The World Water Council and the Korea Water Resources Corporation (K-water) together with representatives from the 7th Forum National Committee have urged political leaders to set their nations on a more sustainable economic growth path.

The call comes in their “Water and Green Growth” report launched at the 7th World Water Forum currently taking plce in Korea and set within the context of the post-2015 development agenda,. The WWC and K-Water are urging politicians to take forward the approaches contained in the report, which provides guidance on developing and implementing water and green growth policies by combining different alternatives based on state-, market- and community-based approaches.

Water at heart of new growth paradigm

In view of the“water crises” as the top global societal risk in the next decade, the measures within the “Water and Green Growth” report aim to reduce risks and create opportunities, while remaining sensitive to economic, environmental and social issues.

‘Green growth’ has emerged as a paradigm for job creation and economic and social development through green and clean technologies. The Republic of Korea, the host nation for the 7th World Water Forum, has focused on green solutions to re-fire its economy. Developed nations in Europe such as France, Germany and the UK are exploring, promoting and pursuing green growth strategies to tackle climate change, their dependence on resources and create jobs.

Benedito Braga, President of the World Water Council commented:

“We believe that conventional economic development models have shown their limits by digging too deeply into the ecological debt for the future generations. To achieve environmental security, economic growth, and a high standard of living, a new paradigm for growth is needed. We believe that water is at the heart of this new growth paradigm.”

“We are calling for a new framework which sets water as a means to steer economies and societies toward more resilience while meeting the soaring demands for food, transport, housing, energy and water.”

The Water and Green Growth Program is built on a long-term cooperation between the Government of the Republic of Korea and the World Water Council. The resulting report includes a new analytical approach, a revised policy framework and a roadmap for policy makers to begin the process of implementing Water and Green Growth strategies.

Drawn from 11 comprehensive case studies from around the world, the report builds on research proposed in Edition 1 of the Water and Green Growth report, which was launched at the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille in 2012. The original 26 case studies led to the development of an initial policy framework covering the three pillars of sustainable development: Water as an Engine of Growth (economic dimension); Protection and Conservation of Water Resources (environmental dimension); and Water for an Improved Quality of Life (social dimension).

Gyewoon Choi, CEO of the Korean Water Institute, K-water added:

“We have set out strategies and solutions for addressing water-related challenges,” says “Green growth requires both economic and environmental efficiency. In this regard, technological innovation and developments, such as the Smart Water Management Initiative featured in the report should be promoted, as well as effective institutional arrangements and governance. It is my hope that the research and findings of ‘Water and Green Growth’ contribute to solving the water problems of our world and to achieving sustainable development.”

The World Water Council is an international multi-stakeholder platform organization, founder and co-organizer of the World Water Forum. Headquartered in Marseille, France,the Council, which was created in 1996. brings together over 300 member organizations from more than 50 different countries.