Delegates will discuss progress under the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, a follow-up to the UN 2023 Water Conference, progress updates on the United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, and proposals for new expert groups on global campaigns and groundwater.
Frederico Properzi, Chief Technical Advisor of UN-Water, and Gilbert Houngbo, UN-Water Chair
From the use of artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze commitments under the Water Action Agenda, to how water issues can be mainstreamed across international fora, participants reconvened early on Saturday morning to continue discussing follow-up on the UN 2023 Water Conference.
The second and final day of the 38th UN-Water Meeting opened with a review of the small group discussions during World Café sessions that took place on the first day. Later on, participants discussed, among others, preparations for upcoming awareness-raising activities, such as World Water Day, and activities led by the Task Force on Water and Climate.
In his summary of the World Café session on the Water Action Agenda, Tomoyuki Okada, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), reported broad support for the clustering of commitments announced during the UN 2023 Water Conference. Clustering would facilitate analysis of the Water Action Agenda’s coverage and impact, and identify networks of relevant organizations, among other objectives. Participants also raised the possibility of using AI or engaging other sources of information technology to help identify clusters.
Tomoyuki Okada, UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)
On whether and how a UN system-wide strategy for water and sanitation could be pursued, Colin Herron, Global Water Partnership, said participants had felt a key benefit of a strategy would be in providing a common vision and direction for UN agencies, especially at the highest level. They suggested that heads of agencies should be involved in its development to ensure broad support.
Colin Herron, Global Water Partnership
On mainstreaming water issues in international fora, Kristin Meyer, UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and Nicolas Franke, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), noted suggestions to create capacity among UN-Water Members and Partners to engage with policy processes on the global level. They noted calls for more and better information, data and evidence to support such work. Many agreed UN-Water should pursue a more coordinated approach to put water on the agenda across agencies.
Kristin Meyer, UN Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), and Nicolas Franke, World Metrological Organization (WMO)
Dani Gaillard-Picher, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), reported back on the discussions in the group on “What are other actions we need to take following the UN 2023 Water Conference?” and highlighted four key points:
- Communicate more effectively for underlining the importance of water to the public and decision-makers;
- Get out of the “water bubble” by entering diverse spaces and fora;
- Drill down to local realities but aim high, including understanding realities on the ground while also seeking to reach politicians at the highest level; and
- Dare to be disruptive by working with diverse actors, including youth groups, governments and local communities to ensure more accountable and transparent water management.
UN-Water Members and Partners agreed to create a Task Force on Innovation to develop recommendations for advancing the innovation accelerator of the Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) Global Acceleration Framework and discussed planning for the UN World Water Development Report 2024 and World Water Day in 2023 and 2024. A lengthy discussion followed an update on the activities of UN-Water’s Expert Group on Water and Climate Change.
Participants were also informed about the recent launch of the report titled “From Commodity to the common good: A feminist agenda to Tackle the World’s water crisis,” a joint publication with UN Women that is grounded in a human rights framework and calls for the full realization of women’s rights in the acceleration of the implementation of SDG 6. Participants also expressed broad support for establishing a new expert group on groundwater.
UN-Water Chair Houngbo expressed his appreciation for the participation and support of Partners and closed the open meeting at 11:02 am.
Gilbert Houngbo, UN-Water Chair, closing the meeting
All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For the 38th Meeting of UN-Water, please use a Photo by IISD/ENB | Mika Schroder.
Plenary
Participants listening to a presentation on operationalizing the Innovation Accelerator of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework
Abou Amani, Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)
Pedro Arrojo-Aguodo, Special Rapporteur on the rights to water and sanitation
Alice Aureli, International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH)
Presentation on the Water Action Agenda
Sulton Rahimzoda, Tajikistan
Neil Dhot making his presentation
Delegates will discuss progress under the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework, a follow-up to the UN 2023 Water Conference, progress updates on the United Nations World Water Development Report 2024, and proposals for new expert groups on global campaigns and groundwater.
Event 18 August 2023 – 19 August 2023
SDG 6 and Water Action Agenda Special Event
The 2023 edition of the SDG 6 Special Event focused on the outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference, including the almost 830 commitments included in the Water Action Agenda.
Event 17 July 2023
Forty-six years after the last major UN water conference, the international community convened to advance efforts to provide safe water and sanitation for humanity. By the conference’s end, there was an agreement to establish a UN Special Envoy for Water, renewed political momentum, and more than 700 voluntary commitments and pledges.
Event 22 March 2023 – 24 March 2023
(Earth Negotiations Bulletin is a division of the International Institute for Sustainable Development) (IISD).