Water and a Green Economy in Latin America and the Caribbean

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Water in the Green Economy in Practice: Towards Rio+20 Water cost recovery and financing This relates to improving water charging and finance arrangements. This needs to include improving access to financing for the poor. Cross subsidizing of water use may be considered to facilitate access to water services for the low-income groups. Establishing financing that creates incentives for eco-efficient technologies would support technology development, adaptation and adoption. Financing is important for the investments aimed at improving the effectiveness, efficiency and resilience of water supply and of water use. This includes financing for obtaining more value and crop per drop and replacing waterintensive crops; investing in replacing and maintaining old infrastructure, improving irrigation systems, and decreasing wastage; investing in sustainable agriculture and freshwater systems. For developing countries, in particular, finance may be needed to increase agricultural investment in infrastructure for value addition and to reduce water transmission losses in irrigation canals and other water systems. Finance is also needed to improve storage and water quality, and for investing in hard infrastructure, such as dams, to protect current assets at risk, when economically efficient to do so, and devise retrenchment strategies for other cases. Infrastructure development must take into account the impacts on water quantity and water quality, biodiversity, energy and resource efficiency. Finance is also essential for water resources management, in particular for investing in the institutions and mechanisms needed to allocate water among competing demands in an equitable and sustainable manner. Investments in protection and improvement of biodiversity Investments in protection and improvement of biodiversity such as upper basin management protection and wetland and forest restoration, when it is cost-effective for achieving water policy targets. Governments are encouraged to consider ecological infrastructure as one of the top priorities for public spending both in their immediate responses to the current global financial crisis and in their regular national budgets. Investing in ecological infrastructure is important for all countries. Developing economies in particular are home to hundreds of millions of poor people whose livelihoods depend on critical ecosystem services. Promotion of water technologies Green technologies have the potential to create new business opportunities and markets, contributing to job creation. This includes cooling methods for energy plants, desalination with wind energy, and changes to drip irrigation. Innovation is a key driver of productivity. It relates to both technological and non-technological approaches, such as integrated environmental strategies, responsible management practice and new business models (such as eco-efficiency). WaterandaGreenEconomy Annexes 51
Water and a Green Economy in LAC WaterandaGreenEconomy Annexes 52 Annex 2. Issues presented for discussion at the Zaragoza Conference Issues Agriculture Cities Industry Watersheds and aquifers Relevant issues for the green economy Water and food security Improve efficiency and nutrition per drop Improve efficiencies through the food value chain Challenges for small farms in least developed countries No excuse MDGs – basic water supply and sanitation services Changes in water consumption patterns in cities (direct and indirect) Improve effectiveness and quality of urban water supply services Reduce externalities of cities to the water environment Change production patterns Improve efficiency and reduce pollution Promote innovation Challenges for small and medium companies in least developed countries Scarcity management Climate change and extreme events Transboundary water resources Protection of biodiversity
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Water and a Green Economy in Latin America and the Caribbean

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