Water is key to development

Because water is central to development, investing in water delivers immediate benefits as well as long-term social, economic and environmental resilience.

Whether it is food security, nutrition security, poverty reduction, economic growth, energy production, human health—water is the nexus. Water is a key factor in the achievement of each of the Millennium Development Goals. Without water security, there will be no food security, energy security will be compromised and poverty reduction and economic growth will not be sustainable.
Everyone knows that water is essential to the life of the planet and to the prosperity of its people. But what fewer people know—and what political leaders are failing to address—is that the increasing pressures of climate change, population growth, urbanisation, and evolving energy needs, are together putting unprecedented pressure on our finite freshwater resources. We've got to do something about it now.

A world of cities
Feeding the world has been a top priority for decades. The task is not getting easier. It isn’t just that there are more people to feed, it is where they live. The world’s urban population is expected to increase from around 3.3 billion today to over 6 billion by 2050. Partly as a result of economic development, we’ve become an urban world so rapidly that cities, especially in the developing world, have not kept up with ensuring clean water supplies, sanitation and wastewater treatment for their burgeoning populations.

Depleted resources
South Asia and the Near East/North Africa have exhausted much of their rain-fed land potentials and depleted a significant share of their renewable waters. More than 1.2 billion people live in river basins where absolute water scarcity and increasing shortages are serious concerns. Expanding land under cultivation is possible in sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America but requires adequate farming practices, increased investments and sustainable management of land and water resources.

Social change
Building that resilience means financing water infrastructure. But it also means reforming institutions, building their capacity and knowledge, and promoting good governance. This is about financing water resources management, a long-neglected area. Strong links need to be built between water and finance experts to tackle chronic underinvestment and the waste of scarce funds.

Source: Global Water Partnership

Towards a green economy

The countdown has begun for the second edition of Oman Green Award, Oman’s first environmental award, which will be announced on June 5.

Environmental issues and economic development increasingly intersect and complement each other. Creating a green economy is going to top the agenda of most corporates as every company worth its salt strives to contribute its mite to protect and restore what is left of the earth and our environment. As the world population increases, the demand for food, energy, and luxuries has increased manifold. The first casualty of catering to the burgeoning demands of the increasing urban populace is the environment. Therefore, it is not only corporate but also individuals and organisations who need to contribute towards restoring the dwindling natural resource that we call the Earth.

Only an enhanced awareness campaign will stir interest and wake up the people from general inaction and minimal activism to positive environmental goals. The Oman Green Awards is a significant step to create and increase environmental awareness, as these will also lead towards greater action in the long term, both at a community and decision making levels.

For behavioural change
As the country’s first Environmental Awards, Oman Green Awards has been created to awaken the eco-consciousness in every citizen and resident. It is aimed at honouring outstanding environmental vision, endeavours and achievements of corporate and individuals who matter most as they strive in this environmental cause. The ultimate aim of the awards is to motivate behavioural change and increase awareness in relation to the protection and preservation of our environment. OGA provides green groups a platform to create awareness, bring about concerted action through exchange of ideas, and propel others to come forth and participate in this social cause. The second edition of OGA will be held on June 5, 2011.

As a young nation with an aspiration to develop on all fronts, Oman has made giant strides, but in this march towards prosperity, the concept of eco-consciousness was in its infancy. But now, a growing class of educated Omanis have realised that to preserve the country and its environment for the future generations, the conservation of oil supplies, preservation of the natural wildlife heritage, and water resources is indeed a given must. Combined with this is the fact that air, water, and land pollution are also significant environmental issues, which need to be tackled before things go out of hand.

The Oman Green Awards will be an ideal platform to honour, appreciate and promote voluntary efforts and achievements. It is an acknowledged fact that the local green activities and earth-friendly efforts and achievements have not been recognised. Globally and regionally, however, environmental awards in governmental, corporate and other sectors have been evolving for several years.

Several organisations including corporate houses, institutions, schools etc are involved in relentless efforts to protect and preserve the environment. But the lack of an umbrella organisation that will bring these players together and facilitate better coordination and exchange of ideas creates an inherent lacuna in the system. The Oman Green Awards, as the first of its kind in the Sultanate, quite naturally is expected to facilitate steps to create a forum for coordinated eco-efforts in the country.

Reduce – An important element

Most of us are aware of the credo -- reduce-reuse-recycle. The critical first step of waste prevention is reduce and while this is overshadowed by a focus on recycling, it is important to understand the importance of reduce

● Simplify: Simplify your life as much as possible. Only keep belongings that you use/enjoy on a regular basis. By making the effort to reduce what you own, you will naturally purchase less/create less waste in the future.

