Renewing Water Governance to localize SDG 6

United Cities and Local Governments/Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments (

Intergovernmental organization

)

#SDGAction50674

Description

On behalf of the Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments, facilitated by United Cities and Local governments, our initiative aims at bringing to light crucial role that local and regional governments play in water related issues, and the need to involve subnational institutions in decisions that go beyond water management.

The adoption of a political statement from the constituency of local and regional governments aims at bringing to light the importance of a renewed water governance, through calls from more than 323,000 sub-national institutions, from small municipalities to metropolises and regions. One of our objective is to remind that local authorities form a vital bridge between national governments, communities and citizens and will have a critical role in a new global partnership.

Our constituency be present throughout the UN Water Conference, in particular through a local and regional governments day, to advocate for the fulfilment of the right to water, acknowledged by the United Nations as "a fundamental right essential for the full enjoyment of the right to life and all human rights". Still the right to water is not formally applied, particularly at local level. The scarcity and deterioration of water quality exacerbate inequalities of access. very poorest people are the first to suffer. In many local and regional governments of least developed countries, women are the ones taking care and suffering from water distribution. In many countries of the South, the most vulnerable populations are subject to water shortages.

Our initiative aims at reminding that local and regional governments have been engaged in protecting their communities in such complex times, focusing on securing water supply and sanitation, avoiding water scarcity, protecting aquatic ecosystems, and fostering care systems.
City diplomacy and decentralised cooperation are the tools of local and regional government to continue to deliver essential water services to those who need it most. To ensure we leave nobody and no place behind and achieve SDG6, as well as all other SDGs we call, through our mobilization, for a more interconnected multilateral system based on multi-level governance and multi-stakeholder collaboration. Our organized constituency reinstates our commitment to the transformation of the multilateral system driven by the power of collective action, under our strategic input towards the SDGs Summit and Summit for the Future.
In regards to global water governance, our initiative calls on the international multilateral system to consider the many aspects of an urban world: rural and urban territories, small and intermediate cities, metropolitan entities, and regions. It must also provide financial support and capacity building for local and regional governments (LRGs) to engage in this process. An approach across government and society for addressing inequality, climate change and biodiversity, and for fostering peace is equally critical to changing our systems. The renewed multilateral system will also need to consider water and conflicts where water is being used as a weapon, war crimes or crimes against humanity related to water resources.

Expected Impact

The commitments underlined in this initiative are made to ensure an accelerated implementation of SDG 6, ensuring all targets are met, and for a renewed governance that closes the gap through the localization of this and all water-related SDGs.

Our constituency of local and regional governments calls for a stronger consideration of water as a human right, including access to safe and affordable drinking water and sanitation for all to encourage ongoing support from all spheres of government to ensure access to water and sanitation services for all so as to meet targets 6.1 and 6.2.

Regarding sustainable management, we call to strengthen the capacities of local and regional governments in building sustainable management models, protecting water as a public good, and developing an integrated and comprehensive approach to water management at all levels, including water efficiency-related topics such as solid waste management, agriculture, and environmental health to reach target 6.4. It is also essential to acknowledge the crucial role of multi-level governance and multi-stakeholder collaboration when it comes to protecting our ecosystem, as well as the promotion of sustainable and responsible use of water
Our constituency calls on national governments and the international system to contribute to the development of an enabling environment for local and regional governments to implement, run and regulate water efficiently, and user-centered essential services, such as safe water production and supply, wastewater management, and solid waste management, and for their involvement in any decisions related to improving water management so as to reach target 6.3 by 2030.
This document will address the importance of strengthening local public service provision and the right to water, as well as the protection of water ecosystems, including mountains forests, wetlands and biodiversity, thus addressing target 6.6 directly.
A renewed international and multilateral system is the way for more equitable governance of water, we call on the involvement of intermediary cities, small towns, and rural areas and territories in the achievement of SDG6 and the universal development agendas. This means ensuring women and girls’ inclusion in water management, and including them in positions of responsibility, and promoting participatory, inclusive approaches that ensure all voices are accounted for and represented in decision-making, enabling us to reach targets 6.5 and 6.B
To ensure that goal 6 is achieved, it is critical to renew the financial structure and different involvement of the private sector. We call on development banks and central banks to provide direct access to financing for "Climate-Biodiversity" projects of cities, and to allow bidding in all official languages of the United Nations. We aim at encouraging innovative financial solidarity mechanisms at local level, and rethink fiscal architecture, strengthen local finance to provide sufficient financial capacity to reach the SDG targets. It will be critical to establishing instruments - at the national and multilateral levels - to finance water savings and expand international cooperation and capacity building to support those governments that are further away, allowing us to meet target 6.A

Partners

ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability
AIMF - International Association of Francophone Mayors
ATO - Arab Towns Organization
CLGF - Commonwealth Local Government Forum

Regions4 - Network of Regional Governments for Sustainability
METROPOLIS - Metropolitan Section of UCLG
UCLG Regions - UCLG Forum of Regions
CEMR-CCRE - Council of European Municipalities and Regions
UCLG-ASPAC - Asia Pacific Section of UCLG
UCLG-EURASIA - Eurasian Section of UCLG
UCLG-MEWA - Middle East and West African Section of UCLG
UCLG-NORAM - North American Section of UCLG
FLACMA - Latin American Federation of Municipalities and Local Government Associations
MERCOCIUDADES -
UCLG-A - African Section of UCLG
CUF - Cités Unies France
ORU-FOGAR - United Regions Organization
FMDV - Global Fund for Cities Development
PLATFORMA - European platform of local and regional authorities for development
C40 - Cities Climate Leadership Group
UCCI - Unión de Ciudades Capitales Iberoamericanas

