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Tag Archives: SDGs

Water for Sustainable Development: Addressing Water Issues in Sri Lanka

21 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by vositha in Climate Change, Sustainable Development

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

climate change, IPCC, SDGs, Sri Lanka, Sustainable Development, Water, World Water Day

One does not need additional explanations to highlight the importance of water for every human’s survival. In addition to being a basis for our survival, it is also at the core of sustainable development. This further indicates water as being critical for social as well as economic development with sectors of health, welfare as well as production all being dependent on it. Given its great importance it is vital that countries understand the impacts of climate change on the water resources of their countries, and set up plans that would address the needs of their people to ensure that there are sufficient water supplies for their survival.

Climate Change and Water Resources

Research data provide that 1.7 billion people across the world live in river basins where water use exceeds natural discharge, a trend that will be seen in two-thirds of the world’s population living in water-stressed countries by 2025.

The fifth assessment report of the IPCC (AR5) provide that water scarcity is expected to be a major challenge for most of the region as a result of increased water demand and lack of good management. Further it points out that water resources are important in Asia because of the massive population, and that the need for it varies among regions and seasons.

The Report provides also that with the increase of population, and the increase of demands arising from higher standards of living could worsen water security in many parts in Asia and affect many people in the future. It highlights the need for integrated water management strategies  which could help adapt to climate change, including developing water-saving technologies, increasing water productivity, and water.

Sustainable Development and Water

Water is a critical element of socio-economic development. Lack of water resources, and lack of equitable distribution of water resources in a country would create additional issues of governance, and peace. In order to achieve economic development there is also a great need for water for production. And on the social level, in order to satisfy the indicators of sustainable development, health of a country’s citizens is important. Lack of portable water will have adverse impacts on a country’s capacity to ensure a healthy life for its citizens.

In addition to this,  the impacts of climate change according to the AR5 of the IPCC is expected to adversely affect the sustainable development capabilities of most Asian developing countries by aggravating pressures on natural resources and the environment.

Water in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

MDGs which were established in 2000 aim to reduce by 50% the proportion of people living without sustainable access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation between 1990 and 2015. However the United Nations data provide that a total of 748 million people still do not have access to an improved drinking water source and existing indicators do not address the safety and reliability of water supplies. The data also provide that to reach the requirements of the right to access to safe drinking water requires real improvements for several billions of people.

According to reports, MDG target for sanitation is of high importance with the number of people currently lacking access to improved sanitation being at 2.5 billion. The predictions provide that at current rates of progress, the sanitation target will be missed by over half a billion people. The data provided being collective data, they hide the disparities that exist between nations and regions, rich and poor as well as the communities living in rural and urban settings.

Water in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In order to address the concerns that still exist at the time limit for the closing of MDGs in 2015, and to move towards a sustainable future the global community is turning towards an agreement where human rights, equality and sustainability should the basis of the development agenda.

The overarching goal of UN-Water is “Securing Sustainable Water for All”. This includes creating space among other things, for healthy people, increased prosperity, equitable societies, protected ecosystems and resilient communities, through universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene. This also includes the sustainable use of water resources as well as robust and effective water governance systems.

Furthermore in order to achieve sustainable development and have food security, countries need to focus on sustainable use of water resources. Agriculture accounts for 70% of water withdrawals worldwide, with figures varying across countries, while industry and energy account for 20% of water demand. The numbers highlight the disparities among regions with developed countries having a much larger proportion of freshwater withdrawals for industry.

In addition to this World Health Orgnisation’s study conducted on meeting the MDGs provide that 1.5% of gross domestic product of the counties is accounted through the economic loss from the inadequate delivery of water and sanitation.

Sri Lanka and Sustainable Use of Water

Research provides that the main concern in Sri Lanka regarding water are depletion and degradation caused by anthropogenic activities. The Water Resources Board of Sri Lanka explains that although, Sri Lanka is not considered as a water scarce country, in particular to groundwater, quantity, quality and availability of groundwater has started to deteriorate due to increasing human activities. The information provided also state that this groundwater deterioration relates to land subsidence and seawater intrusion; coinciding also with urban development and excessive groundwater extraction.

