COMMITTEE: UN Developmental Program

Access to Water and Sanitation

READ TO DISCOVER: 1. Why is freshwater so important as a resource? 2. What are the main causes of freshwater shortages? 3. What are the biggest problems that a lack of freshwater can cause?

DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMITEE

Established in 1965, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) serves as the United Nations' global development agency, working in 177 countries to provide knowledge, experience, and resources to craft country-owned solutions to global and national development challenges. Funded entirely through voluntary contributions, UNDP manages an annual budget of approximately $5 billion, including roughly $1 billion of core resources that support basic program activities, technical expertise, and the global country network necessary to deliver its worldwide programs. UNDP serves as the manager of the UNs development system, ensuring greater UN coherence at the country level. The United Nations Development Program implements a series of programs that are of strategic importance world wide. Four main sectors of focus include; Crisis Prevention and Recovery, Democracy and Good Governance, Poverty Reduction, and Energy & the Environment.1

Nongovernmental organization (NGO): organization not belonging to or associated with any government.

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INTRODUCTION
Freshwater is an important natural resource for plant irrigation, wildlife survival and human consumption. However, one out of every five human beings is currently without access to safe drinking water.2 There are huge consequences for such a large shortage in fresh water. As access to clean water decreases, economies suffer as development slows down and global health encounters many new challenges and problems. In these times of fewer water resources, nations may argue over the ownership of bodies of water that are located across national boundaries. 2003 marked the UN International Year of Freshwater. The main goals for the year were to raise awareness concerning freshwater issues, to think of creative solutions to the freshwater problem using new technologies and ideas, and to increase participation in finding solutions for all regions and social groups.3 Two years later, the UN announced the start of the Water for Life decade, during which the UN hopes to reduce by half the number of people without access to safe drinking water, which is now more than half over. However, progress still needs to be made to improve access to freshwater around the world.

Freshwater: water that is not salty and that can be used for drinking and watering plants. Plant irrigation: a method to provide plants and crops with water. Industrial Revolution: A period in history that took place in the late 18th and early 19th century in which the discovery of new forms of energy such as the steam powered machines led to a dramatic increase in the existence of factories.

BACKGROUND
Water has always been an important part of human civilization. Early cultures would center entire societies on bodies of water, like the Nile River in Egypt. Humans considered water a necessity in every aspect of their lives. Some of the uses that made water so important during that time included: drinking water, water for agriculture, and using water as a means of transportation.
DID YOU KNOW? 60% of the human body is made up of water: muscle tissue is 75% water, blood is 95% water and even bones are made up of 22% water.

In the late 18th century the industrial revolution caused things in society to start changing dramatically. New forms of energy were discovered and industry became a powerful force of economic growth and the countries development. Over time, technology evolved and many water-based industries UNICEF formed. At the same time, the need to find new places to dispose of industrial waste led mankind to start contaminating large bodies of water.

The sharp increase in the human population during the 19th century also contributed to a freshwater shortage. As cities became larger and more people were born, the need for water for human consumption became larger and cities started to look for new places to get it, hence drying up large numbers of rivers and lakes.

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Waste management: the processes that deals with the waste of humans and animals, such as sewage and garbage. Contamination: pollution; the presence of a harmful material in something. Small island developing states: Developing countries that are only one or several small islands. These countries face issues most countries do not: they are more at risk for climate change, natural disasters and environmental damage. They typically have few freshwater resources. Contaminant: something that causes water to become impure, such as certain types of chemicals. Sustainable Development: development that meets the current needs of population without taking away the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Aquifers: underground water sources.

Today, the lack of freshwater resources is affected by many different problems, especially pollution and waste management. With the introduction of water-based industries and gasoline-powered boats, and poor and deteriorating sewage systems, bodies of water are more likely to have problems with contamination. As a result, water becomes undrinkable for humans and un-livable for wildlife. Small island developing states, growing coastal areas, areas requiring irrigation and large cities with high water demand are those most affected by contamination and the resulting loss of freshwater resources. The contamination of freshwater hurts the ability of a region to develop. Water problems in a region mean the region cannot support as many people or wildlife. Similarly, water shortage means that more people must share smaller amounts of water. If a disease or contaminant is present, the effects will quickly spread throughout the population because they all drink from the same reserves. In addition, as wildlife in lakes and rivers die due to pollution, communities that rely on fishing or hunting suffer. In the end, sustainable development depends on the availability of freshwater sources.

