post-2015 sustainable development indicators.
The indicators on flood and drought/climate resilience are of special relevance. The urgency of
securing access to safe and sustainable water supplies and sanitation services becomes more acute
under changing climate and climate variability as does the need for comprehensive adaptation in the
water sector.6
In 2002 at World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), Member States
committed to the principle of IWRM for comprehensive risk management. This commitment was, to
some extent, followed up by the Global Water Partnership (GWP). The Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change (IPCC) Fourth Assessment Report,
7
subsequently confirmed that IWRM provides a
comprehensive water supply and quality risk management plan when it is applied, and that greater
inclusion of public health agencies in IWRM will accelerate its broader application. In addition, the
latest evidence from the IPCC highlights risks of more frequent and intense extreme weather events
such as floods, cyclones and droughts alongside increasing temperatures. Given the fact that these
trends will have a direct impact on water sources and sanitation systems, the monitoring of access to
adequate water and sanitation systems will provide information central to the monitoring of
sustainable development trends that ensure good public health.