World Water Council
| Abbreviation | WWC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1996 |
| Type | INGO |
| Headquarters |
Marseille,  France |
Region served | Worldwide |
Official language | French, English |
President |
Benedito Braga  Brazil |
| Website | WWC Official website |
The World Water Council is an international think tank founded in 1996, with its headquarters in Marseille, France. It has 341 members (March 2017) which include organizations from the UN and intergovernmental organizations, the private sector (construction, engineering and manufacturing companies), governments and ministries, academic institutions, international organizations, local governments, and civil society groups. Founders and constituent members of the World Water Council include the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature(IUCN), the International Water Association (IWA), AquaFed (The International Federation of Private Water Operators), Suez Lyonnaise des Eaux, the United Nations agencies UNDP and UNESCO, and the World Bank.[1]
Its stated mission is "to promote awareness, build political commitment and trigger action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, to facilitate the efficient conservation, protection, development, planning, management, and use of water in all its dimensions on an environmentally sustainable basis for the benefit of all life on earth."
Every third year the World Water Council organizes the World Water Forum in close collaboration with the authorities of the hosting country. The Forum is the largest international event in the field of water. The 6th World Water Forum took place in Marseille, France, in 2012 and the 7th World Water Forum in Daegu-Gyeongbuk, Republic of Korea, in April 2015. The upcoming 8th World Water Forum will take place in Brasilia, Brazil, from 18 to 23 March 2018 under the overarching theme 'Sharing Water'.
The World Water Council is financed primarily through membership fees, and additional support is provided by the host City of Marseille. Specific projects and programs are financed through donations and grants from governments, international organizations, and NGO's.
Colleges and membership distribution (as of March 2017)
World Water Council members are divided into 5 colleges:
- College 1: Intergovernmental institutions - 4%
- College 2: Governments and government authorities - 23%
- College 3: Enterprises and facilities - 30%
- College 4: Civil society organizations and water user associations - 17%
- College 5: Professional associations and academic institutions - 26%
Criticism
Critics accuse the World Water Council of promoting the privatisation of water supply, an indication of this is the large influence of financial institutions and global water corporations.[2] The Canadian activist Tony Clarke describes the World Water Council as a smoke screen for the water lobby. Medha Patkar, an activist from India, gave a passionate speech against privatisation of water at the 2nd World Water Forum in The Hague in 2000.
The World Water Forum
| Location | Year |
|---|---|
| Brasilia | 2018 |
| Daegu-Gyeongbuk | 2015 |
| Marseille | 2012 |
| Istanbul | 2009 |
| Mexico | 2006 |
| Kyoto | 2003 |
| The Hague | 2000 |
| Marrakech | 1997 |
References
- ↑ World Water Council Constitution & By-Laws
- ↑ Maude Barlow and Tony Clarke, "Blue Gold: The Battle Against Corporate Theft of the World's Water" (2002).
External links
- Eighth World Water Forum (Brasilia 2018)
- Seventh World Water Forum (Daegu-Gyeongbuk 2015)
- Sixth World Water Forum (Marseille 2012)
- Fifth World Water Forum (Istanbul 2009)
- World Water Council
- Water and habitat section - ICRC web site
- Fourth World Water Forum (México 2006)
- Medha Patkar at the 2nd World Water Forum, The Hague, March 2000