SDGS & Targets

Goal 6

Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

6.1

By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all

6.1.1

Proportion of population using safely managed drinking water services

6.2

By 2030, achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation, paying special attention to the needs of women and girls and those in vulnerable situations

6.2.1

Proportion of population using (a) safely managed sanitation services and (b) a hand-washing facility with soap and water

6.3

By 2030, improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimizing release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe reuse globally

6.3.1

Proportion of domestic and industrial wastewater flows safely treated

6.3.2

Proportion of bodies of water with good ambient water quality

6.4

By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity

6.4.1

Change in water-use efficiency over time

6.4.2

Level of water stress: freshwater withdrawal as a proportion of available freshwater resources

6.5

By 2030, implement integrated water resources management at all levels, including through transboundary cooperation as appropriate

6.5.1

Degree of integrated water resources management

6.5.2

Proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation

6.6

By 2020, protect and restore water-related ecosystems, including mountains, forests, wetlands, rivers, aquifers and lakes

6.6.1

Change in the extent of water-related ecosystems over time

6.a

By 2030, expand international cooperation and capacity-building support to developing countries in water- and sanitation-related activities and programmes, including water harvesting, desalination, water efficiency, wastewater treatment, recycling and reuse technologies

6.a.1

Amount of water- and sanitation-related official development assistance that is part of a government-coordinated spending plan

6.b

Support and strengthen the participation of local communities in improving water and sanitation management

6.b.1

Proportion of local administrative units with established and operational policies and procedures for participation of local communities in water and sanitation management

Goal 13

Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

13.1

Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries

13.1.1

Number of deaths, missing persons and directly affected persons attributed to disasters per 100,000 population

13.1.2

Number of countries that adopt and implement national disaster risk reduction strategies in line with the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030

13.1.3

Proportion of local governments that adopt and implement local disaster risk reduction strategies in line with national disaster risk reduction strategies

13.2

Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning

13.2.1

Number of countries with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

13.2.2

Total greenhouse gas emissions per year

13.3

Improve education, awareness-raising and human and institutional capacity on climate change mitigation, adaptation, impact reduction and early warning

13.3.1

Extent to which (i) global citizenship education and (ii) education for sustainable development are mainstreamed in (a) national education policies; (b) curricula; (c) teacher education; and (d) student assessment

13.a

Implement the commitment undertaken by developed-country parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to a goal of mobilizing jointly $100 billion annually by 2020 from all sources to address the needs of developing countries in the context of meaningful mitigation actions and transparency on implementation and fully operationalize the Green Climate Fund through its capitalization as soon as possible

13.a.1

Amounts provided and mobilized in United States dollars per year in relation to the continued existing collective mobilization goal of the $100 billion commitment through to 2025

13.b

Promote mechanisms for raising capacity for effective climate change-related planning and management in least developed countries and small island developing States, including focusing on women, youth and local and marginalized communities

13.b.1

Number of least developed countries and small island developing States with nationally determined contributions, long-term strategies, national adaptation plans and adaptation communications, as reported to the secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

Goal 14

Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

14.1

By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution

14.1.1

(a) Index of coastal eutrophication; and (b) plastic debris density

14.2

By 2020, sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems to avoid significant adverse impacts, including by strengthening their resilience, and take action for their restoration in order to achieve healthy and productive oceans

14.2.1

Number of countries using ecosystem-based approaches to managing marine areas

14.3

Minimize and address the impacts of ocean acidification, including through enhanced scientific cooperation at all levels

14.3.1

Average marine acidity (pH) measured at agreed suite of representative sampling stations

14.4

By 2020, effectively regulate harvesting and end overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and destructive fishing practices and implement science-based management plans, in order to restore fish stocks in the shortest time feasible, at least to levels that can produce maximum sustainable yield as determined by their biological characteristics

14.4.1

Proportion of fish stocks within biologically sustainable levels

14.5

By 2020, conserve at least 10 per cent of coastal and marine areas, consistent with national and international law and based on the best available scientific information

14.5.1

Coverage of protected areas in relation to marine areas

14.6

By 2020, prohibit certain forms of fisheries subsidies which contribute to overcapacity and overfishing, eliminate subsidies that contribute to illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and refrain from introducing new such subsidies, recognizing that appropriate and effective special and differential treatment for developing and least developed countries should be an integral part of the World Trade Organization fisheries subsidies negotiation

14.6.1

Degree of implementation of international instruments aiming to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing

14.7

By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism

14.7.1

Sustainable fisheries as a proportion of GDP in small island developing States, least developed countries and all countries

14.a

Increase scientific knowledge, develop research capacity and transfer marine technology, taking into account the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission Criteria and Guidelines on the Transfer of Marine Technology, in order to improve ocean health and to enhance the contribution of marine biodiversity to the development of developing countries, in particular small island developing States and least developed countries

14.a.1

Proportion of total research budget allocated to research in the field of marine technology

14.b

Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets

14.b.1

Degree of application of a legal/regulatory/policy/institutional framework which recognizes and protects access rights for small‐scale fisheries

14.c

Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"

14.c.1

Number of countries making progress in ratifying, accepting and implementing through legal, policy and institutional frameworks, ocean-related instruments that implement international law, as reflected in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the conservation and sustainable use of the oceans and their resources

SDG 14 targets covered

Name	Description
14.1	By 2025, prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities, including marine debris and nutrient pollution
14.7	By 2030, increase the economic benefits to Small Island developing States and least developed countries from the sustainable use of marine resources, including through sustainable management of fisheries, aquaculture and tourism
14.b	Provide access for small-scale artisanal fishers to marine resources and markets
14.c	Enhance the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources by implementing international law as reflected in United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which provides the legal framework for the conservation and sustainable use of oceans and their resources, as recalled in paragraph 158 of "The future we want"