Can Rainwater Harvesting Promote Peace and Tolerance?

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1 Can Rainwater Harvesting Promote Peace and Tolerance? Caux Dialogues 1-4 July 2014 IRHA, International Environment House 2, Chemin de Balexert 7, 1219 Châtelaine, Geneva, Switzerland

2 RWH, what is this? 1. Is RWH an old practice useless for our modern times? 2. Is RWH useful only to undeveloped regions and developing countries? 3. Is RWH a technology? 4. Is rainwater part of the IWRM policy?

3 RWH, what is this? Finally Rainwater Harvesting is the management of rainwater as a water resource Collection and direct use Retention Infiltration

4 Why RWH? WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme for Water and Sanitation(2012): 1.3% of the world population RW is main source of domestic water up to 2.4% of rural population in developing countries rely on it Over 76 million people worldwide depend on rainwater 89% more in 2010 than in 1990 significant increase of the households relying on it RW use is not limited to developing countries USA, Australia, New Zeeland, Singapore, Germany have created lows, norms and developed strong private sector serving it Rainwater collection becomes more important with CC WHO, 4 th edition of the Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality (2011): Rainwater for human consumption is a reality, and provides guidance around 6% of the global population could be substantially served by improved rainwater harvesting

5 RWH, for what? For the nature and wildlife: To stop the worldwide sinking of the water tables* To improve the health of watershed (India, Ethiopia) To recharge dry wells that gradually become perennial again (India, Zimbabwe, China, and Small Islands in developing states) To reduce the competition between different species for access to water For food security and farming activities: To make it possible in fragile, semi-arid areas To increase the crops in rain fed agriculture For a balanced economical development : To reduce the competition between different sectors : industrial, agriculture and stock breathing, and city water consumption References: * Outgrowing Earth: The Food Security Challenge in an Age of Falling Water Tables and Rising Temperatures

6 For Disaster reduction In cases of drought AND floods RWH, for what? Providing safe access to water in post-disaster conditions For and climate change adaptation: Ranked at the 1 st place on the list of tools for adaptation in the sector Water* For Household use: Access to water at the doorstep of households Banning drinking water from toilets For all kind of domestic use In the industry: To make possible development and increase the scope of industrial activities** Contributes to diminishing tensions with neighbouring population * IPCC, Climate Changes 2007, Synthesis Report, Topic 4: Adaptation and mitigation options and responses, and the inter-relationship with sustainable development, at global and regional levels; Table 4.2 ** Asia Paints: since 1999, decreases its water consumption with 60% and increases its production with 25%

7 RWH, for whom? For poor communities and in developing countries: MDGs - hardly mention directly RWH SDGs - Invest in water harvesting and storage technologies, and double the rainwater harvested by 2030 For developed countries, examples: Belgium USA

8 Summary RWH: Is a common name to design the management of a vital resource, water A very large number of people in the world rely on it Is important for the health of people and nature, for economy, climate and disaster risks reduction Results to elevation RWH: Reduces the vital struggle for access to a water point between different species in the nature Reduce the competition between different sectors of the economy Decreases the tension between neighbours (industrial plant and local residents, upstream and downstream community, river/lakeside inhabitants, countries sharing same water streams). Results to appeasement and more harmony

9 The word of a major figure in the peace keeping, H.E Mr Ramos Horta, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Special Repoter of UNSG in Guinea Bissau and former President of East Timor RHA site: YouTube: WH: key words in the interview: Strong link between Water and Peace Keeping If we do not introduce a better water management, in 30 years there will be a war for water The role of Rainwater in the peace building: Today it is mismanaged Need of: - strong vision and political leadership - budget allocation - education Conclusion RWH should come into the strategy plans RWH should become a national strategy in each country

10 The IRHA «Blue Schools» programme