Participation at the UN Water Conference

I had the privilege to participate in the recent UN Water Conference, which took place from 22-24 March 2023. This was a momentous event, as it marked the first water conference in 46 years since the inaugural one in 1977. The conference was jointly hosted by the Governments of Tajikistan and Netherlands, with the aim of conducting the Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Implementation of the UN Decade for Action on Water and Sanitation (2018-2028).
The conference provided a platform for highlighting the major challenges faced by the water sector globally, such as the depletion of hydrological resources, the impact of climate change, inadequate access to hygiene, challenges in agriculture and food systems, and the need for sustainable management of water and sanitation. The plenary sessions, interactive dialogues, and side events were all engaging and informative, shedding light on various aspects of water and its challenges in different regions of the world, and providing a comprehensive understanding of the actions required.
One of the most significant outcomes of the conference was the conclusion of over 700 commitments from national governments and stakeholders. The participants expressed optimism and showed strong commitment to supporting and accelerating actions towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 and other internationally agreed targets related to water. These commitments will be translated into the UN Water Action Agenda, which is a crucial outcome of the conference, signaling tangible progress towards addressing the water challenges.
Another noteworthy development was the announcement of the establishment of a new role, the UN Special Envoy for Water, which was highly welcomed. This demonstrates the commitment to continued execution and follow-up of the commitments made during the conference and emphasizes the importance of prioritizing water-related issues on the global agenda.