The MedPartnership at the Sixth World Water Forum in Marseille

Two events will showcase the MedPartnership at the 6th World Water Forum, "the world's largest meeting around water", in Marseille, France on 12- 17 March 2012.

The fist event organized by UNESCO in collaboration with PAP/RAC and the second by GWP-Med, aim at bringing the Mediterranean Sea to the center of discussions on current water issues in Marseille. 

On 12 March 2012 (7:15‐8:15pm, Room PEu 4 ‐ Europa 4 > Palais de l'Europe), UNESCO International Hydrological Programme (IHP) in co-operation with PAP/RAC will coordinate a side event on "Groundwater and Climate Change with a Focus on Mediterranean Coastal Aquifers". As climate change is modifying the hydrological cycle and affecting the quantity and quality of global freshwater resources, management decisions during drought and in areas where surface waters are nearing the limits of sustainability are directly affected. Especially in the Mediterranean, coastal aquifers are of particular importance since they generally secure water supplies and are therefore increasingly threatened by depletion and quality degradation from saltwater intrusion and land-based pollution. This event will focus on the two following programmes: Groundwater and Climate Change (GRAPHIC) and the MedPartnership. PAP/RAC will focus on the issue of "Integration of Coastal Zone Management and Coastal Aquifers Management" especially through the prism of the MedPartnership.

During the event, a panel of international experts will shed light to the importance of considering the effects of climate change on groundwater in water resources management and discuss possibilities for using groundwater as an adaptation measure to climate change. Best practices and case studies of coastal aquifer management in the Mediterranean will be also presented and discussed.

For the complete agenda of the event please download the relevant document on the left.

On 15 March, 2012 (11.00-13.00 PC4- Patio> Palais de Congres, Rez de Jardin Level), GWP-Med will convene the second event as part of the formal process of the Forum with the title "Deciphering Water Governance: IWRM plans and water efficiency strategies in Mediterranean countries- Addressing complexities and promoting replicable solutions".

The session’s objective is to take stock of on-going country efforts with regard to IWRM design and implementation- with due consideration to the complexity of the IWRM framework/approach, share lessons learnt and identify concrete and successful solutions with replicability potential within and outside the region. In this process, complementarities with existing initiatives and programmes will be identified and utilised so as to enhance impact.

For the complete agenda on the event please download the relevant document on the left.

A FEW WORDS ON THE 6TH WORLD WATER FORUM:

Every three years since 1997, the World Water Forum mobilises creativity, innovation, competence and know-how in favour of water. It gathers all stakeholders around today’s local, regional and global issues that cannot be undertaken without all stakeholders into a common framework of goals and concrete targets to reach. The goal of the 6th World Water Forum is to tackle the challenges our world is facing and to bring water high on all political agendas. There will be no sustainable development while the water issues remain unsolved. Everywhere on the planet, for all and everyone, the Right to Water (recognised by 189 states at the UN one year ago) must be guaranteed and implemented.

Key data:

• 140 ministerial delegations
• More than 180 countries represented
• Over 800 speakers
• 25 000 participants expected
• Over 400 hours of discussions and debates
• Over 250 sessions and panels and about 100 Grassroots & Citizenship events
• Regional Trialogues organised among Ministers, Parliamentarians and Local/ Regional Authorities.High Level Roundtables
  

For more information on the event follow the link here.