Water: a right or a commodity?

Author(s): Camilo Villa
Publication date: Thursday 23 March 2006

The Fourth World Water Forum concluded deliberations in Mexico City on Wednesday, with several ministerial roundtables on areas related to water management and a closing plenary session. The Fifth World Water Forum will be held in 2009 in Istanbul, Turkey.
It is accepted nowadays that water would play in the near future the role oil currently plays. Many processes converge into this resource that covers a large part of our planet: environment, culture and, economy are just few of them. The climate change and environmental constraints created by the inappropriate use of our resources and technologies are creating a serious challenge for current and future generations.

The development path followed by many societies is affecting seriously the availability of enough and appropriate sources of water. We have developed cultures that have lost their responsibilities towards the earth and its resources. Consumption became the main driver of many societies creating an excess of waste and energy consumption.
The extremely unequal distribution of wealth is creating the conditions to transform water into a commodity only accessible for those with enough incomes. Is it a right or is it a commodity. This was one of the key topics discussed in the 4th World Water Forum that took place in Mexico in these days. Many NGOs and civil society organisations participated in the event and had defended the rights from citizens all over the world. There was progress in some aspects but there still a lot to be done. To have a better idea on how things have evolved during the past three years it could be useful to take a look to the conclusions of the previous Forum .

There were common points between the main actors but also key differences. for instance you can comapre the OECD perspective and some of NGOs point view.

Related links:

http://www.iisd.ca/ymb/worldwater4/