Blog 2: France

Sustainable Developmental Goal 6: Water and Sanitation of FRANCE

Let’s Talk About Implementation:

EU Water Framework Directive: 

• Adopted in 2000.
• Driven by the development of water and management master plans.

Water agencies: responsible for planning and financing management operations for balanced economical management of the:

• Water resource and aquatic environments.
• Drinking water supply.
• Regulation of high water and sustainable development of economic activities.

Overseas France Water Plan: action plan for drinking water and sanitation services in Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Martinique, Reunion, Mayotte and Saint Martin.

• Announced in 2016.
• Helps communities improve the service provided to their users and work towards the sustainable management of the services.

The 3^rd National Environment Health Plan:

• Created to 600 new protected water catchment areas per year.
• Set to put in place action plans to tackle diffuse pollution across 1000 priority water catchment areas.

Monitoring SDG6 in France:

Satellites Observations: digital simulation techniques help manage the evolution of watersheds and ground water for agriculture.

Transparent water safety monitoring allows the public to look up the physicochemical quality of the water in their municipality online at any time.

How Much Will This Cost?

French Agency for Development: allocated nearly $800 million in new project and program financing to the water and sanitation sector in 2015.

• Provides 2.3 million people with sustainable access to drinking water.
• Will improve the quality of the drinking water supply system for 11.1 million people.
• Access to sanitation for 400,000 people will be guaranteed and improve the quality of the sanitation system for 1.5 million.

Climate Change in Relation to Water and Sanitation:

“At COP21, France signed the Paris Pact on Water and Climate Change Adaptation in river basins, lakes and aquifers. It also worked to mainstream the role of water in climate change adaptation. $450 million have been contributed to climate change mitigation, improving knowledge of climate risks weighing on water resources…International Commission of the Congo-Oubangui-Sangha Basin (CICOS) and Mekong River Commission reduced the risks of urban flooding. Dakar and Moundou cleaned up coastal areas (DEPOLMED Tunisia), and harnessed new resources (Dhaka, Bangladesh)” (Goals 25). 

Around the World

Water and sanitation are issues for France; however, their implementation strategies focus on the nation and their water and sanitation concerns as a whole.  

Resources for France to Accomplish Their SDG6:

Ø  Government and associations: secure access to drinking water and sanitation for people without physical access to these services.

Ø  Local authorities and businesses: tests water rates and new aid systems to guarantee equitable access to water.

Ø  Farmers: agreements are being signed with farmers to save drinking water and reduce the cost of sanitation.

Fun Facts:

•     Water and sanitation has been addressed by France, and has improved over the years because of their strategic strategies and teamwork. 
•     Water and sanitation is not only a priority for France; helping the nation as a whole with their water and sanitation concerns is on the top of their list as well. France is selfless when it comes to the environment in relation to the safety of all people, not just their own. 

Sources

1. 2016. Report of the Implementation by France of the sustainable development Goals on the occasion of France's national voluntary review to the United Nation High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development, 25-26. Retrieved  from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/10726Report%20SDGs%20France.pdf.
2. Substantiable Developmental Goals. Retrieved from https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdg6.