Global Water Partnership (GWP) welcomes the aspirational 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development adopted by Member States at the UN General Assembly on September 25, 2015. The transformational vision of the agenda is ambitious and will need an unwavering commitment on the part of everyone. GWP will play its part.
At the core of the 2030 Agenda is a set of 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To have any chance of successful implementation, the SDGs demand a rapid start up, consistent implementation and monitoring, integrated thinking, and collaborative action. As an action-oriented, multi-stakeholder partnership working at all levels, GWP is already actively engaged with countries, and is committed to support them in implementing the SDGs.
The Agenda covers a wide range of development issues. The specific water goal (SDG 6) and targets means that water resources management can no longer be an afterthought or taken for granted: economies and societies can only develop sustainably if water and water-using sectors collaborate. The 2030 Agenda declares that “we pledge that no one will be left behind…. And we will endeavour to reach the furthest behind first.” Many of those furthest behind are those without adequate access to water. We need to start with them.
The new Development Agenda provides political commitment for integrated water resources management at the highest level, including a specific target (6.5). This has been and remains the raison d’être of GWP and has been taken up by many countries. GWP and its partners will work more fervently to help governments implement an integrated approach that takes into account the other goals, notably on climate, energy, food, health, governance, ecosystems, gender equality, and urbanisation.
Implementing this approach requires smarter decision-making based on the best knowledge available, and commitment to action with other sectors through working partnerships and shared responsibilities.
Water resources management is critical to long-term economic growth and poverty eradication. Its recognition in the 2030 Development Agenda gives GWP optimism that progress toward sustainable development and a productive and dignified life for all will be accelerated and more readily achievable.
Photo: This image is part of the GWP social media campaign for a dedicated Water Goal, launched in January 2015 – a library of campaign images available here.