Considering the importance of a common understanding among stakeholders to solve water quality issues in the region, the “WEPA Outlook on Water Environmental Management” has been prepared by utilizing accumulated information and knowledge, as well as the human network developed under this initiative. The report aims to provide the most up-to-date and useful information on the water environment and its management in Asia, with a target audience of policymakers, experts and others in the water sector of the region. Three former editions of the
Outlook were launched in 2009, 2012, and 2015 respectively during the World Water Forums in
Istanbul, Marseille, and Daegu-Gyeongbuk.

This report is the fourth edition of the series, and consists of two main chapters: Chapter 1 -“Outlook on Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries” andߨ Chapter 2 – “Country
Profiles of Water Environmental Management in WEPA Countries”. The first chapter presents the
results of analysis on institutional frameworks for water environmental management in each country. The second chapter provides updated country profiles on water environmental management in the WEPA partner countries.

Directly following this foreword, readers will also find WEPA’s Messages, describing WEPA’s commitments to contribute toward improved water environmental governance, capacity building of the relevant stakeholders in the region, and smooth implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, especially focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.

WEPA Outlook 2018 was officially launched at the 8th World Water Forum held in Brasilia, Brazil in March, 2018. It is hoped that this report, together with the three former editions, will serve as a useful tool and reference for those who are involved in relevant issues in Asia and other regions of the world, and will contribute to sustainable water environment management.