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18|03|2012 - EPI-WATER at the 6th World Water Forum, Marseille

EPI-Water’s researcher and partner leader, Carlos M. Gómez (IMDEA Agua), participated in the 6th World Water Forum in Marseille  (March 12th - 17th, 2012). The presentation title was “Economic Policy Instruments for Water” and was delivered in the session “Managing Water for (Green) Growth: Economic Incentives and Financing” on March 13th, 2012.
Carlos M. introduced the topic of Green Economy in the context of the use of economic instruments (EPIs) for water management. While in the traditional perspective the ultimate end of water policy is to provide sufficient water to meet the demands of a growing economy, the emerging paradigm understands water policy as a mean to coordinate all water uses within the range of available resources. It implies improving and protecting water ecosystems.

During his presentation, Carlos M. reviewed the main lessons learned at the current state of the project, regarding EPIs real contribution to water policy and its Green Growth potential, and the needs to promote an extended use of EPIs (such as delivery mechanisms or incentives). Also he pointed out how EPIs can become break-out instruments to cope with existing environmental challenges in particular regarding to water scarcity and improvement of resilience to extreme events, and reversing water quality and water ecosystems degradation. Carlos M. closed his presentation introducing the following stage of EPI-Water project and the ex ante case studies.