Last week a few ONE staffers went to see Senator William H. Frist and Chairman of the Coca-Cola Company E. Neville Isdell launch the Declaration on U.S. Policy and the Global Challenge of Water. We were excited to hear these leaders outline practical steps the United States can take to realize President Obama’s inaugural address commitment to “let clean waters flow” in the world’s poorest nations.

The Declaration on U.S. Policy and the Global Challenge of Water makes the case that water is a critical resource “that will become even more critical in the future.” It also presents evidence that “water is intricately linked to the stability and security of communities and nations, human health, education, economic prosperity, humanitarian relief, and stewardship of the physical environment” and that “water is vital to other key resources essential to the human condition, most notably agriculture and energy.”

Endorsed by over 35 leaders from business, government, and academia, the Declaration recommends the adoption of seven action steps:

1. The new U.S. president should spearhead a comprehensive and sustained global campaign to address the global challenge of water.
2. The president should develop an integrated strategy for national action on the global water campaign.
3. The president should appoint a special high-level representative to lead implementation of the U.S. global water campaign.
4. The special representative should be directly reinforced by a core team to help guide implementation of the water campaign, in addition to expanded capacities at the Department of State at the behest of the special representative.
5. The proposed U.S. campaign should be commensurate with the magnitude of the challenge—which means a significant increase in the amount and duration of resources committed under the campaign.
6. The U.S. government should attempt to energize and catalyze international efforts.
7. The U.S. government should reinforce public/private-sector partnerships.

You can read and sign the water declaration and watch the declaration release online.

-Rosie Stafford, ONE