After the Paris Agreement: Water yes, but what about ethics?

Water earned a seat at the climate table in Paris last month with creative initiatives such as SIWI’s Climate Is Water campaign, but what ethics will guide the water agenda?  That’s still an open (and un-asked) question, but let’s start with the good news:

  • The Paris Pact, committing to water governance at a basin level, was endorsed by more than 300 organizations and announced at a press conference featuringJean-Francois Donzier (INBO), and French Environment Minister, Ségolène Royal.
  • The Climate-Is-Water campaign was also featured in a press conference featuring Ben Braga (World Water Council) and Minister Ségolène Royal.
  • Business Alliance for Water and Climate Change was launched “to ensure sustainable management of water resources in the face of climate change”.

But there is more to do, as noted by Dawn McGregor (China Water Risk):  Paris Water Pact: Feeling Blue.  And ethics?  Linda Sheehan (Earth Law Center) took the stand at the Rights of Nature Tribunal on 5 Dec. to indict the working draft of the COP21 agreement for failing to comply with the United Nations’ own laws, and for ignoring the rights of nature and the world’s indigenous peoples.  See her testimony here.

Ethics at the World Water Forum

The 7th World Water Forum, April 12-17 in the cities of Daegu and Gyeongju, South Korea, will feature the topic of Water Ethics in two sessions organized by Water-Culture Institute and UNESCO-IHP: Mainstreaming a New Water Ethic (Thematic Session 4.4.5 in Daegu) and Developing a Global Water Ethics Charter (Session C.A01.S.EC.15 in Gyeongju).  In addition, the Water Ethics Network will have a booth in the Citizens Forum exhibit area in Gyeongju.  Please stop by to visit!