Clean, safe and accessible water for all is essential for a healthy life, livelihoods and communities everywhere. Water Manage- ment and Resource Efficiency for Green Growth in East Asia is the focus for the 7th issue of the Environment & Poverty Times. GRID-Arendal has been working with UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific to identify inspiring examples and stories implemented by individual business, communities, governments and organisations in the region.
The last decades have taught us that due to a lack of sustainability perspectives in economic development or poor infra- structure, every year millions of people die from diseases associated with inadequate water supply, sanitation and hygiene. Clean freshwater resources are depleted or are in- accessible resulting in water scarcity, poor water quality and inadequate sanitation. By 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of freshwater – many of them in South and East Asia.
This issue of Environment & Poverty Times features stories about water management,
policies, and practices for clean technolo- gies to trigger a Low Carbon Green Growth path in South and East Asia.
You can read snapshots of inspiring cases highlighting themes such as water footprint, the use of water for industrial purposes, water pollution and community based initiatives. Stories show that significant gains can be made by introducing measures for efficiency and green growth, whilst building resilience and supporting more sustainable livelihoods and reduce poverty.
Environment & Poverty Times aims to be of interest not only to professionals working in the area of sustainable development, but also to the general public. By provid- ing stories, interviews, maps, charts, and pictorials it attempts to demonstrate some of the potential wealth of perspectives and initiatives in the region.
If you want to read this or previous issues of the Environment & Poverty Times on the net, please stop by at http://www.grida. no/publications/et – and tell your friends!
Enjoy reading!
Environment & Poverty Times No. 7
Published by GRID-Arendal The UN House, Teaterplassen 3 PO Box 183 N-4802 Arendal Fax: +47 37 03 50 50 www.grida.nogrid@grida.no
Chief Editor: Anne Solgaard Editorial team: Rannveig Rivedal Nilsen, Janet Fernandez Skaalvik (GRID-Arendal), Stefanos Fotiou, Tunnie Srisakulchairak (UNEP Regional Office for Asia & the Pacific) Editorial support: Laura Carlon, Sahon Flan Copy editors: Harry Forster and Sheila Carrodus, Interrelate, Grenoble Editorial Committee: Le-Huu Ti (UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific), David Molden (ICIMOD), Ermina Sokou (UN Economic and Social Com- mission for Asia and the Pacific), Michael Rock (Bryn Mawr College) Cartography: Riccardo Pravettoni Illustrations: Nieves Lopez
Special thanks to all contributors without whom this work would not have been possible.
The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of UNEP, GRID-Arendal or any co-operating agency. The designations employed and the presentation of material do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of UNEP, GRID-Arendal or co-operating agencies concerning the legal status of any country, territory or city or its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Mention of a commercial company or product in this paper does not imply endorsement by UNEP or GRID-Arendal. The use of information from this publication concerning priority products for publicity or advertising is not permitted. GRID-Arendal would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this publication as a source.
Printed at Agderposten Trykk, Norway February 2012. 6,000 copies
This publication was prepared as an outreach activity under East Asia Climate Partnership (EACP), which is South Korea's international development-cooperation project. Through the partnership with developing countries, it aims to share the green growth paradigm to the Asian region in order to have sustainable development while coping with climate change.