An United Nations Assembly has declared 2013 as the International Year of

Water Cooperation. The objective of this International Year is to raise awareness,

both on the potential for increased cooperation, and on the challenges facing

water management in light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation

and services. The Year will highlight the history of successful water cooperation

initiatives, as well as identify burning issues on water education, water diplomacy,

transboundary water management, financing cooperation, national/international

legal frameworks, and the linkages with the Millennium Development Goals. It will

also provide an opportunity to capitalize on the momentum created at the United

Nations Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), and to support the

formulation of new objectives that will contribute towards developing water

resources that are truly sustainable. In support of the UN campaign we are

presenting the main themes about the water cooperation.

Main Themes About Water Cooperation

Water Cooperation

Water Cooperation requires a common understanding to a joint work among nations, to deal with the challenges of the water resources management, in a peaceful, sustainable and mutually beneficial way.

Learn more:

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/water_cooperation.shtml

Water Conservation Awareness

Awareness campaigns about the rational use of water and the combat against its waste are essential to the development of saving water habits.

Learn more:

http://www.unep.org/training/programmes/Instructor%20Version/Part_2/Activities/Interest_Groups/Public_Awareness/Supplemental/Water_Conservation_A_Guide_to_Promoting_Public_Awareness.pdf

World Water Day

March 22nd is the World Water Day. The involvement of all in awareness campaigns disseminates the water preservation need.

Learn more:

http://www.un.org/en/events/waterday/

Sanitation

Sanitation is a set of cares necessary to handle water, sewage and garbage, essential to the maintenance of the population´s health and wellbeing.

Learn more:

http://www.unwater.org/wwd08/docs/vital-for-health.pdf

Transboundary Cooperation

The cooperation for the use of transboundary watersheds ensures the watercourses sharing without conflicts and enjoying mutual benefits.

Learn more:

http://www.unwater.org/wwd09/flashindex.html

Water Resources Management

The water resources usage must be rational, ensuring the environment´s development and preservation.

Learn more:

http://www.unwater.org/TFresources.html

Water Scarcity

Potable water scarcity is a harsh reality to many countries and regions. Integration and cooperation must be constant task to the government and society.

Learn more:

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/scarcity.shtml

Water Enjoyment

The enjoyment of rainwater to the not potable consume and reuse of treated unconventional water, as irrigation sources, are excellent alternatives to water economy.

Learn more:

http://www.un.org/esa/agenda21/natlinfo/countr/china/Waterf.pdf

Potable Water Quality

Potable water is fundamental to the human´s health and the continuous development of technologies and management strategies is basal to guarantee the supply of good quality drinking water.

Learn more:

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/quality.shtml

Water and Food Security

Most of the freshwater in the world is used in the food production. The recycling of wastewater for agriculture reduces water scarcity and contamination.

Learn more:

http://www.un.org/waterforlifedecade/food_security.shtml

Water, Climate and Energy

The world faces crucial challenges in the dominion of the climate, water, energy and feeding, factors complexly interconnected which cannot be dealt separately.

Learn more:

http://www.iwahq.org/hk/themes/water-climate-and-energy.html

World Water Monitoring Challenge

It is an international education and outreach program that builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world.

Learn more:

http://www.worldwatermonitoringday.org/