At the end of 2009, the 2030 Water Resources Group (McKinsey & Company, financial institutions, agricultural and industrial enterprises, experts, etc.) issued a report on the economic and social risks induced by possible water shortages on the 2030 timescale, and a number of recommendations to prevent them.

According to a report by the Asia Society, a group of experts based in New York, reduced access to drinking water in South and East Asia “will have a profound impact on security throughout the region”. The report, published on 17 April, is entitled “Asia’s Next Challenge: Securing the Region’s Water Future” and asserts that the situation will have a “cascading set of consequences” on this part of the Asian continent, including lower agricultural production, loss of livelihood security, an increase in migratory movements, and rising geopolitical and economic tensions.

“Think outside the water box!” says Koïchiro Matsuura, Director-General of UNESCO about the 3rd World Water Assessment Programme (WAPP) report launched yesterday at the World Water Forum, referring to the need to set up mechanisms for more local consultation and involvement of all players (from businesses to environment activists) to face climate and development issues related to water.

The third report of the World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) will be officially presented by UNESCO Director-General Koïchiro Matsuura, on behalf of the agencies of the United Nations, at the start of the World Water Forum in Istanbul on 16 March. The report builds upon the findings of the first two reports, presented in Japan in 2003 and in Mexico in 2006 during the previous two World Water Forums.