Pollution of an old public bath in Turkey.

Source: www.wateryear2003.org

Growing Demands for Freshwater Resources As communities grow, there is a larger demand for fresh water. Agriculture and industry continue to use more water than is needed for simple human drinking. The increased use of freshwater drains a resource that is not quickly replenished. Underground water sources, known as aquifers, quickly go dry with human usage and may not have a way of renewing the water. In addition, many rivers tend to decrease in volume as they flow downstream, leaving users at the end of the river with little water.
DID YOU KNOW? In developing countries, 70% of all industrial waste is dumped untreated into waters where it pollutes the usable water supply.
Source: 2003 International Year of Freshwater website. http://www.wateryear2003.org

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Effects of the Shortage of Available Freshwater Water shortage and water contamination increase health risks, especially among the poor. It is estimated that at any given time, half of the people in developing countries are affected by diseases caused by organisms that grow in water and food.4 Improperly running water systems can originate disease-carrying micro-organisms or insects that live in still water. Economically, a lack of freshwater has serious consequences that can limit a countrys development. As demand for the use of freshwater resources rises, the cost of freshwater rises as well. This increases the possibility of conflict because people have to share water resources. In addition, as the cost of freshwater increases so do food prices, causing already poor populations to suffer even greater hardship.

Water is distributed by the military in Bangladesh.

Source: UN Photo/Kibae Park

The contamination of water sources also causes ecological problems. When a body of water becomes polluted there may be huge changes in temperature, acidity levels and color, all of which change the environment for underwater life. This harms the plants, animals and people that rely directly or indirectly on those bodies of water. Water scarcity also threatens food security. Communities that depend on freshwater fishing find themselves with a small food supply. Freshwater is also vital for agriculture. In Africa, for example, agriculture accounts for 88 percent of freshwater use.5 According to the United Nations Environmental Programme, agriculture accounts for 70 percent of water use worldwide.6 Future water shortages may become the worlds most dangerous threat to global food security. The shortage of water resources can also change important hydrological cycles, or water cycles, which in turn affects climate conditions. Therefore, the availability of freshwater depends not only on conservation, but also on proper resource-management, good cleaning techniques and responsible economic policies.

Food Security: peoples access to basic foods necessary for survival. Hydrological cycles or water cycles: the series of effects water has on the earths surface and atmosphere.

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Water as a Human Right Human beings need water every day in order to survive, but safe water sources like wells and water pumps are often located miles away from peoples homes. Usually, the task of collecting water is handed down to young women and girls. Their time could be better spent in school or fulfilling other needs, but instead they must spend hours collecting enough water for their families, often making two to four trips a day, sometimes over harsh or dangerous land. These daily trips sometimes put womens and girls safety at risk, especially in areas involved in conflict. Experts believe people should have access to at least 20 liters (about 5 gallons) of water per day for drinking, cooking and sanitation (bathing, cleaning their households and clothing, and hand-washing.) Having less than 20 liters of water a day means people may go thirsty or may become ill from poor hygiene, and people are affected in many other ways including psychologically. Those without enough water may experience humiliation because they cannot bathe frequently, or they may have to bathe or wash clothing in public areas. Through its Water for Life campaign, the UN is calling on experts and officials to recognize a basic human right to 20 liters of water per day.7 The UN believes that water is something every human should have free access to.

Village women obtaining drinking water from a newly-installed water pipe in rural Tanzania.
Source: UN Photo/B Wolff

Privatization: The process of giving governmentcontrolled services to private corporations.

Providing every citizen with at least 20 liters of water a day can be extremely difficult, especially for developing countries. Governments in developing countries often dont have the ability to build water distribution systems. Many governments privatize water distribution, allowing private companies to take over control of water sources. Privatization can sometimes help to improve the distribution of freshwater because companies use newer technology and have more resources to secure water sources. Unlike governments, however, which use tax money to run water distribution systems, private companies must charge fees, which can make water expensive and unavailable to the poor.

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOAL 7: ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY Reduce by half the proportion of people without sustainable access to safe drinking water. Reverse the excessive loss of environmental resources (including freshwater).