● Reduce Purchases: In general, think before you buy any product - do you really need it? How did the production of this product impact the environment and what further impacts will there be with the disposal of the product (and associated packaging materials)? When you are thinking about buying something, try the 30-Day Rule -- wait 30 days after the first time you decide you want a product to really make your decision. This will eliminate impulse buying.

● The Compact: Join or form a Compact in your area - groups all across the globe committing for 12 months to not buy any new products (see lower right sidebar for groups).

● Replace Disposables: Wherever possible, replace disposable products with reusable ones (i.e., razor, food storage, batteries, ink cartridges (buy refill ink), coffee filters, furnace or air conditioner filters, etc.).

● Buy Used: Buy used products whenever possible. Some sources:

• Local thrift stores

• EBay

• Craigslist

• Amazon (search on specific refurbished product)

• Freecycle (free!)

• Local newspaper listings

• Local material exchange sites (search in your area)

• Garage sales (search in your area in the 'for sale' > 'garage sales' section

• Used refurbished computers (check your computer manufacturer's website or Amazon)

• Local used furniture stores (search in your area)

• Local consignment shops (search in your area)

• Borrow From Friends: If you only need something temporarily, ask if a friend or neighbour would loan it to you.

• Share With Friends: Share things like books, magazines, movies, games, and newspapers between friends and neighbours.

• Tree-Free Home: As much as possible, create a tree-free home:
  ◦replace paper napkins with cloth napkins
  ◦replace paper towels with a special set of cloth towels/napkins (or cut up old t-shirts for great towels) - store the used ones in a small container in your kitchen and just wash and reuse
  ◦purchase bleach-free, toilet paper that is made from the highest post-consumer waste content you can find (80% minimum)
  ◦if you print documents, print on once-used paper and/or bleach-free, recycled paper with the highest post-consumer waste content available (or hemp/alternative-source paper, if you can afford it)
  ◦reuse envelopes, wrapping paper, the front of gift cards (as postcards) and other paper materials you receive wherever possible
  ◦read books, magazines, and newspapers from your local library
  ◦create and use note pads from once-used paper
  ◦leave messages for family members/roommates on a reusable message board
  ◦make your own cards/letters from once-used products or handmade paper
  ◦if you will be doing construction on your house, search out alternatives to using newly cut wood (no endorsement of any company intended):
  ■Eco-Friendly Flooring Guide
  ■straw bale
  ■bamboo -- two sites to check out: Plyboo and Teragren
  ■true (natural) linoleum
  ■previously used wood -- one site to check out: Vintage Timber Works
  ■cob -- three sites to check out: Cob, Cob Cottage, and EcoBusiness-Cob Building Resources
  ■composite decking -- The Latest Trend in Decking
   

● Bulk Purchases: Avoid products that are packaged for single use (i.e., drinks, school lunches, candy, cat and dog food, salad mixings, etc.). Instead, buy in bulk and transfer the products to your own reusable containers. Many health food stores have bulk bins where they sell everything from grains to cereal to cleaning products. For additional ideas, read the precycling information page.

● Buy Only What You Need: Buy only as much as you know you'll use for items such as food, cleaning supplies, and paint.
   
● Avoid Creating Trash: Avoid creating trash wherever possible: when ordering food, avoid receiving any unnecessary plastic utensils, straws, etc. (ask in advance), buy ice cream in a cone instead of a cup, don't accept "free" promotional products, buy products with the least amount of packaging, etc. Every little bit of trash avoided does make a difference!

● Shopping Bags: While shopping, if you only buy a few products skip the shopping bag. For larger purchases, bring your own. Learn about the dangers of plastic bags and what countries around world are doing about it ("The Dangers of Plastic Bags" slide show from Teacher Vishal Mody).

● Junk Mail: For ideas on how to reduce junk mail, check out:
◦Reduce Personal and Business Junk Mail
◦Do-it-yourself: Stop junk mail, email and phone calls
◦How to Get Rid of Junk Mail, Spam, and Telemarketers
◦Opt-Out

● Waste-Free Lunches: Pack a Waste-Free Lunch whenever possible.

● Mug-to-Go: Carry a mug with you wherever you go for take out beverages.

● Address Early Consumption Habits: New American Dream offers tips for protecting your children from intrusive and harmful advertising that promotes mindless consumption.

● Encourage Hotels to Reduce Waste: When staying at a hotel, motel, or bed and breakfast let the management know that you like to support businesses that adopt environmentally responsible practices (including reducing waste). Print out and drop off the Sustainable Solutions for Green Hotels environmental tips list. To locate environmentally friendly hotels, search on the Internet under "ecotourism" and/or visit Green Hotels Association.