User:Mbastola/Integrated water resources management

Development
In 2002, the development of IWRM was discussed at the World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg, which aimed to encourage the implementation of IWRM at a global level.

Nexus approach and SDGs
In light of contributing the achievement of Sustainable Development goals (SDGs), IWRM has been evolving into more sustainable approach as it considers the Nexus approach, which is a cross-sectoral water resource management. The Nexus approach is based on the recognition that "water, energy and food are closely linked through global and local water, carbon and energy cycles or chains."

Status of IWRM implementation
There are several methods that are being followed to observe the situation related to IWRM, such as the progress of IWRM actions in specific time periods and regions around the world. The proper management of water and observation of its progress, which is crucial in IWRM, falls under the category of the 6th goal of Sustainable Development Goals "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all", suggested by the United Nations (UN). The official UN site offers data on the progress towards the sustainable development goals and the one on the 6th goal can be viewed according to categories of "data series", "geographic areas" and "years". Listed below are a brief summary of the IWRM progress according to regions across the globe.

Africa
Africa is projected to account for more than half of the world's population increase between now and 2050. With the increase in population, the water demand increases. Access to improved water sources is increasing in the world. However it is still lowest in Africa where the rate is 40 to 80% of households. Only 24% of the population has access to clean drinking water in Sub-Saharan Africa. And, minimum access to safe water sources has been accountable for higher number of deaths in Africa than any other parts of the world. Projects like UN-Water and The Water Project have been running and funding projects to increase the accessibility of safe drinking water in African countries.

A study conducted in 2018 shows that Africa's overall IWRM implementation score is lower than the global average (41 compared to 49), with country performances ranging from lowest score of 10 to highest score of 65.

Asia
Asia has the largest population in the world with the population giant India and China. Many countries in Asia have adopted the IWRM as a strategy for sustainable water management. The 2017 IWRM implementation status indicates that the implementation degree in Central in Southern Asia is 37, which is lower than it is in Africa (41) and the global average (49). Also, the average implementation degree is 53 in Eastern and South-eastern Asia. In collaboration with Asian Development Bank (ADB), Water Financing Program (WFP) is planning to introduce IWRM in 30 river basins across Asia.

Data shows that Arab countries in the Middle-east is home to more than 6% of the world population, but has only 1.4% of the global water resources. Internal renewable water resources per capita are below 500 m³/year in 15 Arab countries. Countries enjoying fuel surplus are investing heavily on water desalination.

America
IWRM Status implementation report does not show any data of U.S. and Canada, whereas it indicates other North American Countries in the Medium-low range (31-50). Even in the early 2000s, US had grass-root level watershed management initiatives, but there were no national, political or legal frameworks for the efforts.

In South America, Brazil falls under Medium-high (51-70) category whereas all the other countries are on Medium-low (31-50) or the Low (11-30) category. Rapid population growth and pollution, along with extreme climate events have been a serious threat to the water sources in Latin America. A broad range of structural and legal approaches are being implemented in Latin American and Caribbean countries.

Australia
Australia and New Zealand are grouped into the same category and have an implementation score of 72. This is the highest degree of implementation recorded in the Continental category. Australia reports huge investment to improve water-use efficiency, mainly in Murray Darling Basin. Australia's experience can provide some insights on showing other countries some ways to navigate water reforms.

Australia has also been helping other countries, such as India, for managing the water at basin scales. A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Water Resource Management was signed between Australia and India in 2009 and was renewed 5 years later.

Europe
Europe, along with North America, is combined in the IWRM Status Implementation Report, and they have the score of 67 in the Medium-high category (51-70). Most of the European countries such as France, Austria, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark have scores above 90.

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) has been implemented in the European Union (EU) and it has been highly effective. It is argued that the response to resolving water flow problems occurring under the WFD was dilatory and insufficient in the United Kingdom, and especially England. The water pollution has significantly been reduced in Europe despite the ongoing water quality problems.