Kathmandu- Three-day International Conference on “Water, Environment and Climate Change: Knowledge Sharing and Partnership” has concluded issuing a Kathmandu declaration.
Over 700 experts and professional around the world brainstormed about the environmental, climate change and water related issues. They were of the view that water, environment and climate change are interdependent and inseparable to maintain the ecosystem, raising public health, achieving economic development, improving living standards and creating disaster resilient societies.
Full text of Kathmandu declaration:
Appropriate actions backed by appropriate policies and adequate financing to build climate resilient infrastructure are required. For improving public health and boost economic development through addressing challenges in water, environment and climate change, the following resolutions have been made on this day:
1.Review of existing and developing suitable policies and legislation to cope up with water, environment and climate change, a holistic approach is essential to create enabling environment for mainstreaming global agenda.
2.Water resources are threatened by ever increasing urban sprawl, particularly in the developing countries, we need to focus on both conserving freshwater resources (eg. demand management, adaptation of smart technologies) as well as investing in innovative, affordable and energy efficient technologies for reducing and reusing of water.
3.The three pillars, enabling environment, Institutional arrangement, management instruments, are essential to achieve three E’s (Equity, Efficiency, & Environmental sustainability)
4.Rapid progress has been made in the last decades in providing access to basic water supply and sanitation services. However, considerable challenges remained to provide equitable, dignified and quality services on sustainable basis in accordance to meet the targets set under SDG 6.
5.Accelerated actions have to be taken to conserve the water bodies and sources, improving quality of water supply, safely managing sanitation and wastewater discharges. Essential national indicators need to be developed and monitor in compliance with the set standards.
6.We need to significantly enhance efforts of collaboration to provide science based solutions to challenges associated with climate resilience. To achieve this, not only we need more pragmatic and coherent steps taken by the various stakeholders, but also need funding agencies to support the establishment of regional and local, science-practice-policy interfaces.
7.There is a need to promote environment and user friendly, simple and locally manageable technologies in water and sanitation system.
8.In achieving water security and coping with climate change, the complex relationships of interactions at the local, regional and the global scales deserve particular attention with long-term and integrated planning.
9.Education and capacity development, especially of citizens, are fundamental to achieving water security and climate resilience. Universities and other research institutions need to be supported for R&D especially in developing countries in order to serve as the hub of relevant knowledge, technology and innovation.
10.International community stands at an important juncture. Therefore, we have embarked on a new phase in the enfoldment of our partnership. We look forward to further deepening our dialogue and cooperation across an ever broadening range of development opportunities.
11.Diplomacy and economics on WASH to be established for resource sharing and reciprocal benefits.
12.The contribution and catalyzing effect of Official Development Assistance (ODA) is instrumental for strengthened mobilization of domestic public and private sector resources foreign direct investment, south-south and triangular cooperation, knowledge and technology transfer towards our shared development objectives.
13.Participating countries need to institutionalize a robust country level mechanism to follow up the above declarations and strengthen networking among the participating countries.
1.These actions need to be undertaken in conjunction with raising public awareness on conservation of water sources and water supply through 3R: Recharge, recycle and reuse. Universal services will only become possible and sustainable with public understanding and acceptance for the necessity to save and protect resources for each other as a community. Regulation and professional competence in water, sanitation and environmental protection will be needed to guide the processes.
2. Conservation of water sources and their quality must be complemented by demand management, reduction of non-revenue water and leakage, adoption of smart technologies, application of rainwater management, groundwater regulation and recharge in addition to activities related to mitigation of contamination by anthropogenic and industrial activities.
3. FSM and reuse of excreta, wastewater and grey water in households and community level must be promoted by mainstreaming the comprehensive risk assessment and management approaches such water and sanitation safety approaches
4. Resilience and good governance can only be developed when people at all levels understand their rights and responsibilities. Water are sanitation are basic human rights enshrined in the constitution of Nepal that can only be realized gradually through the efforts of all.
