Brazil’s Ministry of Environment announced yesterday, World Water Day, a set of measures to improve water resources management in Brazil. It will create the National Information System for Water Resources, and issue Request for Pricing (RFP) in support of this technology development.
In association with other Ministries, including the one for Science and Technology, the Ministry of Environment has announced a consumer protection decree that will ensure people access to information on water quality.
These measures involve US$ 16,5 million in resources, and are part of the Water Week (March 21-24) programming. “Water, source of life” is this year’s theme.
The Water Week is coordinated by the Ministry’s Water Resources Secretariat, the National Water Agency (ANA), and the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), in association with the non-governmental organization WWF-Brazil, and with the participation of other government and civil society organizations.
March 22nd was chosen the World Water Day during the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, in Rio de Janeiro.
The current year marks the beginning of activities comprising the United Nations International Water for Life Decade, 2005-2015. For Brazil, 2005 represents the elaboration of the National Plan for Water Resources.
The designation of the Water Decade by the UN has the objective of advancing debates worldwide on water-related issues and to promote programs and projects that ensure women’s participation.
In addition, it intends to foster multilateral cooperation to facilitate achievement of Agenda 21 and the Millennium Declaration goals, which include water access to over one billion people worldwide who suffer from water scarcity.
Translation: Andréa Alves
Agência Brasil