unece session: raimund mair, icpdr, 15th january un water zaragoza conference
TRANSCRIPT
Intersectoral cooperation to support implementation of SDGs
at basin level
2015 UN-Water Annual International Zaragoza Conference
Water and Sustainable Development:
From Vision to Action15-17 January 2015, Zaragoza, Spain
Raimund MAIR
International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR)
[email protected] | www.icpdr.org
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Almost 2/3 of global landmass is covered by
International River Basins
What is the issue?
World‘s International River Basins
What is the issue?
The Water Nexus: Diversity of
uses, aspirations and impacts
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Water is an interdisciplinary and cross-
cutting issue
GOAL 12Ensure sustainable consumption
and production patterns
GOAL 13Take urgent action to combat
climate change and its impacts
GOAL 14Conserve and sustainably use the
oceans, seas and marine resources
for sustainable development
GOAL 15Protect, restore and promote sustainable
use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably
manage forests, combat desertification, and
halt and reverse land degradation and halt
biodiversity loss
GOAL 7Ensure access to affordable,
reliable, sustainable and modern
energy for all
GOAL 2End hunger, achieve food security
and improved nutrition and promote
sustainable agriculture
What is the issue?
“Water-related SDGs?”
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6.1 By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to
safe and affordable drinking water for all
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
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] per cent globally
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
6.5 By 2030, implement integrated water resources
management at all levels, including through
transboundary cooperation as appropriate
6.6 By 2020, protect and restore water-related
ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands,
rivers, aquifers and lakes
GOAL 6Ensure availability and sustainable
management of water and sanitation for all
... ...
19 countries: Most international
River Basin in the World
Water cooperation: International
Commission for the Protection of
the Danube River (ICPDR)
The Danube experience
Contracting parties: 14 countries - 9 EU Member States, 5
Non EU Member States + European Union
ICPDR: The platform for countries to draft and adopt the
Danube River Basin Management and Danube Flood Risk
Management Plans (EU Water Framework Directive and EU
Floods Directive)
You are here
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Key tools for Integrated Transboundary Water Resources Management
Regularly updated Management Plans
6-years management cycle
Integrated approach with stakeholder involvement
The Danube experience
Integrated River Basin and Flood Risk
Management Planning on international
basin-wide level
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Gain from
intersectoral
cooperation Aft
er
Cre
igh
ton
20
05
Intersectoral
cooperation
Unilateral
Decision
Problem
identified
Decision
made
Implementation
Gain from intersectoral
cooperation and stakeholder
involvement
8
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Range of expert groups addressing variety of different water
management aspects
Participation of country experts and stakeholder representatives
Stakeholder Involvement23 Observer Organisations
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In addition:Targeted activities on inland navigation and hydropower
How to ensure sustainable water protection and non-
deterioration of Danube Basin water bodies & Nature Protection
sites if infrastructure projects will be built?
How to make a step from confrontation to reconciliation,
cooperation or even win-win solutions?
Can we guide infrastructure development that it won’t conflict
with legal requirements for environmental protection but ensure
their achievement?
Major number of infrastructure projects under preparation/implementation
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First response 2007:
Cross-sector dialogue inland navigation & environment
Broad stakeholder process
12 Basin Governments
22 industry and environmental
interest groups
3 River Commissions
3 Workshops
Result: New commitment
“Joint Statement” (2007)
© Zinke
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Sustainable Hydropower
Altered flow regime
and sediment
dynamics
Ecological impacts
Social impacts© ÖKF
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Increase of energy from
renewables
Reduction greenhouse gas
emissions
Balancing supply and demand© VERBUND © E.ON Wasserkraft GmbH / Author R. Sturm
Sustainable Hydropower
in the Danube Basin
Political mandate to develop „Guiding Principles on
Sustainable Hydropower Develoment in the Danube Basin“
Two years process 2011 – 2013: 4 Meetings, 2 Workshops
Broad participative process - administrations from energy and
environment, business representatives, NGOs, scientific
community, other relevant institutions
Guiding Principles, Background Report, Good Practice Examples
Adopted in June 2013
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Guiding Principles Sustainable Hydropower
Main elements
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Application of Guiding Principles - Range of benefits:
Energy sector: Streamlined authorisation processes, improvement of predictability and upfront
information where authorisation is likely
Environmental sector: Transparency, involvement in decision making process, protection of sensitive
river stretches
Authorities: Increase of security for legal compliance, balanced approached with involvement of relevant
actors at an early stage, accelerated implementation of legislation
In 2007, following conditions of the Black Sea were identified:
The “Dead Zone” in the Western Black Sea has been virtually eliminated
Oxygen Levels are at near saturation in most areas
Number of Benthic Species increased 1.5-2 times with respect to 1980
Other important issuesTransboundary River Basin Management
and the Marine Ecosystem
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1979 2007
Source: UNDP GEF “The Black Sea
Ecosystems Recovery Project” (completed
in April 2008)
The Danube experience
Conclusions
Two-thirds of global landmass covered by transboundary river basins
Water is a cross-cutting issue (Water Nexus), requiring intersectoral cooperation
- Establishment of possibilities for formal but also informal exchange
- Creation of better common understanding on requirements and constraints
different sectors are confronted with
- Integration of potentially conflicting objectives from the beginning
- Accelerated implementation and creation of benefits for sectors involved
Integrated Transboundary River Basin Managment is pre-requisite for
achievement of different SDGs (water supply and sanitation, health, food,
energy, ecosystems, marine environment, climate change, etc.)
Important catalyst for triggering related national discussions and processes
But requires…
Legal/institutional framework for transboundary cooperation and resources
Political support and dedication of actors involved18
Thank you for your kind attention!
For more information please consult the ICPDR website
http://www.icpdr.org
ICPDR Secretariat / Vienna International Centre, D0412 / P.O. Box 500 / 1400 Vienna / Austria
Phone +43 1 26060-5738 / Fax +43 1 26060-5895 / [email protected] / www.icpdr.org