Water in the World We Want: Catalysing National Water-Related Sustainable Development
Date
2015
Authors
Schuster Wallace, Corinne
Sandford, R
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and United Nations Office for Sustainable Development
ORCID
Type
Book
Degree Level
Abstract
The international community is at an important juncture, as it is engaged in an intense debate on the future of the development agenda at the conclusion of the Millennium Development Goals in 2015. This worldwide dialogue takes place against a backdrop of poverty, increasing economic and social inequities, and global environmental changes. With failure no longer an option, we must build upon the lessons and successes of the Millennium Development Goals, recognise the importance of our environment for prosperity, and catalyse sustainable economic growth. While the post-2015 agenda will be defined at the global level its success, however, will be realized at national and subnational scales. Thus, in deliberations, attention must be paid to potential disconnects between what we must achieve as a global society and how these goals can be implemented effectively, efficiently, and in a timely manner on the ground. While this implementation has to accommodate national development priorities, a coordinated and integrated response must guide evidence-informed decision-making, trans-sectoral planning and policies, full cost accounting and economies of scope and scale. UNU-INWEH and UNOSD, together with our partners at the Global Water Partnership and McMaster University, have undertaken an analytical exercise to identify what implementation to achieve proposed Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will look like at the country level. This initiative directly builds upon a global assessment of the role of water in sustainable development that we concluded in 2013. Findings of this country-based study, combined with the underlying evidence are presented in this policy brief. Through a series of country case studies, expert opinion, and evidence synthesis, the report explores the critical role that water plays (including sanitation and wastewater management) in sustainable development; current disconnects between some national development plans and the proposed SDGs; opportunities for achieving sustainable development through careful water management; and, implementation opportunities. It is our anticipation that this report fills a critical gap in understanding the complexities associated with water resources and their management, and also provides substantive options that enable us to move forward within the global dialogue.
Description
Copyright statement from the United Nations University website: "Except where otherwise specified, the contents (text, video, graphics, photography) of this site are licensed by the United Nations University under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 IGO License."
Keywords
sustainable development, water security, sustainable development goals
Citation
Schuster-Wallace C.J. and Sandford, R. 2015. Water in the World We Want. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and United Nations Office for Sustainable Development.
Degree
Department
Program
Advisor
Committee
Citation
Schuster-Wallace C.J. and Sandford, R. 2015. Water in the World We Want. United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health and United Nations Office for Sustainable Development.