In this side event, UN-Water presented results from a global survey on the application of integrated approaches to water development, management, and use.

Moderating the event, Kenza Kaouakib-Robinson, UN-Water Secretary, emphasized the need for collaboration in water-related issues, saying that no “one-size-fits-all” methodology exists.

Henry de Cazotte, UNCSD Secretariat, called for long-term prioritization of water in the sustainability agenda, and suggested addressing several poverty issues through payments for ecosystem services.

Peter Bjørnsen, UNEP-DHI Centre for Water and Environment, presented the key findings of UN-Water’s report, including: water policies, plans and laws; governance and management systems; and infrastructure and financial mechanisms.

Veerle Vandeweerd, UNDP, commending the work of UN-Water, urged fast-tracking the implementation of many water policies and plans.

Ambassador Csaba Körösi, Permanent Representative of Hungary to the UN, highlighted actionable recommendations from the steering group of the Rio+20 Friends of Water Group.

Participants discussed, inter alia: issues related to transboundary river management; water recycling; how to address water shortages; the possibility of global water conflicts; and waste disposal and related health hazards in rapidly-developing countries.

Thomas Stelzer, DESA, highlighted the urgency of acting upon the report’s recommendations, and urged a revolutionary turnaround to avoid global water depletion.

Moderated by Lisinka Ulatowska, Coordinator, Major Group Cluster on the Commons, this side event discussed a number of initiatives to create commons-based economies, and how these can be expanded and built upon.

Mario Ruales, Advisor to the Ecuadorian Minister of Coordination of Heritage, highlighted the adoption of a new constitution in 2008, which recognized the rights of Mother Earth. He emphasized the role of natural and indigenous peoples to respect and protect the ecosystem, saying that the constitution has a lot of processes that would allow this to be pursued. He noted Ecuador’s call for a new development architecture, saying that this has been proposed for Rio+20.

Leon Siu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Hawaiian Kingdom, outlined his work for reinstating the independent nation state of Hawai’i, saying that should this occur, many of the traditional practices for land management, agriculture and conservation of natural resources will return. He lamented the marginalization of the indigenous peoples, saying that reinstating the independent nation state of Hawai’i would rectify this problem.

Rob Wheeler, Global Ecovillage Network, outlined that the commons-based approach is one where the land and its resources are cooperatively owned, managed and shared among those living on the commons. He noted that ecovillages, which are based on such a model, are among the most sustainable communities in existence. He noted that many lessons on sustainability can be learnt from ecovillages, underscoring their ability to minimize waste, promote clean and renewable energy, and ensure the sustainable consumption of natural resources.

In the ensuing discussion, delegates addressed the different financing systems that could be used for implementing a commons-based model. They also discussed referencing the rights of nature in the Rio+20 outcome document.