13 March 2012: In a statement delivered at the World Water Forum, Julia Marton-Lefèvre, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Director-General, highlighted key messages that the Forum should send to the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20), including that water has an unchallengeable place in “the future we want.”

Emphasizing that water is crucial for sustainable development and a transition to a green economy, Marton-Lefèvre said that managing water well translates into social inclusion, gender equity, economic opportunity, efficiency in resource use and biodiversity conservation. On the issue of green economy, she said governments at Rio+20 must recognize that nature is at the centre of decision-making, noting that IUCN’s position on the green economy is that “nature-based solutions” will lead to a more balanced global economy.

Marton-Lefèvre outlined that the transition to a green economy can be achieved, by inter alia: reforming economic, planning, accounting, finance and infrastructure development; phasing out or reforming all incentives and subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity and ecosystem services; and leadership in innovation. Finally, she urged the World Water Forum to support real investments in natural infrastructure and ecological restoration, as part of any package of investments for river basin development. [IUCN News]