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Security Concerns Lack of available freshwater can threaten international security. In 1999, a United Nations Development Program report predicted that water scarcity in the coming 25 years would become the single greatest cause for violent conflict in Africa, and a major cause of conflict in the Middle East.8 Tensions over limited freshwater resources have already taken place historically. In 1991, facing competition from Sudan and Ethiopia, Egypt threatened to use its military to protect its use of the Nile river basin.9
BOLIVIA: A Case of Security Related to Water In early April 2000, Bolivia grabbed the worlds attention when the city of Cochabamba erupted in a public rebellion over water prices. In 1999, at the suggestion of the World Bank, Bolivia granted a 40 year private lease contract to a company. This gave the company control over the water supply for more than half a million people. Immediately the company doubled and even tripled water rates for some of South Americas poorest families. CRITICAL THINKING Can you think of other ways in which conflict can arise when multiple states share a single water source? How can these conflicts be resolved?

Although in modern history water wars or military struggle over access and/or ownership of fresh water resources have been rare, freshwater resources have played a central role in many military campaigns. Because freshwater is so important to the survival of a countrys people and government, destroying freshwater resources and cutting off access to freshwater are effective ways to hurt an enemy country. Dams were commonly bombed by both Allied and German forces during World War II. In 1945, German forces used sewage to pollute a reservoir in Romania. During the Vietnam War, the United States bombed North Vietnams irrigation systems.10

The security of freshwater resources also plays a role in domestic security. Freshwater resources are often targets of terrorist threats in both Germany and the United States.11 In April of 2000, rising water prices caused by the privatization of water resources caused threats of rebellion in Bolivia.12
Water distribution by UNAMID in Northern Darfur.
Source: UN Photo/Olivier Chassot

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INTERNATIONAL ACTION
Recognition of the increasing need for fresh water resources began with the United Nations Water Conference of 1977, also known as the Mar del Plata Action Plan (MPAP).13 This conference established basic rules for monitoring water management in order to predict future resource problems. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s the international debate on water resources focused only on regionbased water shortages. The International Conference on Water and the Environment (ICWE) held in Dublin, Ireland in 1992 and Agenda 21, adopted that same year in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, both proposed a far-reaching, more integrated plan than any plan that was considered before. The plans dealt with improving cleanliness worldwide, looking at the impact of climate change and global warming on water levels, and offering states ways to ensure the future maintenance of freshwater.

2009 World Water Day effects of water scarcity.

Source: UN Photo/Martine Perret

Water is [more and more] recognized as a [non-replaceable] and vulnerable resource and one which is likely to be the [main problem with development] in some countries, explained a 1997 report from the Secretary-General. Freshwater resources will be a development issue, a political issue, and a welfare issue.14 The issue of protecting and properly managing freshwater resources therefore has far-reaching effects, affecting many aspects of what the UN works on daily. In 2000, the countries of the world agreed on a set of development goals that they would strive to meet by 2015. These Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) include specific goals related to preserving freshwater resources. In 2005, the UN initiated the decade of Water for Life. The decade concludes in 2015, the same year that the MDGs are to be completed. Whether or not these goals will be accomplished by that year remains to be seen. The 2006 United Nations Human Development Report focused on the importance of access to clean water. The report, titled Beyond Scarcity: Power, Poverty, and the Global Water Crisis, argues that access to clean water is a human right, and that water scarcity can be prevented with the right policies. The United Nations Development Program, which produced the report, believes that water scarcity is the result of inequality in power and opportunity. The UN also holds an annual World Water Day on March 22. The 2012 World Water Day is the 20th year of the event. Governments are invited to hold events to mark the occasion and a global theme is picked. This continues to be a way for water to stay at the forefront of the global agenda and for people and governments to raise awareness of the problems surrounding access to Freshwater.

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RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CREATING A RESOLUTION

There are many issues that affect the freshwater problem, including the effects of pollution, the question of resource management, and modern requirements of sanitation and irrigation. In addition, many countries are not financially or technologically prepared to confront these obstacles. In its support of the Mar del Plata Action Plan, the UN General Assembly encouraged the following ways to take future action15: The creation of national water resource management commissions for action in specific countries; The creation of regional programs and conferences to discuss other measures to preserve water; The inclusion of different NGOs and individuals in the debate on freshwater.

