Nichi Vendola President of the Region Puglia CoR ‐ Political Coordinator EU2020 Monitoring Platform 1
The role of Regional and Local authorities in promoting sustainable water management Adopted on 30/06/2011 CoR Plenary Water dimensions 1. Water management 2. New Common Agricultural Policy and Water ‐ saving 3. Water Efficiency: Less is More! 4. Water shortages, Desertification and Migration processes 5. Direct involvement of the Covenant of Mayors 6. 2
Commitment at European and Local level � President of the Region Puglia since 2005 � Political Coordinator of the EU2020 Strategy Monitoring Platform since 2010 – Responsible for Sustainable Growth � ARLEM Rapporteur on “The relationship between desertification and climate change in the Mediterranean” A Green Growth Trajectory for Puglia � Renewable Energy: first producer in Italy! (13% solar energy; 27% wind power; % 25% biomass) 3
Water Dimensions � Water is a universal, inalienable human right that is a natural, logical extension of the right to life (UN Resolution of 28 July 2010) � Water has an eco ‐ ethical dimension and every moral community has an intrinsic right to have their water needs met 4
Water Management Scarcity issues and desertification processes must be tackled with appropriate demand management and clear water pricing policies • Criteria for water allocation • Progressive pricing and over ‐ user pays principle 5
New Common Agricultural Policy and Water ‐ saving � Water management procedures and irrigation practices that are in harmony with the Regions’ water availability � Encouraging Water ‐ saving in agriculture and encouraging the cultivation of crops with high water efficiency ( best crop per drop ) 6
Water efficiency : Less is more! � Facilitate the use of non ‐ conventional water resources by promoting a culture of reuse and recycling � Limit thermal pollution of water and reduce as far as possible the use of water as coolant in the industrial and energy plants 7
Water shortages, Desertification and Migration processes � Climate change will alter and shape water availability in Europe’s regions and probably will increase migrations in the outermost regions � Local and regional authorities are best placed to mitigate the causes of water shortages and desertification � The challenges of the desertification must be addressed by combining top ‐ down solutions with bottom ‐ up solutions, with the full involvement of the local communities and on the basis of the principle of solidarity between River Basins 8
Direct involvement of the Covenant of Mayors � Fund local programmes to fight Climate Changes � Specific verifiable water targets for 2020: 20% increase in water ‐ saving in all sectors of use; a 20% increase in the number of water courses being re ‐ naturalised; a 20% increase in the volume of water re ‐ used and/or recycled in farming and industry 9
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