Demographic trends are placing more pressure on water-stressed regions than ever before. With the global population expected to increase by up to 50 per-cent in the next fifty years, sustainable management of water resources will present a significant development challenge. In Volume 2, Issue 24, the Rio+20: Making it Happen newsletter focuses on water, one of the seven priority issues that the Conference will address. Also in this issue, news from the 66th session of the UN General Assembly as it wraps up the work of its main session, important deadlines for Rio+20, and the updated negotiating schedule for the UNCSD.

1. Newsletter of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development
30 December 2011, Volume 2, Issue 24
Rio+20 registration now open. Not accredited? Apply for one-time accreditation until 20 February.
www.uncsd2012.org/registration
Rio+20: Water for the World
In our efforts to raise awareness
With the world welcoming its 7 billionth
around the themes of Rio+20, we
citizen in 2011, it is clear that population
devote this special issue to Water,
pressure will put an increasing amount of
one of the seven critical issues
stress on the world’s water resources in the
of Rio+20.
years to come. It is estimated that by 2030,
cities around the world will collectively take
on an extra 800 million people and that
In this Issue roughly 60% of the global population will
live in an urban environment. In addition,
- Sustainable Water Management water use has been growing at more than
Page 1 twice the rate of population increase in the last century alone.
While recent studies report significant progress in providing access to improved drinking
- Major Groups Corner
water over the past two decades, water will remain a major global political, environmental and
- News from the GA
economic issue in coming years, and will be considered a critical issue at Rio+20.
- Important Rio+20 Deadlines
- Schedule of Negotiations Already, it is estimated that a more than one in six people worldwide lack adequate access to
- Upcoming Events safe and clean drinking water. On top of that, over 2.5 billion people, including almost one
Page 2 billion children, live without basic sanitation. In addition, a burgeoning global population will
put increased pressure on the world’s food supply and security. This will put a major strain on
global freshwater resources, of which 70% is already currently used for irrigation purposes.
In preparation for Rio+20, the UNCSD Secretariat has released a Water Issues Brief that provides
an overview of existing commitments, current initiatives and future goals relating to global water
security. For more information, or to read the Issue Briefs, visit the Rio+20 website.
Access to Safe Drinking Water Improved,
But Poorest Still Lagging
The new study by the UN Children’s Fund
www.uncsd2012.org/water
(UNICEF) and UN World Health Organization (WHO),
Drinking Water Equity, Safety and Sustainability,
Follow Rio+20 shows that between 1990 and 2008 the proportion
Visit us on Facebook and Twitter of the world’s population with access to improved
drinking water sources increased from 77 per cent
to 87 per cent. However, the report stresses, even
though significant progress has been made, at the
current rate 672 million people will still not be using
Contact us improved drinking water sources by 2015.
uncsd2012@un.org “The good news is that almost 1.8 billion more
people now have access to drinking water compared to the start of the 1990s,” said Sanjay
Wijesekera, UNICEF’s associate director and water and sanitation chief. “The bad news is that
Quote
“
the poorest and most marginalized are being left behind.”
I am not content to live in a world Globally, more than eight in 10 people without improved drinking water sources live in rural
where 2.6 billion people lack access to areas. Investment in water and sanitation is not being optimized, with almost two-thirds of total
a decent toilet and 900 million people official development assistance for drinking water and sanitation going to the development of
”
do not have clean water to drink. large urban systems, the report points out.
Sustainable water management has been identified as a critical issue for Rio+20. Globally, one
- H.E. Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor,
out of six people lack adequate access to safe drinking water and more than 2.6 billion people
former President of Ghana and the
lack sufficient access to sanitation. With the global population expected to increase by up to
first high-level Chair of the Sanitation
50 per cent within the next fifty years, increased demand for water will present a significant
and Water for All partnership 1
challenge for sustainable development going forward. Read more online here.

2. Major Groups Corner:
Rio+20 Outcome Document
Science Addresses Water Security
A recent policy brief published ahead of the 2012 Planet • 9 January 2012, New York
Under Pressure Conference entitled Water Security for a 21st meeting of the Bureau of the
Planet Under Pressure outlines recommendations by the Preparatory Process for Rio+20.
Scientific and Technological Community on sustainable • 25 - 27 January 2012, New York
water management in the context of Rio+20. Initial discussions on the zero draft of
The brief identifies water security as a critical issue for implementing sustainable development, the outcome document.
stressing that it deserves to be at the top of the global political agenda for Rio+20 and beyond. • 19 - 23 March 2012, New York
While Rio+20 provides a significant opportunity to address issues of water security, social First round of “informal-informal”
and political will must be strengthened to follow through on commitments made at the negotiations.
Conference.
• 26 - 27 March 2012, New York
While scientists can provide knowledge and technical solutions to water problems, the Third Intersessional Meeting of UNCSD.
brief reminds that it is up to governments and policy-makers to lead the way in delivering
The “zero draft”, or first negotiating
action. The report also highlights the crucial role that water plays in all aspects of the global
draft, will become the primary basis for
economic system and the consequences of unsustainable water use.
Member State negotiations, ultimately
The brief suggests that any successful strategy or intergovernmental agreement at Rio+20 leading to a formal outcome to be
must address issues of maintaining a functioning hydrological cycle, implementing reliable adopted by world leaders at Rio+20 .
engineering schemes, developing awareness of threats and mitigation plans for water
management and balancing human and environmental water needs.
The upcoming Planet Under Pressure Conference will be held in London, United Kingdom Upcoming Events
from 26 to 29 March 2012. Read more online here.
Forum international francophone:
GA Second Committee: Jeunesse et emplois verts
Focus on Rio+20 16-19 January 2012
The General Assembly Economic Niamey, Niger
and Financial Committee (Second [more information]
Committee) wrapped up its work
for the 66th session on 9 December, 5th World Future Energy Summit
approving a cluster of 16 draft 16-19 January 2012
resolutions and 2 draft decisions in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
the area of sustainable development, [more information]
with relevant actions. The resolutions
were later adopted in the GA plenary Capacity Building Workshop for
on 22 December just before the main Major Groups and Other Stakeholders
part of the 66th session formally 24 January 2012
closed. New York, United States
Key among them, resolution A/RES/66/197 on the Implementation of Agenda 21 announced
Global Civil Society Workshop
modalities for the Rio+20 Conference. The GA approved a provisional agenda and a proposed
24 January 2012
organization of work for Rio+20, contained in the annex sections of the resolution. Additionally,
New York, United States
reference was made to Conference participants, side events, parallel meetings and official
[more information]
documentation.
The GA also reiterated is deep concern for the financial state of Rio+20, and urged donors to USRIO+2.0 - Bridging Connection
provide adequate resources for participants from developing countries and Major Groups. Technologies and Sust. Development
2-4 February 2012
Upcoming Deadlines for Rio+20... Palo Alto, United States
SD-Learning is a capacity building event consisting [more information]
of multiple courses on crucial aspects of sustainable
development. The courses aim at providing 2nd Asia-Pacific Water Summit
participants with practical knowledge and hands-on 5-6 February 2012 *Postponed*
training from experts around the world. Bangkok, Thailand
The full schedule of courses will be released in April [more information]
2012. Participants are advised to register in advance
in order to secure their participation. Colloque sur les forêts
Submit your request 5-7 February 2012
Call for proposals now open until 28 February Lyon, France
by 30 March 2012 [more information]
More details online here.
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