São Paulo-Brussels Groundwater Declaration – shared challenges, share the will worldwide!
Last year, when the IAH had two international congresses, IAH National Chapters in Brazil and Belgium, along with the IAH Executive Committee, Associação Brasileira de Águas Subterrâneas (ABAS), and Asociación Latinoamericana de Hidrología Subterránea para el Desarrollo (ALHSUD) launched a survey on groundwater challenges and solutions for sustainable management and awareness. Hundreds of hydrogeologists from all over the world participated in this survey. The analysis of the answers and thought-provoking suggestions are the basis of the São Paulo-Brussels Groundwater Declaration.
A range of issues were identified, across urban and rural areas, and a range of solutions and approaches were put forward. Groundwater is out of sight and out of mind and this lack of awareness and poor understanding so often mean that groundwater does not receive the attention it needs.
Better political will, funding and scientific understanding of certain issues will help, though responses and solutions are not straightforward. A range of factors must be considered, including local issues and capacity to deal with them.
There are significant challenges – but it’s clear too that there is an ambition to find ways of resolving these:
- Groundwater is critical to Earth’s survival: Aquifers, our planet’s natural water reservoirs, hold 97% of the fresh and liquid water
- Everyone must face these issues: Sustainable groundwater management needs monitoring, regulation, and communication.
- It is imperative to protect groundwater through the following urgent actions: Strengthen the institutions responsible for the governance of groundwater so that they promote efficient, inclusive, ethical, democratic, and socio-ecologically conscientious policies.
- Let’s make the invisible visible: There must be an effort by governments, hydrogeologists, NGOs, and all of society to make perceptible this crucial resource for planetary well-being and dignified human life.
Read declaration
Click link below to read the full declaration and view key signatories from the collaborating organisations. Read on below to see how you can add your name in support.
São Paulo-Brussels Groundwater Declaration
Click image to sign declaration
Declare support and share
With a few clicks you can easily add your name to the São Paulo-Brussels Groundwater Declaration. With your help, the International Association of Hydrogeologists and all its partners will use the Declaration to inspire the actions needed to further the understanding, wise use and protection of groundwater resources throughout the world.
Make your voice heard. Let’s make the invisible visible! And like those who’ve already made a start with their signatures, share this – and your photos on social media – and ensure the messages contained reach those those who need to see it.
Thank you! Click below to sign.
