In the context of the economies of the world becoming greener, Investing in Water for a Green Economy provides a global and interdisciplinary overview of the condition of the world's water resources and the infrastructure used to manage it. It focuses on current social and economic costs of water provision, needs and opportunities for investment and for improving its management. It describes the large array of water policy challenges facing the world, including the Milennium Development Goals for clean water and sanitation, and shows how these might be met. There is a mixture of global overviews, reviews of specific issues and an array of case studies. It is shown how accelerated investment in water-dependent ecosystems, in water infrastructure and in water management can be expected to expedite the transition to a green economy. Investing in Water for a Green Economy provides a key source of information for people interested in understanding emerging water issues and approaches that are consistent with a world that takes greater responsibility for the environment.
Part 1: Overview
1. Investing in Water Services Infrastructure Policies and Management
Part 2: The Macro-Economic Case for Investment in Water
2. Charting our Water Future: Economic Frameworks to Inform Decision-Making
3. Making Water a Part of Economic Development: The Economic Benefits of Improved Water Management and Services
4. The Impacts of Climate Change and Trade Liberalization on Global Agriculture
5. Benefits and Costs of Investing in Ecosystems Services for Clean Water Supply and Flood Protection
Part 3: Policy Guidelines for Investment in Water
6. A Primer on Water Economics
7. A Primer on Water Financing
8. The Effectiveness of Alternative Water Governance Arrangements
Part 4: Regional Experience
9. Challenging Hydrological Panaceas: Evidence from the Niger River Basin
10. Palyja "Water for All" Programs in Western Jakarta
11. Opportunities and Constraints to Development of Water Resources Infrastructure Investement in Sub-Saharan Africa
12. Free Basic Water - A Sustainable Instrument for a Sustainable Future in South Africa
Mike Young is Executive Director of the Environment Institute and Professor of Water Economics and Management, University of Adelaide, Australia.
Christine Esau is a consultant and editor based in Adelaide, Australia.