By this commitment, the Peruvian Ministry of Environment (MINAM) and Forest Trends agree to work together in Peru to scale up investment in natural water infrastructure to address watershed degradation and compensate those responsible for the provision of watershed services. The commitment is being formalized in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

Luxembourg ratifies the convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses on 8 June 2012. 

Recent food price volatility exposed vulnerabilities embedded in the food supply-demand imbalance around the world, while population growth, rising food demand resulted from economic development and increasing instability of food production associated with climate change are concerned. The key to address these situations and strengthen food security lies in the increase of stable food production through effective use of limited water resources.

The Commitment is to achieve Target 2.3.5 of the 6th World Water Forum.  This target is:

By 2015, with the aim to measure and guide sustainability performance in the preparation, implementation and operation of hydropower facilities in at least 20 countries covering the world’s five major regions, utilize a hydropower sustainability assessment tool, developed through a multi-stakeholder process, and covering economic, social and environmental dimensions.

The Butterfly Effect is a coalition of over 90 civil society organisations, and national and international NGOs, networks and womens’ organisations.  We have been working together for over a year to prepare for this forum, bringing our experience and expertise together with a common set of messages and our own commitments which we present to duty bearers and all other actors at the 6th World Water Forum, March 2012.

Worldwide, 100 million ha (harvested) irrigated rice fields annually provide 500 million t (rough) rice, the staple food of 3 billion people. These fields receive 35-40% of all irrigation water, making it the single biggest beneficiary of developed freshwater resources. Possibly more than half of this water is pumped, requiring large amounts of energy. Because of its flooded nature, rice fields emit 5-10% of the world’s methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. Irrigation technologies that reduce water needs in rice fields are needed to help farmers cope with water scarcity while safeguarding food security. At the same time, such technologies can reduce (pumping) energy use and emission of methane.

European Water Partnership commits to support the further development and implementation of the European Water Stewardship standard in order to further responsible water use  by defining a system of clear steps towards sustainable water management at operational and river basin levels.

The Astana Water Action — a collection of possible actions and commitments for improving the status of water and water-related ecosystems through their more sustainable management — is one of the most important outcomes of the Seventh “Environment for Europe” Ministerial Conference (Astana, 21–23 September 2011).

The Nature Conservancy, FEMSA Foundation, the Inter-American Development Bank and the Global Environment Facility (GEF) make up the Latin American Water Funds Partnership and share a common vision of environmental conservation and sustainable growth in the future: to preserve watersheds and help protect water supplies in the region.