United Nations: The UN 2023 Water Conference has concluded after adopting the Water Action Agenda, an action plan containing almost 700 commitments to protect “humanity’s most precious global common good”.
While citing the importance and gravity of the water crisis at UN 2023 Water Conference, deputy director of IOM, UN Migration boldly asserted, “We cannot continue to take water for granted”. Concerted and timely adaptation to water extremes is crucial for preventing adverse impacts on human mobility in current and projected future at-risk areas. IOM’s Ugochi Daniels added further in her address at UN Water Conference in Newyork.
During panel discussions, several other speakers also identified the critical role of partnerships. Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing, Indonesia, said the Water Action Decade should focus on partnerships, financial strategies and commitments in peatland restoration, and management of lakes and transboundary water resources. Usha Rao-Monari, Under-Secretary-General, UN Development Programme, cited the example of the 2030 Water Resources Group, which is a public-private partnership aimed at driving change in institutions.
Sivan Ya’ari, Founder and CEO of Innovation: Africa, reported on projects pumping water using solar energy in Africa, which have impacted 900 villages and 4 million people. She urged African countries to waive value added tax and subsidize the costs of well drilling.
India and United Arab Emirates were also among those who delivered the Statement at the UN 2023 Water Conference. UAE is the host country for COP28 this year, while India has the G20 presidency.
During the discussion at UN Water Conference, UAE Minister of Climate Change & Environment emphasised on the ongoing commitment to responsible water management and addressed the issue of water scarcity through diversification, conservation, and innovation during the panel discussion. While India’s Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat advocated an integrated and holistic approach towards conservation and rejuvenation of River Ganga and its ecosystem’.
UAE Minister of Climate Change & Environment, Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri said, “Our nation’s founder, the late SheikhZayed, taught us that water is not simply a commodity; it is our lifeblood. Hence, the UAE is committed to advancing progress on the SDGs, including SDG6, to ensure access to water and sanitation for all.”
“While water scarcity is a principal threat to human life stability, the UAE views the challenge as an economic opportunity to help communities progress. We encourage all parties to align their efforts to adapt to & mitigate climatechange with water & ecosystem conservation”, UAE Minister said.
Delivering the keynote address, Indian Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat asserted “NMCG has successfully created a robust sewerage treatment infrastructure across cities and towns along the Ganges resulting in improved water quality and biodiversity. The sightings of Gangetic Dolphin, Turtles and Hilsa fish have increased indicating the improved health.” He added that Namami Gange Mission was recognized as one of the world’s top 10 ecosystem restoration flagships at a function in the 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD) in Montreal, Canada on 14th December 2022, the World Restoration Day.
In the panel discussion at UN 2023 Water Conference, Magnus Heunicke, Minister for Environment, Denmark remarked that water is of utmost importance for millions of people for their health, economy, ecosystem, biodiversity, culture, history, and religion. He spoke about the cooperation between India and Denmark on sustainable and reliable water and green agenda. “Water is a source of life, but it is also essential to the quality of life. Partnership with India is more than just technology, it is about cities, communities, access to clean water and creating a world that is better and more sustainable”, he noted.
However, Csaba Kőrösi, President of the UN General Assembly, reiterated that the global water cycle is a common good that transcends culture and borders. He commended everyone on their determination to unite for shared responsibilities, reporting that pledges made during the UN 2023 Water Conference equal USD 300 billion.
Earlier in the day, the general debate continued in plenary, with participants expressing support for a transformative change in water conservation and management. Several shared pledges, bringing the number of commitments registered in the Water Action Agenda to 708 by the end of the meeting. During the closing plenary, delegates burst into applause with the news a UN Special Envoy for Water will be established.
From making better food choices to re-evaluating water as an economic driver and cultural treasure, the agenda lays out a series of game-changing commitments, reports Xinhua news agency.
The Closing Plenary took place in the afternoon. UN Secretary-General António Guterres said the Conference has demonstrated the central truth that water unites us all and needs to be at the center of the global political agenda.
In his closing remarks at the conference, which ran from Wednesday through Friday, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it an “ambitious vision”.
“Your dedication to action and transformation is propelling us towards a sustainable, equitable and inclusive water-secure future for people and planet alike,” he said.
“This conference demonstrated a central truth: as humanity’s most precious global common good, water unites us all, and it flows across a number of global challenges.”
From protecting the spread of disease to fighting poverty, the natural resource also flows through the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at a time when the world is grappling with climate change, water scarcity, and pollution, said the Secretary-General.
“That’s why water needs to be at the centre of the global political agenda,” he said. “All of humanity’s hopes for the future depend, in some way, on charting a new science-based course to bring the Water Action Agenda to life.”
Doing so translates into such forward-looking actions as developing new, alternative food systems to reduce the unsustainable use of water in agriculture, while launching a new global information system to guide plans and priorities to realize the SDGs, the UN chief noted.
New considerations include appointing a special envoy for water ahead of the SDG Summit in September, he said.
The Secretary-General pledged UN support “every step of the way”, as member states take action through the second half of the Water Action Decade.
“Without water, there can be no sustainable development,” Guterres said, thanking all stakeholders. “As we leave this historic conference, let’s re-commit to our common future. Let’s take the next steps in our journey to a water-secure future for all.”
“I am amazed by the ambition and solidarity you show in devising a water-secure future for all,” said UN General Assembly President Csaba Korosi at the closing of the conference.
"We need to develop a new economic framework for water to unpack the various values represented by it."
Deeply benefited from the discussions at the #UN2023WaterConference special event on the Economics of Water.https://t.co/lmFTQgCiIT pic.twitter.com/FVz3aUScn7
— UN GA President (@UN_PGA) March 24, 2023
It is “an agenda for which you have pledged more than $300 billion at this conference, with the potential of unlocking at least 1 trillion dollars of socioeconomic and ecosystem gains”, he said.
“The outcome of this conference is not a legally binding document, but it still turns the page of history. You have reconfirmed the promise to implement the human right to water and sanitation for all.
“We will keep our ears and minds open to scientific evidence as we move forward to realize the transformation discussed,” he added.
Civil society and the private sector are at the heart of this transformation and “key to our success” he said, adding that they must be part of more inclusive partnerships and solutions.
“Today, we hold the pieces of a water-secure and more peaceful world in our hands,” Korosi said. “Together, we can launch the transformation for a water-secure world, and these gamechangers can take us there.”
Lending multiple perspectives and expertise to navigate the challenges ahead, more than 2,000 government representatives, scientists, academics, civil society groups, indigenous peoples, members of the private sector, and youth delegates attended the conference held at the UN headquarters in New York.
The Water Action Agenda commitments cover a broad range of activities, from capacity-building to data collection and monitoring, as well as improving infrastructure resilience, said Under-Secretary-General Li Junhua.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “The online platform hosting the Water Action Agenda will remain open for submissions and available for all to view through the conference website.”
Another key outcome of the conference will be a summary by the UN General Assembly President, capturing the many ideas, recommendations, and solutions to protect and support “our world’s lifeblood” that emerged during five interactive dialogues, four special events and hundreds of side events, he said.
“At the 2023 UN Water Conference, a determined global community came together to make a difference not only for the future of water but for the future of the world.”
-Dr. M Shahid Siddiqui (PhD), Follow via Twitter @shahidsiddiqui
