Source - International News



Environmental scorecard: global ranking list includes environmental health and water resources

26 Feb 08

The 2008 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 149 countries on 25 indicators, including the environmental burden of disease from diarrhoea and air pollution, access to safe water and sanitation, inland water quality and water stress. Wealth and policy choices are major determinants of environmental success.

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Climate change: new models needed to deal with water crisis

26 Feb 08

Climate change has already dramatically altered the water cycle and these changes signal a looming water supply crisis, according to a prominent group of US and European hydrologists and climatologists. Past trends can no longer be relied upon when planning future water management.

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World Economic Forum: water as critical as climate change

25 Feb 08

Water was given a high profile at the 2008 World Economic Forum in Davos, displacing climate change as the delegates’ chief worry outside the US economy. Panelists stated that global crises from escalating demand for fresh water and inadequate supply are just as urgent as efforts to tackle climate change. Collaborative approaches, political will, market mechanisms and innovative technology could help solve the water crisis, they said.

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CSD-16: Freshwater Action Network (FAN) writes NGO review paper

22 Jan 08

In May 2008, the 16th Session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-16) will be reviewing the implementation of CSD-13 decisions on water and sanitation. The NGO review paper submitted to CSD-16 identifies seven priority approaches and strategies for water and sanitation section.

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Climate change: access to water critical to developing countries

21 Jan 08

Access to water will be a critical issue for poorer nations, particularly in Africa and Asia. The adaptation strategies discussed at the United Nations Climate Change Conference 2007 in Bali have not taken the predicted water shortages into account.

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Climate change: decrease in freshwater for coastal regions more than expected

10 Dec 07

As sea levels rise, coastal communities could lose up to 50 per cent more of their fresh water supplies than previously thought, according to a new study from Ohio State University.

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International Year of Sanitation: official launch by United Nations

07 Dec 07

On 21 November 2007, the United Nations officially launched the International Year of Sanitation (IYS) to accelerate progress for 2.6 billion people world wide who are without proper sanitation facilities. The Sustainable Sanitation Alliance (SuSanA) has drawn up a joint road map for IYS 2008.

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Global Water Initiative: new NGO partnership gets US$ 150 million

08 Nov 07

A new partnership of seven international NGOs has received a donation of US$ 150 million for rural water and sanitation projects in 13 countries in Africa and Central America. The projects will focus on both domestic and productive (multiple) uses of water, integrated water resources management, trans-boundary issues, and regional watersheds.

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Water crisis: Global Environment Outlook warns about water scarcity and pollution

07 Nov 07

Water stress and declining water quality are among the critical issues identified in the fourth Global Environment Outlook (GEO-4). The report assesses the current state of the global atmosphere, land, water and biodiversity.

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Sanitation: high return on investment says WaterAid report

07 Nov 07

The global return on investing in low-cost sanitation is projected at roughly US$ 9 for every US$ 1 spent, with even higher returns for universal coverage, says a new WaterAid report. Failure to implement the Millennium Development Goal (MDG) targets for water and sanitation would have an economic cost of around US$ 38 billion per year, with sanitation accounting for 92% of this value.

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