Portugal
STATEMENT
BY
MR JOSÉ EDUARDO MARTINS
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
AT THE TWELFTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
UNITED NATIONS
NEW YORK
29 APRIL 2004
Mr Chairman, Dear Colleagues
Freshwater management is crucial for sustainable development, both in
developed countries, where water is still being wasted, and in developing
countries, which cannot hope to achieve the economic and social
development they seek unless they can guarantee their populations a safe
water supply.
The two years that have elapsed since the Johannesburg Summit is a very
short time to assess the progress that has been made towards achieving
the agreed water-related targets. Nevertheless, I believe we all agree that
based on the current rate of progress the goals still represent a formidable
challenge.
Instruments for water resource management have an important role to play
in preventing water-related conflicts, through assessing the resource?s
spatial and temporal variability along the river basin. It is therefore important
to design a long-term water policy in order to promote more adequate land
use and better protection of water quality and associated ecosystems. In
this context, it is also important to mention the need to tie integrated water
resource management in with the prevention of and protection against
extreme hydrological conditions.
The implementation of an integrated management approach is best
achieved by defining the institutional structure and identifying capacities
and responsibilities at the national, regional and local level. A participation
mechanism should also be created to promote the active involvement of
local people, in order to better identify the real problems, match aspirations
and establish correspondingly fitting solutions.
In Portugal, our experience during 1994-1999 has shown that implementing
integrated management plans assures an accelerated pace in obtaining
better water supply and sanitation services. This experience supports our
conviction that integrated management plans are the best tool to achieve
the 2015 target.
Portugal has drawn up a National Water Plan based on a process of
characterising and diagnosing the water resource situation, the challenges
brought about by a new policy approach, socio-economic evolution
scenarios and the main pressures on water resources. The plan establishes
a set of goals and measures, a timescale for their enforcement, and
mechanisms for their implementation and assessment.
Portugal has also drawn up a strategic plan for water supply and sanitation.
This covers the 2000-2006 period and sets out the main types of action to
be taken. The plan aims to increase the percentage of the population with
access to freshwater distribution systems from 88% to 95% and also to
increase the coverage of the sewage water treatment from 70% in the year
2000 to 90% by 2005. The implementation of the plan involves the
government, local authorities and the private sector.
As stated in the Report of the United Nations Secretary-General, meeting
the worldwide water target will require a doubling of spending on drinking
water supply.
As we are all aware, government budgets and official development aid are
insufficient to meet the costs of achieving international water-related goals
and targets. These can only be reached by involving the private sector and
exploiting the expertise it can bring to improve management systems by
using innovative technical solutions and outside investment.
However, Portugal?s experience has shown that the private running of a
public utility should always be subject to a strong regulatory framework, to
ensure that private investment and management is consistent with the
public interest. To that end, public-private partnerships were set up to
develop solutions for our domestic needs.
Based on these premises, Portugal is also participating in joint projects with
several Portuguese-speaking countries in order to improve capacitybuilding
in water supply and sanitation and thereby contribute to the
improvement of living conditions and the promotion of social development.
In Mozambique, we are one of the partners in the implementation of the
National Water Plan, through a company responsible for the water supply to
eight municipalities that include the five major cities. Portugal is also
responsible for the creation of water supply and waste water treatment
facilities aiming to provide freshwater and sanitation to the Island of
Mozambique and to rehabilitate the water supply infrastructure to an
important area of Maputo.
In Cape Verde, Portugal, in a joint project with the Cape Verde
Government, operates the electricity, water supply and waste water
collection company using the desalinisation process to produce drinking
water. In Angola, we participate in programmes aiming to improve the
capacity of Luanda Water Supply Company.
In East Timor, Portugal is currently delivering a training program to the
Water Supply and Waste Water authorities and therefore contributing to
capacity building.
In short, we propose that efforts should be made to promote the dialogue
between governments, private sector and user representatives to develop
sustainable solutions for the problem of extending worldwide access to safe
and affordable water.
