2013 : International Year of Water Cooperation 2013 will be the International Year of Water Cooperation for UNESCO. This announcement was made during the 6th World Water Forum. UNESCO, which is the lead organisation, together with four other UN agencies, will focus on the sucesses achieved in the field of water cooperation and will identify the most pressing issues on water education, water diplomacy, transboundary water management, funding, and juridical framework. Water will be used as a catalyst to increase multi-sectorial participation of different actors for a better world. Earth Summit 2012 in Rio and World Water Week in Stockholm will increase the dissemination of that topic. Gender equality promoted by UNESCO report For the launch of the 4th UN World Water Development Report (WWDR4), Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, presented the chapter on mainstreaming gender in water resources management.This is the first time since the launch of the first report in 2000 that this concept is explicitly taken into account.Various speakers stressed the importance of strengthening the decision-making power of women in the field of management and use of water. Equally women’s participation in all levels of water governance as well as information dissemination to stakeholders were emphasised. The European Union (EU) commits even further to water challenges On Tuesday 13 March, Janez Poto?nik, European Commissioner for the Environment, introduced the “Blueprint to Safeguard Europe Water Resources” to be published next November. It defines new strategical orientations. The Blueprint strengthens EU efforts towards water ‘prevention and preparedness’, with particular attention to people and natural ecosystems and the balance between demand and supply. In the afternoon, Janez Poto?nik endorsed the Declaration on Water challenges during the Ministerial Conference. Youth solutions team just arrived! Under the aim of solving water issues, young and enthusiastic people involved in the Emerging Academics Program, Youth Regional Council and World Youth Parliament gathered in Marseille on Monday during the 6th World Water Forum. In this session, the concept of the “Youth Vision” is informed with three pillars involving education, crossing the borders and innovation. Ready to share their experience and water knowledge, the participants are also encouraged to contribute to spreading the youth message beyond Marseille through Youth events. EEA's new report highlights the necessity of a better water use efficiency in Europe The European Environment Agency – EEA new report Towards Efficient use of water resources in Europe, launched on 13 March describes the state of Europe water resources and proposes mechanisms to increase the water use efficiency. “Water resources are under pressure in many parts of Europe, and it is getting worse”, says EEA Executive Director Jacqueline McGlade. Some vital efforts to avoid water scarcity in Europe are orientated to potential efficiency gains in irrigation systems and in the public water supply and the coordination between water and energy legislation. Famke Janssen, the new "water ambassador" of Green Cross International "Ambassador for Green Cross International water for life and peace Program". That is the new title of the actress Famke Janssen. She has been choosen by the NGO founded by the Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 1993, Mikhail Gorbachev, as his first "water ambassador". Water is a right according to president of Green Cross, Alexander Likhotal. Their will is to make this a reality because of the reputation of Famke. Should we be a superhero to succeed? "Maybe" answers Famke, who played the heroine Jean Grey in the X-Men saga. The first major activity of the new ambassador is her presence in Marseille in order to support the participation of Green Cross International at the 6th World Water Forum. IUCN: a bridge for Water Without Borders The BRIDGE project of the IUCN (International Union for the Conservation of Nature) deals with the management of water in the transboundary hydrologic basins in Central America, South America, and in the Mekong Region of Asia. There are more than 270 transboundary water regions around the world. According to Alejandro Iza, Director of the Center for Environmental Law of IUCN, "The rivers and streams often establish boundaries between countries and cultures. This causes water conflicts .. Conversely, diplomacy and sound management of resources promote peace and cooperation ". BRIDGE aims to establish transboundary management of water under the principle Water Without Borders. Sino-French cooperation in integrated water resource management In closing the first day of the Forum, Chinese and French governments introduced a cooperation project in the field of integrated water resource management. The agreement focuses on sharing learnt experience around the watersheds of Seine Normandie and River Hai. Launched in Marseille, the second cooperation phase spans from 2012 to 2015. Chen Lei, Chinese Minister for Water Resources and Serge Lepeltier, French Ambassador for Climate Negotiations underline the strong potential for synergies between two regions that provide both countries' capitals with water. Maximizing Groundwater Potential At the Forum, GRAPHIC scientists have presented case studies from the report Climate Change Effects on Groundwater Resources: A Global Synthesis of Findings and Recommendations. The UNESCO-IHP publication diagnoses the impacts of climate change on groundwater resources in various geographical contexts. Guillaume Favreau, investigator at the IRD (Institute of Research for Development), says "huge volumes of groundwater can be used" provided there is adaption. Policy recommendations for water managers and policy makers concerning aquifers are also provided. Among these solutions, depleted aquifers can be recharged with storm water through rain gardens specifically constructed for preferential infiltration or with surface water during the rainy season. For further information on World Water Forum 6, please visit: http://www.worldwaterforum6.org/

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