AZ Has Much to Offer, Learn by Taking Part in Global Water Affairs

This Guest View was written by Susanna Eden, new WRRC coordinator of applied research. See page 3 for additional information about Dr. Eden.

At Arizona’s universities, the level of interest and activity on state and regional water resource issues has never been higher. At the same time, it’s important to remember that there is a larger world beyond the borders of Arizona. Globally, the need for more information and knowledge sharing, innovation, and technology transfer is great. There are great opportunities to learn and expand the inventory of ideas that can be applied to Arizona, as well.

The United Nations has proclaimed the years 2005 to 2015 the International Decade for Action “Water for Life.” The goal of the decade is to fulfill the commitments of the international community on water for sustainable development, including preservation of the natural environment and alleviation of poverty. These commitments include the Millennium Development Goals to halve the unmet need for safe drinking water and stop the unsustainable exploitation of water resources.

This UN system wide effort is coordinated by UN-Water. The UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is a key actor in the Decade activities. Since its recent reentry into UNESCO, the United States is playing a more active role in that organization’s direction. In the fall of 2004, freshwater was one of the top priorities on the agenda presented by Louise V. Oliver when she took up her post as U.S. Ambassador to UNESCO. U.S. scientists made contributions to UNESCO’s International Hydrology Program (IHP) throughout the period following the U.S. withdrawal and continue to contribute. In addition, UNESCO and the U.S. State Department now are working together to attract more U.S. citizens to take positions in UNESCO.

The Hydrology for Environment Life and Policy (HELP) program of UNESCO IHP has active participation in Arizona. The Upper San Pedro River basin is a member of the HELP network of basins and functions as a model for implementing HELP principles: applying hydrologic science to the needs identified by stakeholders.

National governments and intergovernmental organizations support development goals by sponsoring and coopering in specific projects and programs of research, education and the capacity building. The World Bank, for example, has dedicated programs that provide assistance to the developing world for research on meeting water and sanitation needs and protecting the natural environment. Groundwater and transboundary waters have been focus areas for these programs.

An intergovernmental activity that is receiving a lot of attention now is the Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS). GEOSS functions as an international collaboration at the level of national governments and involves scientists from government, universities, and the private sector. Concerning itself with observations and monitoring, its goals include developing and employing new tools for observations and data, reversing the worldwide trend of shrinking monitoring networks, developing international protocols, and improving international cooperation and coordination. Water resources managers are specifically named as intended beneficiaries of GEOSS.

Individual and independent organizations have additional pathways for international participation. The International Association of Hydrological Sciences (IAHS), an organization of scientists, leverages the resources of national governments, semi-governmental organizations, and private entities directly and through UN agencies to coordinate programs of international research on the full gamut of water science. Participation on IAHS subcommittees puts scientist in touch with their peers in other countries and provides for a cross-fertilization of ideas over national boundaries.

Climate and global change are particularly rich areas of international collaboration on water issues. Changes to weather/climate and the global water cycle have enormous implications for water resources in already vulnerable areas. A few years ago, interest in global change issues led to the formation of the Earth System Science Partnership, which coordinates activities of four preexisting programs of global change research and outreach (biodiversity, geosphere/biosphere interactions, human dimensions, and climate). A first priority project of the new partnership focuses on the global water system, a comprehensive system that includes the water resource and control systems engineered by humans.

There are many parallels between research on Arizona issues and research needs and activities internationally. Water in arid and semi-arid environments, deserts and desertification, riparian ecosystems, drought and associated issues, groundwater science, management concepts and institution building, transboundary water management, pollution and public health, and the list goes on. There are international programs and collaborations in all of these areas.

Not just scientists, but managers, community organizers, and businesses can contribute internationally. The 4th World Water Forum will be held in the spring of 2006 in Mexico City. The mission of the World Water Forum, which has been held every three years in a different city, is to create dialogue among stakeholders in the water community for the resolution of water related problems. A ministerial conference is held in conjunction with the Forum, which produces water policy recommendations. This year the Forum is focusing on local actions. The themes are: 1) water for growth and development, 2) implementing Integrated Water Resources Management, 3) water supply and sanitation for all, 4) water management for food and the environment, and 5) risk management.

This has been only a small, selective view of the complicated and diverse world of international water resources activities. My selections are based on my personal experience in that world and consequently are skewed. The message, however, is straightforward.

It’s an exciting time to be involved with water work in Arizona. It’s also an exciting time to extend that work beyond Arizona. The world wants to hear from us.

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