BY
MR JOSÉ EDUARDO MARTINS
SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE ENVIRONMENT
AT THE TWELFTH SESSION OF THE COMMISSION ON SUSTAINABLE
DEVELOPMENT
UNITED NATIONS
NEW YORK
29 APRIL 2004
Mr Chairman, Dear Colleagues
Freshwater management is crucial for sustainable development, both in
developed countries, where water is still being wasted, and in developing
countries, which cannot hope to achieve the economic and social
development they seek unless they can guarantee their populations a safe
water supply.
The two years that have elapsed since the Johannesburg Summit is a very
short time to assess the progress that has been made towards achieving
the agreed water-related targets. Nevertheless, I believe we all agree that
based on the current rate of progress the goals still represent a formidable
challenge.
Instruments for water resource management have an important role to play
in preventing water-related conflicts, through assessing the resource?s
spatial and temporal variability along the river basin. It is therefore important
to design a long-term water policy in order to promote more adequate land
use and better protection of water quality and associated ecosystems. In
this context, it is also important to mention the need to tie integrated water
resource management in with the prevention of and protection against
extreme hydrological conditions.
The implementation of an integrated management approach is best
achieved by defining the institutional structure and identifying capacities
and responsibilities at the national, regional and local level. A participation
mechanism should also be created to promote the active involvement of
local people, in order to better identify the real problems, match aspirations
and establish correspondingly fitting solutions.
In Portugal, our experience during 1994-1999 has shown that implementing
integrated management plans assures an accelerated pace in obtaining
better water supply and sanitation services. This experience supports our
conviction that integrated management plans are the best tool to achieve
the 2015 target.
Portugal has drawn up a National Water Plan based on a process of
characterising and diagnosing the water resource situation, the challenges
brought about by a new policy approach, socio-economic evolution
scenarios and the main pressures on water resources. The plan establishes
a set of goals and measures, a timescale for their enforcement, and
mechanisms for their implementation and assessment.
Portugal has also drawn up a strategic plan for water supply and sanitation.
This covers the 2000-2006 period and sets out the main types of action to
be taken. The plan aims to increase the percentage of the population with
access to freshwater distribution systems from 88% to 95% and also to
increase the coverage of the sewage water treatment from 70% in the year
2000 to 90% by 2005. The implementation of the plan involves the
government, local authorities and the private sector.
As stated in the Report of the United Nations Secretary-General, meeting
the worldwide water target will require a doubling of spending on drinking
water supply.
As we are all aware, government budgets and official development aid are
insufficient to meet the costs of achieving international water-related goals
and targets. These can only be reached by involving the private sector and
exploiting the expertise it can bring to improve management systems by
using innovative technical solutions and outside investment.
However, Portugal?s experience has shown that the private running of a
public utility should always be subject to a strong regulatory framework, to
ensure that private investment and management is consistent with the
public interest. To that end, public-private partnerships were set up to
develop solutions for our domestic needs.
Based on these premises, Portugal is also participating in joint projects with
several Portuguese-speaking countries in order to improve capacitybuilding
in water supply and sanitation and thereby contribute to the
improvement of living conditions and the promotion of social development.
In Mozambique, we are one of the partners in the implementation of the
National Water Plan, through a company responsible for the water supply to
eight municipalities that include the five major cities. Portugal is also
responsible for the creation of water supply and waste water treatment
facilities aiming to provide freshwater and sanitation to the Island of
Mozambique and to rehabilitate the water supply infrastructure to an
important area of Maputo.
In Cape Verde, Portugal, in a joint project with the Cape Verde
Government, operates the electricity, water supply and waste water
collection company using the desalinisation process to produce drinking
water. In Angola, we participate in programmes aiming to improve the
capacity of Luanda Water Supply Company.
In East Timor, Portugal is currently delivering a training program to the
Water Supply and Waste Water authorities and therefore contributing to
capacity building.
In short, we propose that efforts should be made to promote the dialogue
between governments, private sector and user representatives to develop
sustainable solutions for the problem of extending worldwide access to safe
and affordable water.
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