Bhutan, Thailand and Viet Nam
Statement by Thailand on behalf of the Troika of Bhutan, Thailand and Viet Nam
At the Eleventh Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
On Focus Area 6. Water and sanitation
6 May 2014
Thank you Mr. Co-Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Troika, comprising Bhutan, Viet Nam and Thailand. We associate ourselves with the statement of the G77 and China, delivered by the distinguished representative of Bolivia.
On Focus Area 6. Water and sanitation. We wish to reiterate our support for a goal on water and sanitation. For a water-secure world and the full realization of the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, the entire water cycle must be taken into consideration to tackle water-related challenges.
Our troika is therefore of the view that the proposed targets under this focus area should support the protection of water resources from over exploitation and pollution while meeting drinking water and sanitation needs, energy, agriculture, and other uses.
Moreover, we envision targets that address disaster risk reduction and further aim to protect communities from water-related disasters. Another important element could include appropriate regional and international cooperation in sharing, exchanging, and disseminating of knowledge and best practices related to integrated water resources management and effective water governance.
In this regard, we particularly support the following proposed targets of the Co-Chairs in the revised Working Document:
- Target a) on universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for all groups on a non-discriminatory basis;
- Target c) on water-use efficiency
Since water-use efficiency is important to all sectors, in order to make this target universal, we suggest to revise this target to “water-use efficiency in all sectors”, without specifying any sector; and
- Target d) on integrated water resource management, including appropriate trans-boundary cooperation
As for Target h) we support the ambitious proposal of decreasing mortality and serious injuries and economic losses caused by water-related disasters, however, further discussion about appropriate indicators as well as defining “mortality and serious injuries” will need to be explored. For now we would like to suggest adding “natural and human-induced” before “water-related disasters” so this target would encompass reducing unsustainable use and development of water resources.
With regards to means of implementation, we underline the importance of:
1) technical cooperation and capacity building transfer of water-related technologies, particularly for water-harvesting and recycling and
2) putting people at the center of development and engaging local communities particularly by providing appropriate tools to cope with natural disasters and their aftermaths in line with the Post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
Thank you Mr. Co-Chair.
At the Eleventh Session of the Open Working Group on Sustainable Development Goals
On Focus Area 6. Water and sanitation
6 May 2014
Thank you Mr. Co-Chair,
I have the honour to speak on behalf of the Troika, comprising Bhutan, Viet Nam and Thailand. We associate ourselves with the statement of the G77 and China, delivered by the distinguished representative of Bolivia.
On Focus Area 6. Water and sanitation. We wish to reiterate our support for a goal on water and sanitation. For a water-secure world and the full realization of the right to safe drinking water and sanitation, the entire water cycle must be taken into consideration to tackle water-related challenges.
Our troika is therefore of the view that the proposed targets under this focus area should support the protection of water resources from over exploitation and pollution while meeting drinking water and sanitation needs, energy, agriculture, and other uses.
Moreover, we envision targets that address disaster risk reduction and further aim to protect communities from water-related disasters. Another important element could include appropriate regional and international cooperation in sharing, exchanging, and disseminating of knowledge and best practices related to integrated water resources management and effective water governance.
In this regard, we particularly support the following proposed targets of the Co-Chairs in the revised Working Document:
- Target a) on universal access to safe and affordable drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene for all groups on a non-discriminatory basis;
- Target c) on water-use efficiency
Since water-use efficiency is important to all sectors, in order to make this target universal, we suggest to revise this target to “water-use efficiency in all sectors”, without specifying any sector; and
- Target d) on integrated water resource management, including appropriate trans-boundary cooperation
As for Target h) we support the ambitious proposal of decreasing mortality and serious injuries and economic losses caused by water-related disasters, however, further discussion about appropriate indicators as well as defining “mortality and serious injuries” will need to be explored. For now we would like to suggest adding “natural and human-induced” before “water-related disasters” so this target would encompass reducing unsustainable use and development of water resources.
With regards to means of implementation, we underline the importance of:
1) technical cooperation and capacity building transfer of water-related technologies, particularly for water-harvesting and recycling and
2) putting people at the center of development and engaging local communities particularly by providing appropriate tools to cope with natural disasters and their aftermaths in line with the Post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction.
Thank you Mr. Co-Chair.