coastal and Marine Environment Protection
International Roundtable on Protection and Sustainable Use of Trans-boundary Waters in South East Europe, 15-16 December 2011, Zagreb, Croatia
Conférence du Rotary à l'UNESCO le 24 mars 2018.
Présentation de M. Abou Amani- Chef de la Section des systèmes hydrologiques et de la rareté de l'eau (HSS)
Division des sciences de l'eau de l’UNESCO
Visual Style and Aesthetics: Basics of Visual Design
Visual Design for Enterprise Applications
Range of Visual Styles.
Mobile Interfaces:
Challenges and Opportunities of Mobile Design
Approach to Mobile Design
Patterns
EASY TUTORIAL OF HOW TO USE CAPCUT BY: FEBLESS HERNANEFebless Hernane
CapCut is an easy-to-use video editing app perfect for beginners. To start, download and open CapCut on your phone. Tap "New Project" and select the videos or photos you want to edit. You can trim clips by dragging the edges, add text by tapping "Text," and include music by selecting "Audio." Enhance your video with filters and effects from the "Effects" menu. When you're happy with your video, tap the export button to save and share it. CapCut makes video editing simple and fun for everyone!
Connect Conference 2022: Passive House - Economic and Environmental Solution...TE Studio
Passive House: The Economic and Environmental Solution for Sustainable Real Estate. Lecture by Tim Eian of TE Studio Passive House Design in November 2022 in Minneapolis.
- The Built Environment
- Let's imagine the perfect building
- The Passive House standard
- Why Passive House targets
- Clean Energy Plans?!
- How does Passive House compare and fit in?
- The business case for Passive House real estate
- Tools to quantify the value of Passive House
- What can I do?
- Resources
White wonder, Work developed by Eva TschoppMansi Shah
White Wonder by Eva Tschopp
A tale about our culture around the use of fertilizers and pesticides visiting small farms around Ahmedabad in Matar and Shilaj.
Hello everyone! I am thrilled to present my latest portfolio on LinkedIn, marking the culmination of my architectural journey thus far. Over the span of five years, I've been fortunate to acquire a wealth of knowledge under the guidance of esteemed professors and industry mentors. From rigorous academic pursuits to practical engagements, each experience has contributed to my growth and refinement as an architecture student. This portfolio not only showcases my projects but also underscores my attention to detail and to innovative architecture as a profession.
Book Formatting: Quality Control Checks for DesignersConfidence Ago
This presentation was made to help designers who work in publishing houses or format books for printing ensure quality.
Quality control is vital to every industry. This is why every department in a company need create a method they use in ensuring quality. This, perhaps, will not only improve the quality of products and bring errors to the barest minimum, but take it to a near perfect finish.
It is beyond a moot point that a good book will somewhat be judged by its cover, but the content of the book remains king. No matter how beautiful the cover, if the quality of writing or presentation is off, that will be a reason for readers not to come back to the book or recommend it.
So, this presentation points designers to some important things that may be missed by an editor that they could eventually discover and call the attention of the editor.
5. 5
debated and incorporated in Chapter 18 of Agenda 21 management and water saving plans. In Johannesburg,
and were a central piece of the Rio Declaration. Ever since, EC President, Romano Prodi, launched the EU Water
a string of thematic events has gained momentum. In Initiative together with Danish Prime Minister and EU
1995, the Global Water Partnership and the World Water President, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, in order to harness
Council were created, involving governments, inter- commitment and concrete action to water security for the
national agencies, civil society and private sector. The first 21st century. The presidents reflected the willingness of
World Water Forum was held in Marrakech in 1997, with public, private and civil society actors, all of whom were
the second taking place in The Hague three years later 4. consulted intensively in the run-up to the conference, to
establish open coordination to achieve the goals. The
At European level, after an extensive consultation process, European Union has a long history of relations with part-
the European Parliament and Council adopted a compre- ners in partner countries and is willing to invest in stepped
hensive Water Framework Directive, which entered into up partnerships for water security underpinned by con-
force on 22 December 2000 5. The purpose of this Directive tinuous dialogue.
