Water Stewardship:a Vision on

Sustainable Water Management in Agriculture

“Water in the world” Lecture series,March 2nd 2011

Rob D’hondt

– Guidance– Positive Incentives– Fines / Penalties (regulations / pricing / law)

Water Stewardship goes further:

Consumption Impact RESPONSE

RESPONSE through:

Together in the same direction

Going one step further…

Footprinting vs. Stewardship

Reward

Life Cycle Analysis

Impacts

Volume Accounting

Response

Communication

Footprinting: understanding

Stewardship: responding

… with the right tools!

A standard to change behavior towards Sustainable Water Management (SWM)

– Definition of requirements for SWM– Objective scheme to assess the sustainability– Communicate and award sustainable performance

A voluntary scheme for and from water users

– Connect and relate European and global processes– Avoid the “carbon situation”

A global framework

– Developed via a multi-stakeholder process– Complement and support regulatory actions– Recognize and reward water users who take major steps towards SWM– Minimize the impacts at the facility and watershed level

Governmental

Governmental

AgenciesAgencies

EuropeanEuropean InstitutionsInstitutions

ResearchResearch

Local & Regional Local & Regional InstitutionsInstitutions

Private Business

Private Business

NGOsNGOs

EWP as a platform

European Water Stewardship Program

Aquawareness Strategic Partners

Water Stewardship Partners

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Water

Stewardship Standard

2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

2010Validation

• Pilot Phase

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Standard

for SWM

Phase I2010Validation

• Pilot phase

Phase II2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

Phase III

Water Stewardship Program

Industry

Agriculture

Urban Areas

Standard / Guideline ► Definition of SWM

Golf

Program Phase I: Water Stewardship scheme

Focus for Standard: Impact-based

Improved water flow regime

Equitable governance

Improved water quality

Protected habitats

Watershed-level targets

Technical assessment is basis but Water is more!Take into account social, political, economic aspects

Program Phase I: Standard Development

1 Standard for all sectors: 4 Principles

Principle 1: Achieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity.

Principle 2: Ensure the achievement and maintenance of good status in terms of chemical quality and biological elements.

Principle 3: Restore and preserve water-cycle related high conservation value ecosystems.

Principle 4: Achieve equitable and transparent water governance.

Water example

Impact Water Abstraction

Principle Achieve and maintain sustainable water abstraction in terms of water quantity

Criteria Evaluate water abstraction from all sources- Volume - Location- Timing - Effect

Indicator Classification of sourcesMeasuring water abstraction

- Effect of water abstraction on source- Water source flow regime issues

Program Phase I: Standard Structure

List of Communication Tools► Awarding SWM

Checklist / Evaluation Scheme► Assessment of SWMIndustry

Agriculture

Urban Areas

Standard / Guideline ► Definition of SWM

Golf

Program Phase I: Water Stewardship scheme

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Standard

for SWM

Phase I2010Validation

• Pilot phase

Phase II2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

Phase III

Water Stewardship Program

Key to Success:

Balance Level of Detail - Applicability

Program Phase II: Validation

Pilot StudiesPublic Consultation

Pilot organizations:– provide feedback and expertise– receive first performance analysis

Training Session Kick-Off

End Report

ca. 3 months

On-site Interview

Pilot Study

Data Collection

Standard Development

Program Phase II: Pilot Study

Program Phase II: Current Status

Pilot organizations:

Industry

Agriculture

Golf

Urban Areas

2009Standard Development

• Launch of WGs• Set up draft Standard

for SWM

Phase I2010Validation

• Pilot phase

Phase II2011Implementation

• Application asbusiness case

Phase III

Water Stewardship Program

• Application as a voluntary scheme:

Depends on needs from sectors and stakeholders

• For Agriculture:

- Investigate alignment with existing systems

- Link to EU policy (e.g. new CAP)

- Identify multifunctional measures

• Regional Initiative in Global Framework (AWS)

Program Phase III: Implementation

ContactContact

Contact and informationwww.ewp.eu/activities/water-stewardshipandDr Sabine von Wirén-Lehr Program Coordinator European Water Partnership (EWP)E-mail: s.von-wiren-lehr@ewp.eu