On 1 July, the International Office for Water (IOW) presented a critical inventory of mountain water sources. The review precedes the 3rd International Congress on Water in Mountains, to be held in Mégève, Switzerland on 22 - 24 September 2010, to counter the impacts of climate change on mountain water sources.

The 27 EU environment ministers met on 14 June in Luxembourg to discuss three key challenges that lie ahead: how to manage and anticipate water shortages and droughts, how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and finally what programme should be adopted to protect European forests against climate change.

According to a statement by the World Bank, Mali has begun a programme to increase farm productivity, for which the country will benefit from investments of $ 160 million.

On the occasion of World Oceans Day, June 8 this year, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said it was essential to manage and conserve marine ecosystems better in order to sustain the ecological services they render to the planet.

The first of two reports examining the future of the water supply in Canada has just been published by the “National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy “. It analyses the use of resources throughout Canada and considers the future challenges.

The Human Rights Council of the UN mandated an Independent Expert to work on human rights obligations related to access to safe drinking water and sanitation In particular ,some groups have expressed doubts about the compatibility between the human right to water and the involvement of private operators in water supply and sanitation services; the expert has been asked to investigate on this issue. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT contributes on going the consultation.

The Government of Senegal has launched a Drinking Water and Sanitation Millennium Programme (MRE), designed to ensure a sustainable supply of drinking water for 2.3 million people, and raise the access rate to safe water for rural households from 64% in 2004 to 82% in 2015.

UNESCO’S 5th Global Conference on Oceans, Coasts and Islands was held in Paris on May 3 to 7. It was attended by hundreds of scientists, government and non-governmental officials, who discussed the issue of “Ensuring the Survival, Preserving Life, and Improving the Governance” of the oceans.

A new project funded by the International Development Agency, the “Urban Water Project”, is designed to expand the drinking water mains to 50,000 new households in Nigeria. The project forms part of the Millennium Development Goals: the country has set itself the target of supplying 75% of the population with drinking water and 63% with basic sanitation facilities by 2015.

International Day for Biodiversity held May 22 is the opportunity to enhance public awareness about biodiversity and answer questions on related issues. Allain Bougrain-Dubourg provides us with a situation report on biodiversity and shares his life-long fascination for wildlife and flora. Moreover, 2010 is also International Biodiversity year.