ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: OECD countries face new challenges related to water security. Increasing uncertainty about water demand and availability, combined with deficiencies in past approaches to water management have put the water security of some basins or user groups at risk. Policy responses can be clustered around two main themes. First, water can be more thoroughly managed to drive green growth; this requires i) allocation regimes that reflect governments’ priorities for socio-economic development; ii) infrastructures that are scalable to needs and do not generate unrealistic burden on the public purse; and iii) policies that stimulate the development and deployment of innovative technologies and approaches. Second, water resources management would benefit from a financing framework based on a small set of principles. These responses require reforms, which can be very challenging. International experience can help sequence these reforms and design the accompanying measures that facilitate stakeholder engagement. OECD countries and their partners would benefit from sharing experience on these and related issues.
