World Water Forum-5 Istanbul, Saturday March 21 st “Living on the Edge”
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World Water Forum-5 Istanbul, Saturday March 21 st “Living on the Edge”
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Transcript of World Water Forum-5 Istanbul, Saturday March 21 st “Living on the Edge”
World Water Forum-5Istanbul, Saturday March 21st
“Living on the Edge”
Overview
• Youth initiative: “Living on the edge”
• What GEMS/Water does• Partnerships• How you can participate
Young people documenting
observationsof water quality from shorelines of any inlandwater body around theworld:
Wadi Environmental Science Centre, Egypt
GTZ, Brasilia for the Amazon River
Youth
Why create a youth initiative?
The world’s 263 international watersheds generate about 60% of global freshwater flow and are home to about 40% of all people. Youth know this means that many of their friends are living on the edge of a river, a lake, a stream, a wetland and other types of surface water resources.
“Living on the Edge” is GEMS/Water’s Youth initiative which focuses on young people documenting observations about water quality from shorelines of any inland water body around the world.
Three Objectives
1. Awareness-raising:
• By showcasing studies so that others are inspired to do similar
• Encouraging youth-centred learning initiatives on water quality
• Learning how local water environments are linked to the global water environment
Three Objectives
2. Knowledge and Information:
• Learning about water quality in one’s own local environment so that it can be celebrated or action
can be taken to mitigate changes and problems• Experiences and observations can contribute to
environmental assessments and reports• Providing an opportunity for youth from all sectors of
society to learn more about the water quality issues and the current initiatives at UNEP
Three Objectives
3. Communication:
• By showing that youth can make a difference (especially international cooperation)
• Connecting with schools, universities, and other learning centres which conduct water quality monitoring and science programmes, as potential data sources
• Providing an exchange opportunity for youth around the world to share their ideas and experiences from their respective countries and regions
What does GEMS/Water do?
1. A global inland water quality database and international network.
2. A leading source of data for global environmental assessment processes.
3. Technical (QA/QC) tools and resources.
4. Building the capacity of developing countries to collect and manage water quality information.
GEMS/Water Global Network
Total stations: 3,021
Global Water Quality Assessments
• World Water Development Reports
• UNEP Freshwater Assessments – GEO 4
• Global Biodiversity Outlook
• WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme
• Indicators and index development
New “Digital Atlas”
Now available:
• Soft cover• Hard cover• On-line PDF
OpenWater Wiki
Building Partnerships
Celebrate World Water Monitoring Day – September 18th
Data collection and desimination
Water quality test kits
www.worldwatermonitoringday.org
Building Partnerships
Tools and resources for teachers and schools
Educator’s GuideField Monitoring Guide
Suite of water quality test kits
www.projectwet.org
Join in GEMS/Water
1. Partner with “Living on the Edge”
2. Help identify new data sources
3. Promote World Water Monitoring Day
4. Promote water science
