International Hydrological Programme

Water and society

Linking environment and society


All environmental problems are also, by their very nature, social problems. This theme focuses on the complex relationships between people and water resources. The emphasis is on the human component of the equation and seeks to answer questions about attitudes, relationships, concepts and beliefs in order to provide guidelines for managing water resources in an equitable, sustainable and ethical manner.


Focal areas


  • Water, civilization and ethics
  • Value of water
  • Water conflicts
  • Human security in water-related disasters and degrading environments
  • Public awareness raising on water interactions


The aims of this theme


The general aims of IHP activities implemented in the framework of the theme 'Water and society' are:

  • to provide public awareness of the causes, impacts and trends in water scarcity and pollution, in connection with the theme: Global Changes and Water Resources
  • to study the relationship between safe water supply and appropriate public health sanitation as a contribution to poverty alleviation
  • to provide management methodologies and tools at different scales to assess and incorporate the water resources interests of the inhabitants of a basin
  • to identify possibilities for incorporating water valuation into the efficient management of water resources
  • to more fully understand social and ethical views of water users and incorporate indigenous knowledge in water management at different scales
  • to support conflict prevention and mitigation considering water as a strategic resource
  • to ensure both human and environmental security aspects of water resources at all levels


Joint initiatives: the key to success


UNESCO seeks to stimulate the implementation of ethical principles in the field of freshwater. The International Hydrological Programme collaborates closely with UNESCO’s Sector for Social and Human Sciences, through the Ethics of Science and Technology Programme and the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology (COMEST), so as to propose guidance on the ethical use and governance of freshwater resources.


PUBLICATIONS
Best Ethical Practices in Water Use
Across five case studies from Africa, Asia and Latin America, this booklet discusses examples of sound practices in water resource development, local governance, use of traditional knowledge, gender equity, and transboundary water management.

The Water and Ethics series
The new IHP publication series, Water and Ethics, was launched in 2004. Twelve essays have been published so far, each one addressing the ethical aspects of a particular water topic.

Water Footprints of Nations Volume I[PDF format - 2.5 MB]
The water footprint of a nation is defined as the total amount of water that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the inhabitants of the nation. This publication is number 16 in the Value of Water Report Series of the UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education.
LINKS
World Water Day 2006: Water and Culture
WWD 2006 was dedicated to the theme ‘Water and Culture’ under the leadership of UNESCO. This website contains information about the ways in which water is perceived and managed around the world; the role water has played in shaping how our lives and much more.