Overview

The United Nations World Water Development Report, published every three years, is a comprehensive review providing an authoritative picture of the state of the world's freshwater resources. It offers best practices as well as in-depth theoretical analyses to help stimulate ideas and actions for better stewardship in the water sector. It is the only report of its kind, resulting from the collaboration and contributions of the 26 UN agencies, commissions, program, funds, secretariats and conventions that have a significant role in addressing global water concerns. The news media are full of talk of crises - in climate change, energy and food and troubled financial markets. These crises are linked to each other and to water resources management. Unresolved, they may lead to increasing political insecurity and conflict. Water is required to meet our fundamental needs and rising living standards and to sustain our planet's fragile ecosystems. Pressures on the resource come from a growing and mobile population, social and cultural change, economic development and technological change. Adding complexity and risk is climate change, with impacts on the resource as well as on the sources of pressure on water. The challenges, though substantial, are not insurmountable. The Report shows how some countries have responded. Progress in providing drinking water is heartening, with the Millennium Development Goal target on track in most regions. But other areas remain unaddressed, and after decades of inaction, the problems in water systems are enormous and will worsen if left unattended. Leaders in the water sector can inform decisions outside their domain and manage water resources to achieve agreed socioeconomic objectives and environmental integrity. Leaders in government, the private sector and civil society determine these objectives and allocate human and financial resources to meet them. Recognizing this responsibility, they must act now! Two volume set: 336 + 96 pages (case studies). Includes CD-ROM. Published jointly with UNESCO Publishing.

Full Product Details

Author:   World Water Assessment Programme
Publisher:   Taylor & Francis Ltd
Imprint:   Earthscan Ltd
Dimensions:   Width: 21.00cm , Height: 3.00cm , Length: 29.70cm
Weight:   1.905kg
ISBN:  

9781844078394

ISBN 10:   1844078396
Pages:   344
Publication Date:   21 April 2009
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   To order  
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.

Table of Contents

Report Contents: Foreword by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations Foreword by Ko chiro Matsuura, Director-General, United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization Preface Acknowledgements Overview of Key Messages Water in a Changing World 1. Getting out of the Box - Linking Water to Decisions for Sustainable Development Part I: Understanding What Drives the Pressures on Water 2. Demographic, Economic and Social Drivers 3. Technological Innovation 4. Policies, Laws and Finance 5. Climate Change and Possible Futures Part II: Using Water 6. Water's Many Benefits 7. Evolution of Water Use 8. Impacts of Water Use on Water Systems and the Environment 9. Managing Competition for Water and the Pressure on Ecosystems Part III: State of the Resource 10. The Earth's Natural Water Cycles 11. Changes in the Global Water Cycle 12. Evolving Hazards - and Emerging Opportunities 13. Bridging the Observational Gap Part IV: Responses and Choices 14. Options inside the Water Box 15. Options from Beyond the Water Box 16. The Way Forward Appendix 1: World Water Development Report Indicators Appendix 2: Water-Related Goals and Objectives of Major Conferences and Forums, 1972-Present Abbreviations, Data Notes and Units of Measure List of Boxes, Figures, Maps and Tables Index Case Studies Contents: Foreword Overview Section 1: Africa Cameroon Sudan Swaziland Tunisia Zambia Section 2: Asia and the Pacific Bangladesh China: the Yellow River basin Pacific islands Pakistan: the Cholistan desert Republic of Korea: the Han River basin Sri Lanka: the Walawe River basin Uzbekistan: the Aral Sea basin Section 3: Europe and North America Estonia Finland and the Russian Federation: the Vuoksi River basin Italy: the Po River basin The Netherlands Spain: the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country Turkey: Istanbul Section 4: Latin America and the Caribbean Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay: La Plata River basin Brazil and Uruguay: Lake Mer n basin

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'Most important guidelines for the whole freshwater crises debate.' Sherkin Comment

Author Information

The World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), founded in 2000, is the flagship programme of UN-Water. Housed and led by UNESCO, WWAP monitors freshwater issues in order to provide recommendations, develop case studies, enhance assessment capacity at a national level and inform the decision-making process. UN-Water is a mechanism with 25 member agencies to strengthen coordination and coherence among all United Nations bodies that deal with freshwater issues: from water supply, sanitation and health to climate, food, energy, environment, disasters and sustainable water resources management for socioeconomic development. Established in 2003 by the High-Level Committee on Programmes of the United Nations, it evolved from many years of close collaboration among UN agencies. UN-Water is not another agency; through task forces and programmes led and hosted by various members, it adds value to existing activities and fosters cooperation and information sharing among UN agencies and stakeholder representatives.

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