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WaterAid at the G8 in Japan
7 July 2008 This year WaterAid has been lobbying hard for the Japanese Government to put sanitation and water on the agenda at this year's G8 summit, where the leaders of the world's eight richest countries meet to discuss matters of international importance including international development. Despite promises, both public and private, from the Japanese Government that sanitation and water would be firmly on the agenda, early indications suggest that other issues may have taken priority. Listen to WaterAid's Policy Officer Oliver Cumming in a podcasts from the summit:Part 1 ( Part 2 ( Read Oliver's thoughts throughout the summit in his daily blog updates:Day 2 pm The Deadly Silence Broken So it's out. The G8 leader statement on Development and Africa has just been released. Our initial verdict: better but still a long, long way to go. The sanitation and water crisis is an urgent concern that is constraining all development efforts now. So, how have the G8 responded to this development crisis: The G8 recognises?
But what action will the G8 take?
Yes, but what will the G8 actually do?
A response that befits a crisis affecting 40% of the world's population? A level of action proportionate to 5,000 child deaths each day? You decide but I don't think so. It is good to see sanitation and water on the agenda of the G8 but at the end of the day will one progress report make a real difference? And what now? An important step has been taken in Japan. The silence that has masked the sanitation and water crisis has been broken. Now it's on the agenda, mobilising action and resources are the next steps. In September the United Nations High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals provides an opportunity for governments (national and donors) to turn words into action. 2.6 billion people are waiting. Day 2 am Day two, the agenda is Climate Change and the G8 have just announced commitments to half greenhouse emissions by 2050. We are waiting to see the full text on this statement but we'll be looking for commitments to address the adaptation needs of the poorest countries most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. And the statement on yesterday's discussions on Development and Africa has been pushed back to the end of the day. It is this statement that will cover sanitation and water along with other development issues such as health and education. So what are we expecting? I hate to jump the gun but… What do we know? Water and sanitation will be mentioned. What do we suspect? The G8 will fall short on delivering the firm commitments to action that are needed. And what do we want? The G8 to commit to: a global action plan with provision for an annual review of progress; a global taskforce that can progress chase and take the necessary remedial action; and a commitment that no credible national plans shall fail for lack of financing. The statement should be out within the hour so I'll stop there. But expect an update very soon. Day 1 So this it. After months of speculation and various promises by G8 leaders on what will be addressed here we are in Japan for the Toyako G8 Summit. At a reported cost of £285 million for this three day meeting, expectations are high and the agenda is packed. This year it seems that climate change, oil prices and the food crisis will dominate the discussions. Today G8 leaders are scheduled to discuss African development issues and this afternoon they will meet with African leaders to agree priority actions. The G8 have an opportunity now to listen and respond to African calls for sanitation and water to be made an urgent priority. Following the Africa Sanitation Conference and the recent Africa Union Summit in Egypt, African governments have repeatedly highlighted the need to address these issues. So what chance do we have of seeing commitments from the G8 on sanitation and water in Japan? Well, earlier this year, Japan promised that it would use the G8 to play a leading role on sanitation and water. And 2008 is the UN International Year of Sanitation. Now is the time for action but will the G8 leaders be brave enough to tackle this issue when it is so neglected? Today WaterAid launched a new report on sanitation. The report presents evidence that suggests sanitation may be the biggest killer of children in the world and yet remains as the most neglected development sector. Hopefully this report will remind the G8 that without addressing the neglect of the sanitation sector all other development efforts will be undermined. Not just health, but also education and economic growth are all held back by governments' neglect of this issue. It seems ironic to be discussing these issues here in Japan - in a country where toilets have electronic sensors and heated seats and cost $5,000! It's a long way from the 2.6 billion people who still have no access to even basic sanitation. Perhaps though when the contrast is so striking this is the right place for the world's richest countries to take action and address this crisis. Tomorrow we will find out. Read WaterAid's new report, The case for sanitation WaterAid's messages in the news Read Rising costs to dominate G8 talks on the BBC's website (opens in a new window)Read G8 to hear sanitation cash plea also on the BBC's website (opens in a new window) Find out how the End Water Poverty campaign has been involved (opens in a new window)
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