is to establish a framework for the protection of inland
surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and The European Union is increasingly engaged in mobilising
groundwater within the EU. It aims at contributing to (a) the best political, knowledge, development and economic
the provision of a sufficient supply of good quality surface capacities of both the partner region and Europe around
water and groundwater as needed for sustainable, balanced addressing the specifics of the water crisis in that region.
and equitable water use, (b) a significant reduction in Examples of regional platforms are: Africa; the ASEM con-
pollution of groundwater, (c) the protection of territorial text (Asia-Europe Meetings); Eastern Europe, Caucasus
and marine waters, and (d) achieving the objectives of relevant and Central Asia (EECCA); Latin America, Caribbean and
international agreements, including those which aim to Europe (ALCUE); and the most water-scarce region of all,
prevent and eliminate pollution of the marine environ- the Mediterranean. In particular, President Prodi and the
ment. It adopts a river basin approach and obliges Member President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, signed the
States to make the appropriate governance arrangements, EU-Africa ‘Water for Life’ Agreement at WSSD in
including for transboundary basins. Action structured Johannesburg, where an EU/EECCA Ministerial Declaration
around its implementation offers a shared learning ground was also agreed. The European Commission is convinced
within the European Union, but also experience of interest that water issues offer fertile grounds for promoting regional
to partners in other parts of the globe. co-operation, peace and prosperity.
The International Conference on Freshwater6 (Bonn
Conference, December 2001) enabled a broad coalition of
4
http://www.worldwaterforum.net/
some 700 international participants to prepare initiatives
5
http://europa.eu.int/smartapi/cgi/sga_doc?smartapi!celexapi!prod!
on water for the World Summit on Sustainable Develop- CELEXnumdoc&lg=en&numdoc=32000L0060&model=guichett
ment (WSSD) 7 in Johannesburg. 6
http://www.water-2001.de/
7
http://www.johannesburgsummit.org/default.htm
At the WSSD 8 itself, an important step was taken with the 8
http://www.earthsummit2002.org/es/issues/Freshwater/
adoption of a sanitation target, complementing the Millen- freshwater.htm# Human%20Right%20to%20Water
nium Development Goal on access to drinking water. 9
http://europa.eu.int/prelex/detail_dossier_real.cfm?CL=fr&DosId=172380
Leaders also required the development of integrated water 10
http://register.consilium.eu.int/pdf/fr/02/st08/08958f2.pdf
COMMISSION COMMUNICATION AND COUNCIL RESOLUTION
In March 2002, the European Commission adopted a especially the poorest and with a clear focus on the needs
“Communication on water management in developing coun- of women and children, with the general objective of redu-
tries” 9. The European Development Council endorsed, on 30 cing poverty and improving people´s health, quality of life
May 2002, a common Resolution on this issue. These policy
10
and livelihood opportunities;
papers recognise the importance of addressing the global chal- • Developing sustainable and equitable transboundary water
lenge of growing scarcity and decreasing quality of water resources management taking into account all relevant inter-
resources, particularly acute in developing countries. Water is ests, integrating the competing needs of the various users and
a key issue for poverty reduction, sustainable development and facilitating South-South co-operation;
the achievement of the Millennium Development Goal on water. • Implementing cross-sectoral coordination to ensure equit-
Under the overarching policy framework of Integrated Water able, sustainable and appropriate distribution of water
Resources Management, based on a river basin approach, atten- between users of different kinds. This requires the main-
tion should be primarily devoted to: streaming of water management principles into related pol-
• Ensuring a supply of sufficient, good quality drinking water, icy areas.
adequate sanitation and hygiene to every human being,
6. 6
PRINCIPAL INSTRUMENTS
OF EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL POLICIES
The EC’s international co-operation is particularly articulate in
five areas: foreign affairs, trade, development, environmental
and scientific co-operation. These policy areas in turn make use
of many instruments for implementation. They all rely on pol-
icy dialogue as the central pillar to create an enabling environ-
ment in partner countries and in the Union for whatever joint
activities ensue. Because water is so central to the full range of
human activities, and indeed for life on Earth itself, all can
impact on the ability to achieve the goals of the EU Water
Initiative. The annex contains a selection of projects. Web
resources (footnotes) on all instruments are on p. 47.
