UNECE Water Convention at the 7th World Water Forum - Promoting transboundary water cooperation

Dear colleagues,

UNECE is organizing several events with numerous partners in the framework of the Seventh World Water Forum’s high-level, thematic and regional processes. These events will showcase the concrete support the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourse and International Lakes (Water Convention) and the Protocol on Water and Health offer to address the major water-related challenges our world is facing, whether local or global, in such areas as access to water for all, or the impact of climate change and water insecurity on regional stability and peace. The detailed programme of the different sessions can be consulted at: www.unece.org/index.php?id=38853#/

Monday 13 April 2015

T.1.1.1 - Safe drinking water for all: realizing the human right to water and sanitation (UNECE and FANMex) - 11:20-13:20, Daegu Exco, DEC_302
The support to the implementation of the human right to water and sanitation through the activities on equitable access under the Protocol will also be presented, in particular the positive experiences in the application of the Equitable Access Score-card in several countries.

INR.4.3.EU - Transboundary water management: Successful experience of European international basin organizations for better managing transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers (UNECE and International Scheldt Commission) - 12:00-13:30, Gyeongju Hico, GHC_205

T.1.3.6 - Climate change adaptation in basins: examples and good practices (UNECE, International Office for Water and Wageningen University) - 17:00-19:00, Daegu Exco, DEC_310
Many basins around the world are already affected by the impacts of climate change, such as an increased frequency and variability of extreme weather events. Good practices in how to adapt to climate change will be presented by members of the global network of basins working on climate change adaptation, supported by the UNECE Water Convention and the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO). UNECE and INBO will launch the publication Water and Climate Change Adaptation in Transboundary Basins: Lessons Learned and Good Practices.

Tuesday 14 April 2015

T.2.2.3 - Putting the water-energy nexus into practice:   Economic and policy incentives (UNECE, IWA and IUCN) - 11:20-13:20, Daegu Exco, DEC_312
Activities on the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus and on the assessment of the benefits of transboundary water cooperation, carried out under the Convention, will also be shared.

T.SS.19 Special Focus Session- Two global Conventions on transboundary water cooperation: So what? (UNECE, WWF, IUCN and Green Cross International) - 14:40-16:10, Daegu Inter Burgo Hotel, DIB_B101
The United Nations Secretary-General will address the special high-level event by video message. The event will celebrate the opening of the Water Convention to all United Nations Member States and the entry into force in 2014 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses. These major breakthroughs in the development of international water law will support transboundary water cooperation worldwide.

T.4.3.5 - Sharing benefits of transboundary waters across sectors and countries (UNECE, GEF, UNESCO-IHP, Oregon State University, Finnish Environment Institute and Ministry of Environment of Estonia) - 17:00-19:00, Daegu Exco, DEC_303

Wednesday 15 April 2015

INR.1.3.EU - Climate change adaptation and mitigation: European examples and instruments for effective adaptation to climate change (UNECE, International Office for Water) - 09:00-11:00, Gyeongju Hotel Hyundai, GHH_B103

T.4.3.2 - International water law demystified (UNECE, WWF, IUCN and Green Cross International) - 11:20-13:20, Daegu Inter Burgo Hotel, DIB_B102

Please don't hesitate to contact us at chantal.demilecamps@unece.org or sonja.koeppel@unece.org should you have any question.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Chantal Demilecamps
Environmental Affairs Officer - United Nations Economic Commission for Europe - Environment Division
Palais des Nations, CH-1211 Geneva 10
Tel: +41 22 917 24 68
Email: Chantal.Demilecamps@unece.org
Website: www.unece.org/env/water