Initiative Water Use Efficiency zero draft 18 Nov

Initiative Water Use Efficiency (zero draft, 18 Nov 16) List of actions 1) Encourage states and organizations to focus on policy reforms, incentives, innovation and adopting new technologies to improve water use efficiency for resilient economies, human health and the environment (agriculture, energy, industry, cities, households). 2) Advocate for a system wide approach to improving water use efficiency, promoting reliable and accessible water supplies in an integrated planning framework that enhances investor certainty, meets community needs and sustainability for all users. 3) Encourage states, private sector and other organizations to adopt a water stewardship approach to improve water use efficiency in human, agricultural, industrial and environmental uses. 4) Promote adoption of direct public and consumer choice in achieving water efficiency through initiatives such as water efficiency labeling system (WELS) to improve efficiency at the household level. (Australia will collaborate with like minded States to initiate the process to adopt an ISO standard on relative efficiency for water consuming products) Champions Australia: lead. Netherlands, Mexico, Tajikistan support. Details of roles and support for actions to be determined. Relevant events G 20 Agriculture Ministers meeting January 2017; WEF in Davos January 2017, G 20 in Hamburg in July 2017; World Water Congress in Mexico May 2017; UNGA, Sept 2017, New York; APEC in Vietnam in November 2017, World Water Forum Brasilia March 2018. Scenario roadmap Statements: (Note: 1 & 2 as per current Action Plan, Action #3 under ‘Resilient economies’. May be further amended. ) A HLPW statement on the importance of continual improvements in water use efficiency, informed by recognition of the value of water, as a focus for balancing competing demands, managing scarcity over time and making the best use of available supplies, is critical to Resilient Economies and Societies. Statement to focus on enabling action and inviting states to share experiences and work together to improve water use efficiency, encourage states, private sector and others to move from water users to water stewards. Proposed timing: UNGA 2017. Supporting analytical work: 1) R 4 D stocktake of scope for Challenge(s) related to water use efficiency (draft November 2016, final December 2016). 2) Further work will detail measures to improve water use efficiency for resilient economies via policy, technology and innovation. Relationships between allocative, productive and dynamic efficiency and the role of valuing water (including pricing) will be described, with a view to linking the concepts and providing a practical and cohesive guide to improved water management and use. (Timing: 2017). 3) Further work to address the application of the International Water Stewardship Standards at the catchment level including agriculture in the catchment. Financing: Australia will fund the preparation of a guide to improved water management and use, and facilitate links with other initiatives (e. g. : ‘valuing water’). Additional funds will be required for any Challenge issued. Work with public and private water sector organizations to enhance the efforts of the working group on efficiency. Funding requirements for other actions to be determined. Lighthouse initiative: Options to be determined. Possible challenge on water use efficiency with a focus on irrigation which globally represents 69% of water withdrawals. A guide on steps to improve water use efficiency, with associated workshops to develop adoption of the approach and assist (on request) states/organisations to consider the appropriateness of the approach in their own context and assist with early adoption. Australia will aim to assist 2 countries, one in Asia-Pacific region and one in North Africa – Middle East region to embark on a program to improve water use efficiency. Collaboration: Collaboration with G 20 / APEC on water efficiency in agriculture; Australia is collaborating with China on development of China’s new water efficiency labeling scheme. Other partners to be determined as actions are further defined (integration or collaboration with FAO and OCED work programs).