World Water Day Event: Towards The UN 2023 Water Conference

On World Water Day Finland and Egypt hosted a high-level event in preparation for the UN 2023 Water Conference.

A year ago, at a high-level meeting on the “Implementation of the Water-related Goals and Targets of the 2030 Agenda”, a statement was co-signed by 167 countries which highlighted the key issues on which additional efforts are required to advance the water agenda on the way to the UN 2023 Water Conference in March of that year.

In his intervention H.E. Hamshed Shaimzoda, First Deputy Minister of Energy and Water Resources of Tajikistan, noted that the UN 2023 Water Conference should be a historical moment for water because of the need for urgent action to respond to issues such as climate change, population growth and economic development.

The International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development initiated by Tajikistan, together with the UN 2023 Water Conference, offer a unique opportunity to create a ‘watershed moment’ for the world.

The Second Dushanbe Conference on Water for Sustainable Development to be held in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, in June 2022, is a milestone on the way to the UN 2023 Water Conference and will be dedicated to actions for partnerships to respond to water challenges. Shaimzoda emphasised the opportunity to make water the “deal maker” for the green economy, climate resilient and more inclusive growth.

H.E. Kitty van der Heijden, Vice Minister for International Cooperation of the Netherlands, noted that the UN conference will take stock of progress on the Water for Sustainable Development decade as well as SDG 6. Considering that water is at the heart of our development agenda, she said, it will also be important to take stock of progress in linking up water with other SDG’s.

As a co-host with Tajikistan of the UN 2023 Conference, the Netherlands will take every effort to mobilise all stakeholders, coalitions and partners to prepare a conference that is action oriented, cross sectoral and inclusive in nature.