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The Critical Role of Water in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals

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DRAFT-COMMENTS WELCOME The Critical Role of Water in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: Synthesis of Knowledge and Recommendations for Effective Framing, Monitoring, and Capacity Development Paper prepared for: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) 6 February 2015 Note: Much of the work on this paper has been done by Douglas Merrey, an Independent Consultant. Seleshi Bekele Awulachew (UN-DESA) has provided guidance and many substantive comments that have been used in developing a revised version of the paper. Davison Saruchera and Jonathan Lautze (IWMI) provided important inputs related to indicators linked to water and sanitation targets. This version is the preliminary version of the publication and is circulated in a limited number of copies and posted on the DESA website at https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?page=view&nr=1157&type=13&menu=220 to stimulate discussion and critical comment before finalization of the publication. The views and opinions expressed in the paper do not necessarily represent those of the Secretariat of the United Nations; the designations employed or terminology used concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations. The designation of country groups in the text, figures or tables are intended solely for analytical convenience and do not necessarily express a judgment about the stage reached by a particular country or area in the development process. Mention of names of firms and commercial products does not imply endorsement of the United Nations. This version is a draft report for review, not to be quoted. ii Contents Note: ............................................................................................................................................................. ii Acronyms ................................................................................................................................................... viii Summary of Recommendations .................................................................................................................... x 1. Introduction: Purpose and Outline ....................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Background ......................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Objectives and outline of the paper ................................................................................................... 2 1.3 Sustainable development in the Anthropocene Era ........................................................................... 3 1.3.1 Global trends and drivers ............................................................................................................. 3 1.3.2 Water-food security-energy-peace and security-climate change nexus ..................................... 5 1.3.3 Possible future global scenarios................................................................................................... 6 1.3.4 Concluding remarks ..................................................................................................................... 6 2. Water and Sustainable Development ................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Global water challenges and opportunities .................................................................................. 8 2.1.1 Water supply and demand ........................................................................................................... 8 2.1.2 Water security .............................................................................................................................. 9 2.1.3 Water and food-nutrition security ............................................................................................. 10 2.1.4 Water for ecosystems ................................................................................................................ 12 2.1.5 Concluding remarks ................................................................................................................... 13 2.2 Brief history: From Rio to Rio+20 to the present ........................................................................ 14 2.2.1 Pre-1992 milestones .................................................................................................................. 14 2.2.2 Agenda 21 and follow-up ........................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Rio + 20 ...................................................................................................................................... 16 2.3 Concluding remarks .......................................................................................................................... 18 3. Review of Lessons from MDG Experiences ............................................................................................. 18 3.1 The MDGs: What has been achieved? .............................................................................................. 18 3.2 Lessons learned from implementing the MDGs ............................................................................... 21 3.3 Water and sanitation: Achievements and lessons learned .............................................................. 21 3.3.1 MDG 7 on environmental sustainability .................................................................................... 21 3.3.2 Water and sanitation coverage: The official figures .................................................................. 22 iii 3.3.3 Water and sanitation in the MDGs: Gaps and lessons............................................................... 25 3.3.4 Water resources management in the MDGs ............................................................................. 26 3.4 Transitioning from MDGs to SDGs: Enhancing attention to water security ..................................... 28 3.4.1 Need for a conceptual framework linking water clearly to the sustainable development agenda ................................................................................................................................................. 28 3.4.2 Strong focus on equality and human rights: A ‘human development’ agenda ......................... 29 3.4.3 Stronger emphasis on SDGs as drivers of economic growth ..................................................... 32 3.4.4 Based firmly on sustainability in the context of global challenges ............................................ 33 3.4.5 Prioritize policy and institutional reform and capacity strengthening at multiple levels .......... 34 3.4.6 Effective monitoring systems linked to adaptive management ................................................ 35 3.5 Conclusions ....................................................................................................................................... 35 4. Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All ............................... 36 4.1 The currently proposed SDGs ........................................................................................................... 36 4.2 Assessment of the currently proposed water SDG: The proposed targets ...................................... 38 4.3 Unpacking the indicators and monitoring progress ......................................................................... 42 4.3.1 Target 6.1: by 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all ......................................................................................................................................... 43 4.3.2 Target 6.2: by 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all, and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations ........................................................................................................................... 43 4.3.3 Target 6.3: by 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater, and increasing recycling and safe reuse by x% globally ................................................. 45 4.3.4 Target 6.4: by 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity, and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity ............................................................. 46 4.3.5 Target 6.5: by 2030 implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate .......................................................... 47 4.3.6 Target 6.6: by 2020 protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes ....................................................................................... 48 4.3.7 Target 6.6a: by 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water and sanitation related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination,
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