Australian Government is organizing the 'Global H2O Partnership Conference' in 10-15 May 2004 at Cairns International Hotel, Cairns, Australia. The Conference will highlight links between freshwater, coastal and marine environment. It will also develop and implement realistic actions that address river, coastal and marine pollution. The Conference aims to build effective H2O Partnerships involving all stakeholders.

It is noted that the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and partners launched the 'Hilltops-2-Oceans (H2O)' Partnership Initiative in September 2002 to support local, national, and regional efforts to address water pollution during its journey from the hilltops to the oceans. The Initiative is known as an official Type II Partnership of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD), held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

The Initiative builds upon the 1995 Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities by providing an official WSSD avenue for non-governmental organizations, the private sector, and other international organizations to collaborate with Governments in furthering the sustainable development of oceans, coasts, and islands.

The major threats to the health, productivity and bio-diversity of coastal and marine environments result from human activities on land. In many cases, water in streams, rivers and groundwater reservoirs transport pathogens, nutrients, sediments, heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants and litter large distances for the Hilltops to the oceans. Globally, sewage remains the largest source of contamination, by volume, although industrial pollution and more diffuse sources, such as pollution from certain agricultural practices, and increased sedimentation resulting from deforestation and mining operations, also pose a significant threat to the health and productivity of coastal and marine resources. With this regard, the Global H2O Partnership Conference this time is hoped to represent a major milestone in the implementation of the H2O Partnership Initiative.

For more information: h2o@unep.nl