Development co-operation instruments
At a global level, the Commission has actively contributed to ACP countries, Asia, Latin America (developing countries), the
summits from Rio 1992 to Johannesburg 2002 and all those in Mediterranean, Russia and the other New Independent States
between, supported the World Water Fora and has invested and Western Balkans. At the time of writing some 100 INCO
political capital, knowledge and financial resources into the EU projects16 relating to water are on-going and another 186, mostly
Water Initiative. Several lines of the Community budget are intra-European, projects are funded through the Key Action
being used to address water and environmental problems. ‘Sustainable Management and Quality of Water’17 in FP5.
It is most active on regional, national and local levels, where Under the new Sixth Framework Programme18 (FP6, 2002-
operational capacities, knowledge and investment to improve 2006), €315 million has been allocated to 'Specific measures
the situation are most needed. The Lome Convention and its in support of scientific co-operation’ (INCO)19 (water being
successor, the Cotonou Agreement11, are the main geographi- among the focal topics). Another €285 million is available to
cally bound instruments for EC co-operation with sub-Saharan enable the active participation of teams from partner countries
Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific – the ‘ACP’ states. The con- in all thematic priorities of FP6 and giving partners ever
ventions advocate “a sustainable balance between economic improved access to significant scientific knowledge of the
objectives, the rational management of the environment and the European research community. Water is a major focus within
enhancement of natural and human resources”. Successive the various areas of the thematic priority 'Sustainable
phases of the European Development Fund (EDF) have allo- Development, Global Change and Ecosystems'20 as well as the
cated significant resources to water, ranging from direct support thematic priority 'Aeronautics and Space'21 in the specific area
for safe drinking water and sanitation in rural and urban settings of ‘Global Monitoring for Environment and Security’ (GMES).
in ACP countries to interventions with longer-term effects such
as support to forest conservation, re-afforestation, hygiene edu-
cation, more efficient irrigation and support to integrated water European Investment Bank
resources management (IWRM) and sectoral policy frameworks.
Close to €700 million are being spent in on-going projects. Over the last decade, the annual finance of the European
Investment Bank (EIB)22 for water and sanitation projects
Similar instruments are used to support sustainable water devel- throughout the world averaged €2 billion. As the EU’s financ-
opment in Asia and Latin America (ALA) 12, Central and Eastern ing institution, the EIB operates within the framework of the
European Countries (CEEC – TACIS)13, the Mediterranean (par- Maastricht Treaty on European Union. Safeguarding and
ticularly through the MEDA Programme)14 and Russia and the improving the environment ranks among its top operational
other New Independent States (NIS)15. Within the MEDA objectives. The Bank is participating in the preparations for the
Programme, for example, some €170 million goes towards the EU Water Initiative. It now has new means at its disposal – the
sustainable use of scarce water resources. Since 1992, the TACIS Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership
Programme has committed around €120 million to water and the Investment Facility, supported by the Commission.
management projects. While EIB lending is focused on the EU and the accession
countries, there is also strong emphasis on financing in the
critical water sector in the Mediterranean region. Some 70%
(€1.2 billion) of loans for public infrastructure over the last five
International scientific co-operation
years related to water supply and wastewater treatment. Its
From 1994 on, the Commission’s international scientific operations in the ACP countries, Asia, Latin America and the
research activities have been given a uniform structure (INCO) Balkans are also undergoing steady expansion. In addition, the
as part of the Research Framework Programmes (FP4, 1994- EIB is involved in financing environmental schemes in the
1998, FP5, 1998-2002). INternational CO-operation covers St Petersburg and Kaliningrad regions in Russia.