While Sri Lanka has a high percentage for access to improved water supply which is at 84%, the figures do not provide clarity on the distribution of this across geographic location. This includes the remote rural areas, and the plantation sector, as well as some areas of the North and the East which are not sufficiently reflected in the data.

Access to Water: A Human Right

In 2010, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution, which “recognised the right to safe and clean drinking water and sanitation as a human right that is essential for the full enjoyment of life and all human rights”.  In spite of the existing obligation to secure such right to citizens countries are yet to reach this objective. In Sri Lanka in the past week media reported on school children in the North who were admitted to hospital due to consumption of contaminated water. When we celebrate the Water Day on 22nd of March, it would be productive if we take steps to address the issues related to water which have been spoken of by many in the past few months, and provide solutions that will address the needs of the country’s people.

Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Photo courtesy Wikipedia

Pope Francis’ Call for Climate Action

13 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by vositha in Climate Change

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Tags

climate change, Pope Francis, Pope's visit to Sri Lanka, SDGs

Pope Francis has successfully grabbed the attention of many irrespective of religion. From speaking on gay rights, and being cited by President Barack Obama as a key player in improving the international relations between Cuba and the USA, the Pope seems to have made the impossible possible. His next step?  A call of mobilise for climate change.

At a meeting recently held the Pope said, “Climate change, the loss of biodiversity and deforestation are already showing their devastating effects in the great cataclysms we witness,”

Time is running out

His holiness’ interest in climate change was noted when the pontiff urged on the need to take action to Manuel Pulgar-Vidal, Peru’s minister of the environment who was the host of the 20th Conference of Parties of the United Nation Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).

“The time to find global solutions is running out. We can find adequate solutions only if we act together and unanimously,” he said.

The Pope also has also expressed that climate change will affect all humanity with an added burden on the poorest and the future generations. He has described addressing climate change as a representation of serious ethical and moral responsibility.

Encyclical on climate change

Pope Francis’s next major step on climate action is a rare encyclical on climate and human ecology which is expected to be realised following his visit to Philippines in March.  An encyclical is among the highest levels of teaching of pope’s authority. The document is expected to contain 50 to 60 pages,  and is aimed at calling for action based on moral and scientific grounds.

Experts see the encyclical as a link between science and faith and a way faith could help science to see the deeper human implications. It is also a way to bridge the gap between the people of faith and people of science, and a means to encourage the two groups to work towards achieving a common goal.

Pope Benedict XVI’s request

Pope Francis is not the only Pope to speak on climate change. In 2011, Pope Benedict XVI strongly supported international climate change action. Addressing the delegates of the COP17 of the UNFCCC held in Durban, Pope Benedict XVI said “ I hope that all members of the international community can agree on a responsible, credible and supportive response to this worrisome and complex phenomenon, keeping in mind the needs of the poorest populations and of future generations.”

However Pope Francis’ expected encyclical remains the first  papal letter to be issued on environment.

Meeting of faith leaders and the UNGA

Following the release of the encyclical, the Pope is also expected to convene a meeting of faith leaders on the two key summits of  2015 : the United Nations General Assembly on Sustainable Development Goals, and the Conference of Parties on climate change in Paris in December, he is also expected to speak at the UNGA in September.

The actions of the Pope are indicative of the intention to influence Parties to take action at the conference on climate change in Paris to take action. Over 20 years the countries have negotiated with not much success  and year 2015 is crucial to create change in the world and to take immediate actions to address climate change.

Influencing the course of negotiations

Pope Francis has 60% approval rate among the global population’s according to a 2014 poll by the Pew Research Center, and he is extremely popular in the Catholic countries. His popularity is at 84% in  Europe; 78 % in the U.S., and 72% in Latin America. Given these numbers it would be hard to imagine that his holiness’ call for action will go unnoticed, and without impact in changing the course of negotiations on climate change, as well as SDGs  in 2015. At least one remains hopeful.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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