The United Nations World Water Development Report, published every three years, is a comprehensive review providing an authoritative picture of the state of the world's freshwater resources. It offers best practices as well as in-depth theoretical analyses to help stimulate ideas and actions for better stewardship in the water sector. It is the only report of its kind, resulting from the collaboration and contributions of the 26 UN agencies, commissions, program, funds, secretariats and conventions that have a significant role in addressing global water concerns.
Foreword by Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General, United Nations
Foreword by Ko#chiro Matsuura, Director-General, United Nations Economic, Scientific and Cultural Organization
Preface
Acknowledgements
Overview of Key Messages
Water in a Changing World
1. Getting out of the Box - Linking Water to Decisions for Sustainable Development
Part I: Understanding What Drives the Pressures on Water
2. Demographic, Economic and Social Drivers
3. Technological Innovation
4. Policies, Laws and Finance
5. Climate Change and Possible Futures
Part II: Using Water
6. Water's Many Benefits
7. Evolution of Water Use
8. Impacts of Water Use on Water Systems and the Environment
9. Managing Competition for Water and the Pressure on Ecosystems
Part III: State of the Resource
10. The Earth's Natural Water Cycles
11. Changes in the Global Water Cycle
12. Evolving Hazards - and Emerging Opportunities
13. Bridging the Observational Gap
Part IV: Responses and Choices
14. Options inside the Water Box
15. Options from Beyond the Water Box
16. The Way Forward
Appendix 1: World Water Development Report Indicators
Appendix 2: Water-Related Goals and Objectives of Major Conferences and Forums, 1972-Present
Abbreviations, Data Notes and Units of Measure
List of Boxes, Figures, Maps and Tables
Index
The World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP), founded in 2000, is the flagship programme of UN-Water. Housed and led by UNESCO, WWAP monitors freshwater issues in order to provide recommendations, develop case studies, enhance assessment capacity at a national level and inform the decision-making process.
'Most important guidelines for the whole freshwater crises debate.' Sherkin Comment