World Water Development Reports
3rd United Nations World Water Development Report:
Water in a Changing World (WWDR3)
March 2009
To learn about the WWDR3 and access it on line:
English |
Español |
Français.
Hard copies are available for order from
UNESCO Publishing.
Case Study Volume of the WWDR3: Facing the Challenges
To learn about the case studies volume and access it on line: English | Español | Français.
Hard copies are available for order from UNESCO Publishing. |
Overview of Key Messages from the WWDR3
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Facts and Figures from the WWDR3
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2nd United Nations World Water Development Report:
Water, a shared responsibility (WWDR2)
March 2006
To learn about the Report and access it on line:
English |
Español |
Français.
Available in other languages:
Türkçe [PDF 30 MB]
Hard copies are available for order from
UNESCO Publishing.
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1st United Nations World Water Development Report:
Water for People, Water for Life (WWDR1)
March 2003
To learn about the Report and access it on line: English | Español | Français.
Hard copies are available for order from UNESCO Publishing.
WWDR-Related Publications
Special Reports
These reports are compiled from the WWDR3 and provide detailed overviews of specific issues or themes relating to the world’s water. They may also highlight elements of the report that are of relevance to a specific group of readers.
Water and Climate Change
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November 2009, Joana Talafre and Friederike KnabeThis special report brings together messages on water and climate change from the WWDR3
Water in a Changing World. The WWDR3 shows that changes in our water resources are shaped to a great extent by a number of key externalities, among them climate change, and that decisions taken far from the conventionally defined water sector have a tremendous influence on water resources and how they are used or misused.
:: Special Report: "Climate Change and Water: An overview from the UN World Water Development Report 3, Water in a Changing World" [PDF - 2.73 MB]
Water – the blue web that unites us
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July 2009, by James Winpenny
Based on the finding of the WWDR-3, this concept paper was prepared as a contribution to the participatory process for the G8 Summit held in July 2009 in Italy. The paper proposes actions in the following seven areas: making water policies more coherent; adapting water to climate change; recognizing water as an international and a global issue; putting water on sound financial footing; taking into account information, evidence and image; considering points particularly relevant to sustainable, self-reliant development in Africa; and the potential role for UN-Water and the World Water Assessment Programme.
:: Special Report: "Water – the blue web that unites us" [PDF - 1.84 MB]
Briefing Notes
These short papers highlight key messages from the WWDR3 in relation to specific issues or themes.
Water for Sustainable Urban Human Settlements
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June 2010, Kulwant Singh
Already today, half of the world’s people live in urban areas. By the middle of this century all regions will be predominantly urban. Building on the outcomes of the WWDR3 and on work implemented by UN-HABITAT, this Briefing Note restates the critical water-related challenges of this unprecedented urban expansion – from providing access to basic services to ensuring environmental and human security. The paper provides urban mayors, leaders and high-level decision makers with concrete policy options to meet these challenges, protect against potential water-related disasters and ensure the development of sustainable urban settlements.
:: "Water for Sustainable Urban Human Settlements" [English PDF - 2 MB]
The Implications of Climate Change on Water
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November 2009, Jim Winpenny
Drawing on the evidence presented in the WWDR3, this paper restates the mounting evidence in many regions of the impact of climate change on the earth’s hydrological cycle, in the form of increased frequency of floods and droughts and changes in long term trends in precipitation. Water is being heavily affected by climatic changes already under way and what matters for water is adaptation measures to enable it to cope with these changes. This paper reviews what this implies for different water services, water resource management, water-related hazards, data collection and monitoring, education, awareness, capacity building, and other necessary responses.
:: Briefing Note: "The Implications of Climate Change on Water" [PDF - 612 KB]
Lakes: Freshwater Storehouses and Mirrors of Human Activities
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October 2009, by Walter Rast
This briefing note draws from the findings of the WWDR3 that address the importance of lakes and lake basin management. As with the range of water systems highlighted in the WWDR3, the global experience of lake basin management encompasses a wide variety of lessons, particularly in regard to governance, which are articulated here.
:: Briefing Note: "Lakes: Freshwater Storehouses and Mirrors of Human Activities" [PDF - 293 KB]
Messages Series
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This series of publications are four-page messages based on the findings of the WWDR-3, targeted to specific groups of stakeholders and decision makers. The series of Messages includes Business Leaders; Development Agencies; Financiers; Ministers of Finance; Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs); Parliamentarians; Political Leaders and Cabinet Ministers; Religious Leaders; Urban Mayors and Local Governments; and Youth. For more information on this growing series, please see our webpage on the Messages of the WWDR-3.
:: English | Español | Français
:: Catalan The series of Messages have also been translated by WWAP partner, UNESCOCAT, and are available on their website.
Side Publications Series
Written by partner organizations, these publications provide more focused, in-depth information and scientific background knowledge on topics discussed in the WWDR-3 and on some less conventional water sectors. The series includes papers which focus on integrated water resources management, climate change, water policy and water management, among other topics. Please visit our page on Side Publications for more information and to download reports. Unfortunately, we are only able to offer these publications in English.
:: English | Español | Français
Educational Materials and Brochures
WWDR2 educational poster
March 2006
Using data and graphics from WWDR2, this two-sided poster presents the main water-related challenge areas and local actions from the WWAP case studies. The poster is available in A1-size upon request to
wwap@unesco.org.
:: Access the poster online [PDF - 3.32 MB]
WWAP brochure: For Development, Capacity-Building, and the Environment
2003 - 2006
A brochure that presents the programme and activities during its second phase (2003-2006). Includes information on the programme's composition and priorities, as well as on the second WWDR and case studies.
:: Access the brochure online [PDF - 615 KB]
WWAP brochure: Fitting the pieces together
2000 - 2003
A presentation of the Programme published during its first phase (2000-2003).
Exhibit Panels
2001 - 2003
This travelling exhibit, intended for displays at conferences and other major events, offers an introduction to WWAP programmes and partners.
:: Access the exhibit panels
Other Publications
Water for the Millennium Development Goals: Why managing water resources wisely is key to achieving the MDGs
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The eight development goals that emerged from the UN Millennium Declaration in 2000 galvanized an unprecedented coordination of efforts on the part of the world’s nations to improve the situation of the world’s poorest by 2015.
The MDGs identify specific development priorities and targets: to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger, achieve universal primary education, empower women and eliminate gender inequality, reduce child mortality and improve maternal health, combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and other diseases including malaria, ensure environmental sustainability, improve access to water and sanitation, and establish effective global partnerships towards achieving these development objectives.
Marking the 10-year point towards meeting the MDGs, world leaders met in September at the United Nations headquarters in New York to review progress made so far, to identify areas of particular concern and obstacles hindering progress, and to develop strategies and actions to overcome these in the next five years. As a contribution to the debate, WWAP prepared a short white paper to highlight the crosscutting importance of responsible and sustainable water management to achieving each of the MDGs.
Download 'Water for the MDGs' [PDF - 835 Kb]
Water Security: A Preliminary Assessment of Policy Progress since Rio
December 2001
This publication was a WWAP contribution to the International Conference on Freshwater held in Bonn in December 2001, and to the 1
st United Nations World Water Development Report. It reviews national policy developments since 1992, and takes stock of the eleven challenges defined by the Programme.
UNESCO.ORG
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