Water for Sustainable Development

Water security has emerged as a major theoretical framework in environmental governance and resource management. An insecure supply of clean water and safe access to freshwater and sanitation raises the dangers of economic disruption, social tension, and even conflict over water resources at both the domestic and international levels. These dangers are highest where water is scarce and governance (at local, national or international levels) is poor.

A selection of online information resources made available through the UN's Dag Hammarskjöld Library in New York linking human rights to Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water & Sanitation.
 

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in 2016, scientist have been studying its “indivisible whole” nature, with the objectives to propose viable methods and tools for integrated planning of the implementation of the 17 SDGs. The three dimensions of sustainable development as outlined by the 2030 Agenda—economic prosperity, social justice and environmental protection—are viewed as “intertwined”, like three strands of the DNA.

With the establishment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2015, the Human Development Forum at Tudor Rose has expanded its publishing operation with the creation of a series of volumes entitled A Better World, each dedicated to one or more of the 17 SDGs. This volume, published in May 2019, covers Goal 11: Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.

This volume of the Water Journal focusing on SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation is broken down into four components: "For Sustainable Development," "How to ease financing the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 to 'Ensure Availability and Sustainable Management of Water and Sanitation for All' ," "Environmental standards of Japan: History and Prospects," and "Building the Sustainable Society from the Water Perspective"

The wetlands of Savannakhet are crucial to the food security of Lao PDR, providing the country with most of its rice. But the area's rice farmers are facing greater flood risks since the Nam Theun 2 dam started operations further upstream. SN project researchers have supported dialogue between the dam operators, government agencies and the farmers to resolve compensation issues as well as initiating organic rice farming efforts.

Can Tho in southern Vietnam's Mekong Delta is a city often submerged under floods in the rainy season facing inundation from both sides: the Mekong River's channels and the rising sea tides. As climate risks increase, the city planners are struggling to find solutions to provide clean water to its residents. SN researchers are helping policymakers and others to better understand and address the climate risks and the clean water challenges of this rapidly urbanizing city in the Mekong Region.

The film looks at how scientific assessment is being done of the wetlands of Kulen Prom Tep in northern Cambodia. The scientists assess the ecology of the wetlands in relation to the biodiversity of the birds, soil and plants, and fish. The research includes field visits and meetings with local and national policymakers as well as the local communities to raise awareness of the importance of the wetlands and the threats to its functioning.

In northern Cambodia, the Kulen Prom Tep wetlands near Siem Reap, offer a range of benefits from water for household use and farming, to vegetables and small animals for good. But the wetlands are under threat, mostly from logging concessions that are degrading the intricate linkages of the wetland ecosystem. Local people talk of the benefits and their efforts to protect the Kulen Prom Tep wetlands.

The burning of rice straw in the fields after the harvest is causing air pollution. In central Thailand's Suphanburi province, SN researchers are conducting assessments and raising awareness to prevent rice straw burning. But for farmers, it is not so easy to just halt the burning as they face a range of problems trying to transport the straw; it's just easier, less time consuming, and more economical to burn it before the next planting.