The data are required to understand both the world s climate system and the potential impacts on water resources of climate change and sea level rise. All countries must participate and, where necessary, be assisted to take part in the global monitoring, the study of the effects and the development of appropriate response strategies. Capacity building All actions identified in the Dublin Conference Report require well-trained and qualified personnel. Governments must also assess their capacity to equip their water and other specialists to implement the full range of activities for integrated water-resources management. This requires provision of an enabling environment in terms of institutional and legal arrangements, including those for effective water-demand management.
Awareness raising is a vital part of a participatory approach to water resources management.
Information, education and communication support programmes must be an integral part of the development process. At the international level, United Nations institutions concerned with water should be strengthened to undertake the assessment and follow-up process. It is proposed that the first full assessment on implementation of the recommended programme should be undertaken by the year 2000. Such considerations must include realistic targets for the timeframe for implementation of the programmes, the internal and external resources needed, and the means of mobilizing these. The International Conference on Water and the Environment began with a Water Ceremony in which children from all parts of the world made a moving plea to the assembled experts to play their part in preserving precious water resources for future generations.