ICC views on water for the 5th World Water Forum (2009)
Publication date : 13/03/2009 | Document Number : 213/65
In the view of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), it is critical to raise the political profile of water. There are now sufficiently numerous local, national and regional water crises to justify the idea of a global water crisis. Population growth, urbanisation and improving lifestyles, with their attendant demands for water for food and energy are increasingly exacerbated by global economic conditions and climate change. The Fifth World Water Forum is an excellent opportunity to review the scale of water resources that are seriously threatened by population growth, land-use changes, climate change and pollution.
ICC, via the Business Action for Water (BAW), is committed to bringing a diverse range of business voices to the table to discuss water issues and provide solutions. This paper highlights various key aspects that demonstrate both the vital importance of water issues, its interconnectivity with so many other aspects, as well as the need for greater interaction between governments and the private sector. We believe that policy-makers should consider the following key aspects:
- Importance of water
- Sanitation
- Multiple roles of Business
- Political Leadership and Enabling Frameworks
- Water and the Millennium Development Goals
- Conserving and managing water efficiently
- Interconnectivity of water issues
- Role of agriculture
- Financing
- Water and the Global Economic and Financial Crisis
For further information, please contact
Andrea BACHER
Policy Manager, Economic Policy
Tel:
+33 (0)1 49 53 28 48
andrea.bacher@iccwbo.org