These are all issues the UN Development Program should address as it looks more closely at the problem of freshwater resources. Delegates may also want to discuss the idea that access to freshwater is a human right and consider bringing in the business sector to make sure that industrial activity does not contaminate water reserves. Ultimately, sustainable water resources for the future will require smart and responsible planning on the part of all actors, including nations, corporations and individuals. Delegates Should: Address both the needs and limitations of developing countries, especially those in desert-like regions of the globe, which may not be able to afford or enforce freshwater programs; Consider solutions such as financial aid programs, educational programs or technical assistance; Discuss ways to monitor global freshwater reserves and the sanitation of these; Suggest ways that shortages can be overcome quickly and efficiently; and Address the main causes of freshwater shortage, such as pollution and mismanagement.

Questions to Consider:
1. Are there shortages of freshwater resources in your country? If so, what effects do these have on your nations health, economy, and development? 2. What does your country believe the international community can do to address the issue of declining freshwater resources? 3. How does your country suggest the international community pay for global water resources management programs? 4. Are there any steps being taken in your country to reduce freshwater pollution?

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RESEARCH AID
This is the official website of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and will serve as a great starting point to find out more about how the UNDP works and what it is doing about freshwater resources and sanitation. UN Development Program, www.undp.org The World Meteorological Organization (WMO) also works on water issues. You can learn more about water cycles and the work they do at their website. World Meteorological Organization: Water, http://www.wmo.int/pages/themes/water/index_en.html The UNs home for the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) will provide you with information on the specifics of the goals, what countries are doing to try to reach them, and what progress has been made so far. The Millennium Development Goals, www.un.org/millenniumgoals This is the UNs homepage for the Water for Life decade. It includes information on activities for the decade and the different issues being addressed. Water for Life Decade, www.un.org/waterforlifedecade The Pacific Institute is a research NGO that works on the environment and its impact on social and economic development. They have a large number of resources on global freshwater resources. Pacific Institute, www.worldwater.org This is the site of the annual world water day, which includes information on events around the world and explanations of the annual theme. World Water Day, www.worldwaterday.org This is the UNs central site on all of its water-related activities. Here you will find information on the activities of various UN bodies working on freshwater resources and official UN documents that have been passed on the subject, as well as other useful information. UN Water, www.unwater.org

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REFERENCES
1

United Nations Development Program http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home.html 2Johannesburg Summit 2002 Pamphlet: World Summit on Sustainable Developmen t, October 2001, United

Nations Department of Public Information. 9.

3UN Launches International Year of Freshwater, UN News Centre, New York, 12 December 2002 http://www.un.org/apps/news/storyAr.asp?NewsID=5640&Cr=freshwater&Cr1=&Kw1=International+Yea r+of+Freshwater&Kw2=&Kw3= 4Comprehensive Assessment of the Freshwater Resources of the World, United Nations Sustainable Development. Accessed 22 August 2005, http://www.earthscape.org/r1/luj01/luj01.html 5 Africas Potential Water Wars, BBC News, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/454926.stm 6 Irrigated Agriculture, UNEP.Net, http://freshwater.unep.net/index.cfm?issue=water_irrig 7 UN Works, Water for Life, www.un.org/works/water/wfl.html 8 World Wide Words, water war, www.worldwidewords.org/turnsofphrase/tp-wat1.htm 9 BBC News. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/static/in_depth/world/2000/world_water_crisis/default.stm 10Dr. Peter H. Gleick, WATER CONFLICT CHRONOLOGY, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, www.worldwater.org/conflictchronology.pdf 11 Dr. Peter H. Gleick, WATER CONFLICT CHRONOLOGY, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security, www.worldwater.org/conflictchronology.pdf 12 The Democracy Center, www.democracyctr.org/waterwar 13World Water Assessment Programme: Milestones - 1972-2003, From Stockholm to Kyoto. 2001. United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Accessed 18 October 2002, http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/milestones/index.shtml#1977 14Global change and sustainable development: critical trends, Commission on Sustainable Development, Accessed 8 August 2002, http://www.un.org/documents/ecosoc/cn17/1997/ecn171997-3.htm http://www.rrojasdatabank.org/trends.htm 15 UN Resolution 32/158; www.un.org/documents/ga/res/32/ares32r158.pdf

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