7. 7
FIVE THOUSAND YEARS OF WATER WORKS
SUPPORTING DIVERSE HUMAN SOCIETIES
Water management played a critical The early development of irrigated agriculture, demography
role in the rise – and collapse – and social organisation, city development and trade involved
of several earlier civilisations the Mesopotamian heartland to Egypt, the Fertile Crescent, in
what is today the Near East and Eastern Mediterranean, the
Since water is so central to human life and more generally to
Indus Valley and Northern China. It supported a great diver-
the life support system of the Earth, it is worth looking at
sity of civilisations and high levels of innovation, particularly
how earlier human societies coped with the challenges of
the initial networking of cities.
food, fibre, shelter, and how their evolving social organisa-
tion enabled them to sustain a growing population and com-
A thousand years later, the Maya civilisation in Central America
plexity.
emerged in the first millennium BC and flourished from 250
AD, based on sophisticated agriculture. Raised plots of earth
As early as the fourth millennium BC, the Sumerian civilisation
on which maize and other crops grew, were surrounded by
achieved highly productive agriculture on the central Euphrates
water supply canals. The surplus enabled the development of
River floodplain in what is now a desolate region. The surplus
cities with impressive stone temples and palaces. In order to
generated by the sophisticated irrigation farming then enabled
produce food for the rapidly growing population, hillsides
the formation of the first cities and socio-economic specialisa-
were deforested, leading to increasing erosion and landslides.
tion, as confirmed by currently available archaeological evi-
Archaeological evidence shows anaemia symptoms from skulls
dence. The irrigation required complex social organisation
and bones of the later period as well as progressive depopula-
and supported a population growing ten-fold up to an esti-
tion. No stone building was constructed after 822 AD. Over-
mated 1 million inhabitants. The Sumerians were also the first
farming, deforestation with subsequent soil erosion and loss of
to develop a written language, the cuneiform script.
productivity were instrumental in spelling the complete demise
of this society by 900 AD.
It is not known whether these civilisations fully understood the
reasons for their decline or not. But somehow they were not
able to muster the social and technical knowledge required to
maintain a balance between their society and the natural
resources at their disposal. The ensuing lack of food, however,
provoked a range of effects, from famine leading to shrinking
population to outward migration.
During these times, the global human population was much
lower than today. Estimates of population for different periods
from ancient to moderns times are 23:
Noria in Hama, Syria, from postcard restored by Aly Abbara.
Range of Mid-range
Why, then, did this successful society decline? Scientists now Period of world of world
believe irrigation techniques played an important role in the population population
collapse of Sumer. The Mesopotamian irrigation system con-
Neolithic
sisted of conducting water from the rivers by gravity onto the (10 000 BC to 4 000 BC) 4 to 7 million 5 million
fields. The rivers were higher than the surrounding land
because of the accumulation of transported soil. Once the Ancient
water was on the fields, it could not be drained, but only per- (4 001 BC to 1 200 BC) 10 to 50 million 25 million
colated or evaporated. Over time, the combined effects of ris-
ing water tables and rising concentration of mineral salts Classic
(1 201 BC to 930 AD) 50 to 250 million 150 million
spoiled the soils. By about 2 300 BC the fields supported only
a fraction of their former production. The tale of salt damaged Modern
crops is told on Mesopotamian cuneiform tablets. Food scarcity (after 930 AD) 250 to 9 300a million 5 000 million
eventually undermined this great civilisation.
a = latest UN population projection for 2050
23
Adapted from Modelski, G. & W.R. Thompson, 1996. Evolutionary
pulsations in the world economy, at www.faculty.washington.edu/
modelski/WEPULSE.html