Cleanwaterforum : A forum to discuss how to achieve universal access to safe, physically accessible, sufficient and affordable, clean water.

We set up this blog to discuss issues surrounding universal access to safe, physically accessible, sufficient and affordable clean water. These issues include, but are not limited to: 1) whether access to clean water should be enshrined as a fundamental human right; 2) how to respond to the increasingly prevalent treatment of water as a commodity rather than a public good (corporate social responsibility and water); 3) clean water as global health issue; 4) clean water as a poverty issue; 5) clean water as a global security issue; 6) clean water as a gender issue.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Declaration on U.S. Policy and the Global Challenge of Water

On Wednesday, March 18th, the Center for Strategic & International Studies held a release event for a Declaration on U.S. Policy and the Global Challenge of Water drafted by the Center's Global Water Futures Project. The Declaration is co-chaired by Bill Frist, former Senate Majority Leader, and Neville Isdell, Chairman of The Coca-Cola Company and, at the time of its release, had been endorsed by over 35 leaders from government, industry, and civil society.

The Declaration calls on the U.S. Government to engage more proactively in efforts to address global water concerns. It begins with the observation that "[t]he United States now has the opportunity to take global leadership position on a critical resource - water - that will become even more critical in the future. The world over, water is intricately linked to the stability and security of communities and nations, human health, education, economic prosperity, humanitarian relief, and stewardship of the physical environment. Beyond that, water is vital to other key resources essential to the human condition, most notably agriculture and energy."

In calling for increased U.S. engagement on water issues, the Declaration quotes President Obama, who, in his inaugural address, addressed "the people of poor nations" in stating that "we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow; to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds." The President also observed that "we can not longer afford indifference to suffering outside our borders; nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect. For the world has changed, and we must change with it."

The Declaration makes the following specific recommendations:
  1. The President should spearhead a comprehensive and sustained global campaign to address the global challenge of water.
  2. The President should develop an integrated strategy for national action on the global water campaign.
  3. The President should appoint a special high-level representative to lead implementation of the U.S. global water campaign.
  4. The special representative should be directly reinforced by a core team to help guide implementation of the water campaign, in addition to expanded capacities at the Department of State at the behest of the special representative.
  5. The proposed U.S. campaign should be commensurate with the magnitude of the challenge—which means a significant increase in the amount and duration of resources committed under the campaign.
  6. The U.S. government should attempt to energize and catalyze international efforts.
  7. The U.S. government should reinforce public/private-sector partnerships.
Speaking at the release of the Declaration, former Senator Frist emphasized that it was critical for the United States to develop a national strategy on water issues. Senator Frist focused many of his remarks on the tremendous public health implications of the global water crisis, noting that one child dies every 15 seconds because of a lack of clean drinking water. He observed that, while progress is being made on improving global access to water resources, insufficient progress has been made on improving sanitation facilities.

Mr. Isdell addressed his comments to the global business community. He said that companies, both large and small, must "step up" on water concerns and play a role in formulating effective strategies for ensuring the sustainability of water resources. He called on corporate leaders to address three things: their water footprint, their water handprint, and the public policy blueprint on water issues. To address their footprint, companies must understand their water usage internally, and along their supply chain. Companies should establish clear indicators and goals for water usage. Companies should also strive for water "neutrality" through efforts to improve the efficiency of their water usage, recycle the water that is used and replenish water resources. To address their handprint, companies must seek to play a leadership role in addressing water concerns through partnerships with both government and civil society. Finally, to address the water blueprint, companies should engage in public policy debates and efforts to establish long term strategies for managing global water resources.

More information on the Declaration, including video from the release, is available at
http://www.csis.org/component/option,com_csis_events/task,view/id,1928/
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