「水と安全はただではない」といわれるように、世界の環境問題の中で「水と環境と経済と」は、大変重要な柱となっています。水の問題は環境問題の中心をなしているといってよいのですが、我々の前には多くの水をめぐる問題があり、例えば地球上の約３分の１の人々は安全で清潔な水を飲むことができません。途上国の幼児死亡率の低下と水道普及率が密接なつながりをもっており、上下水道の普及は国際的なアジェンダとなっています。また、海洋、河川、湖沼の汚染、湿地帯の保護のほか、水資源開発やダム建設と環境保全をめぐる問題も深刻となっています。他方、先進諸国の水問題を見ると、飲料水に対する不安からペットボトルへの需要が増大する一方、食糧輸入を通じての「水輸入」も増加の一途をたどっています。これらも無視できない問題といってよいでしょう。

こうした状況を踏まえ、本セミナーでは「水と環境と経済と」を統一テーマとし、開発途上国の水問題、陸域、海域の水の汚染、海の資源の保護と育成、水環境の保全と流域管理、北海道を中心とした地域の水利用、水資源を有効活用する企業家の活躍、水資源の管理に向けた官民の取り組みと合意形成などをトピックとして、水の問題を統合的に考えつつ、専門家の講演と討論を行なう予定です。セミナーが２１世紀の水問題を総合的に考える場となるものと期待しています。

　セミナーは４日間の合宿形式で進められ、国連大学幹部のほか、アメリカ、スウェーデン、トルコなどからの著名な専門家を招き、グローバルな視点からの講義を中心に、受講生との討論、意見交換が行なわれます。他地域のセミナーと同じく、講義は英語若しくは日本語で行なわれます。基調講演は一般公開で多くの方々の聴講を歓迎します。

　受講生にとって、講師への質疑、講師との討論などを通して、問題の分析力や議論の進め方を高める良い機会となります。国際問題に関心のある方、国際社会での活動を希望する方、皆様の積極的な参加をお待ちしています。

　 The United Nations University (UNU) Global Seminars are aimed at deepening understanding among students and young professionals of pressing issues that are the concern of the United Nations, its peoples and member states. Annual seminars are held at seven locations throughout Japan. The Hokkaido Session, organized under the theme "Water, Environment and The Economy," will be held at Hokkaido University in Sapporo.

In recent times, environmental issues involving water, the environment and the economy are recognized as being fundamentally important. Despite this awareness, water-related problems include the fact that about one third of the world's population does not have access to safe drinking water. Another issue on the international agenda is the need to lower infant mortality rates in developing countries; doing so is related to expanded provision of water and sewer services. Problems also include wetlands protection as well as the pollution of oceans, rivers, lakes and marshes. Likewise, balancing water resources development and dam construction with environmental conservation is a serious challenge. Finally, bottled water is a major import in developed countries in response to feelings of insecurity over the quality of local water supplies. Overall, it is crucial that such problems be addressed.

Under the general theme of "Water, Environment, and The Economy," topics to be addressed in this seminar include: water-related problems in developing countries; land and sea pollution; the development and conservation of ocean resources; the safety of the water environment and watershed management; water use issues in Hokkaido; effective use of water resources by industry; and challenges facing communities over water resources management and attempts at consensus building. With lectures and discussions incorporating an integrative perspective, participants will be able to develop a comprehensive approach towards water-related issues.

The seminar brings together UNU officials as well as distinguished scholars and practitioners from countries such as Sweden, Turkey, and the United States. In addition to giving lectures, these specialists will engage in an active exchange with the participants throughout the four-day seminar. As is the case with the other UNU Global Seminars, lectures will be given in either English or Japanese. Interested members of the public are cordially invited to attend the keynote speeches.

We welcome applications from those interested in issues of global concern or planning to pursue an international career. This seminar will provide an excellent opportunity to deepen your knowledge and to sharpen your analytical and discourse skills through an active dialogue with the lecturers and participants.