Germany
PERMANENT MISSION OF
GERMANY
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Statement
of
Minister Juergen Trittin,
Federal Minister for Environment
Water: Poverty eradication and environmental benefit
Funding and good governance are key
New York, April 28, 2004
871 UN Pla a, New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 940-0427 Fax: 212 940- ?0402
Internet : http://www.germany-un .org
E-mail : contact@g e
aigt Mt delivery
Mr Chairman, Borge,
Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Poverty and the lack of access to water often go hand in hand . We will
only achieve the targets on poverty, water and sanitation if we
always take this inter-dependence into consideration
draw up and comply with specific binding targets and fixed time
frames, and
acknowledge national ownership and good governance as a key .
It is therefore vital to set up national water resources
management and water efficiency plans by 2005, as agreed in
Johannesburg . We must initiate a process which makes water and
sanitation a political priority in national sustainability strategies and in
poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs) .
It is of key importance to implement the concept of integrated water
resources management. The objective is
to develop a water management structure which in the
long-term is cost-recovering and demand-oriented . This
structure must involve all users equally, especially women .
to implement the polluter pays principle
to introduce charges and dismantle false subsidies. This must
not, however, be at the expense of the poor population .
International financing institutions are called on to revise their
concepts for the water sector and to make greater use of integrated
water resources management. Local level stakeholders must be actively
involved in this process .
Government must not shrug off its responsibility . Reckless
liberalisation should not lead to water access and quality being subjected
to the laws of the free market . There is no substitute for water .
Therefore, we a politically legitimate governance for water. But the state
can use public private partnership models to overcome financial
bottlenecks and promote innovative solutions .
To evaluate the critical consequences of privatisation in water
management, Germany has initiated and actively supports a "global
review of private sector participation ." Good governance cannot be
subject to privatisation .
Willingness to cooperate and holistic thinking must be given
greater encouragement in all areas of water management :
in the distribution of water among the industrial sector, the
energy industry, agriculture, private users and nature
in the conservation of our ecosystems and
in transboundary cooperation .
For this reason, the EU has established the EU Water Facility for
countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean alongside the EU
Water Initiative. Germany contributes around 117 million euros to the
planned fund of 500 million euros . Moreover, water and sanitation are
among the main funding areas of German development cooperation,
with around 350 million euros annually .
Pressure on freshwater reserves will increase - through
population growth, increasing urbanisation, rising industrial
production and more consumption . It is becoming a threat to peace
and security .
There is also a clear link between water and energy policy : In the EU,
fossil and nuclear power plants use 40% of the water . If we opt for
fossil power plants in the South, water will become even more
scarce and unaffordable for even more people . By contrast, wind
energy and photovoltaics do not use any water during the operation
process. Solar and geothermal installations are extremely well suited for
desalinating seawater . I warmly invite you to our side event today on the
increased use of renewable energies and hope you will be able to attend
the Conference renewables 2004 in Bonn in early June this year .
Mr. Chairman,
With your outcome of this year's review session on water and sanitation
and human settlements you will be setting the stage for CSD 13 and
beyond . Therefore, we need clear signals for the further
implementation of the goals on water and sanitation and human
settlements . To overcome poverty, access to water and sanitation is
crucial . We need funding and good governance . Mr. Chairman, you have
our support to concentrate in your conclusions on the main challenges .
Thank you .
GERMANY
TO THE UNITED NATIONS
Statement
of
Minister Juergen Trittin,
Federal Minister for Environment
Water: Poverty eradication and environmental benefit
Funding and good governance are key
New York, April 28, 2004
871 UN Pla a, New York, NY 10017 Tel: (212) 940-0427 Fax: 212 940- ?0402
Internet : http://www.germany-un .org
E-mail : contact@g e
aigt Mt delivery
Mr Chairman, Borge,
Colleagues,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Poverty and the lack of access to water often go hand in hand . We will
only achieve the targets on poverty, water and sanitation if we
always take this inter-dependence into consideration
draw up and comply with specific binding targets and fixed time
frames, and
acknowledge national ownership and good governance as a key .
It is therefore vital to set up national water resources
management and water efficiency plans by 2005, as agreed in
Johannesburg . We must initiate a process which makes water and
sanitation a political priority in national sustainability strategies and in
poverty reduction strategy papers (PRSPs) .
It is of key importance to implement the concept of integrated water
resources management. The objective is
to develop a water management structure which in the
long-term is cost-recovering and demand-oriented . This
structure must involve all users equally, especially women .
to implement the polluter pays principle
to introduce charges and dismantle false subsidies. This must
not, however, be at the expense of the poor population .
International financing institutions are called on to revise their
concepts for the water sector and to make greater use of integrated
water resources management. Local level stakeholders must be actively
involved in this process .
Government must not shrug off its responsibility . Reckless
liberalisation should not lead to water access and quality being subjected
to the laws of the free market . There is no substitute for water .
Therefore, we a politically legitimate governance for water. But the state
can use public private partnership models to overcome financial
bottlenecks and promote innovative solutions .
To evaluate the critical consequences of privatisation in water
management, Germany has initiated and actively supports a "global
review of private sector participation ." Good governance cannot be
subject to privatisation .
Willingness to cooperate and holistic thinking must be given
greater encouragement in all areas of water management :
in the distribution of water among the industrial sector, the
energy industry, agriculture, private users and nature
in the conservation of our ecosystems and
in transboundary cooperation .
For this reason, the EU has established the EU Water Facility for
countries of Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean alongside the EU
Water Initiative. Germany contributes around 117 million euros to the
planned fund of 500 million euros . Moreover, water and sanitation are
among the main funding areas of German development cooperation,
with around 350 million euros annually .
Pressure on freshwater reserves will increase - through
population growth, increasing urbanisation, rising industrial
production and more consumption . It is becoming a threat to peace
and security .
There is also a clear link between water and energy policy : In the EU,
fossil and nuclear power plants use 40% of the water . If we opt for
fossil power plants in the South, water will become even more
scarce and unaffordable for even more people . By contrast, wind
energy and photovoltaics do not use any water during the operation
process. Solar and geothermal installations are extremely well suited for
desalinating seawater . I warmly invite you to our side event today on the
increased use of renewable energies and hope you will be able to attend
the Conference renewables 2004 in Bonn in early June this year .
Mr. Chairman,
With your outcome of this year's review session on water and sanitation
and human settlements you will be setting the stage for CSD 13 and
beyond . Therefore, we need clear signals for the further
implementation of the goals on water and sanitation and human
settlements . To overcome poverty, access to water and sanitation is
crucial . We need funding and good governance . Mr. Chairman, you have
our support to concentrate in your conclusions on the main challenges .
Thank you .
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