United Nations Announces appointment of Special Envoy on Water

On the 13th of September, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of H.E. Retno L.P. Marsudi of the Republic of Indonesia as his Special Envoy on Water. The appointment of the Special Envoy has been highly anticipated and is seen as providing the sector with an ambassador who can serve as a champion and high-level advocate on water and sanitation issues. The appointment is expected to raise the profile of water on the political agenda within and outside the UN, facilitating the convening of stakeholders, strengthening the work of the UN system on water and mobilising action and financial resources to address global water management issues.

H.E. Marsudi currently serves as the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Indonesia, and she is due to take up the role of Special Envoy on Water on the 1st of November 2024. In her role as Minister of Foreign Affairs, she presided over Indonesia’s role as host country of the 10th World Water Forum which took place in Bali in May this year,  leading to consensus on the resulting Ministerial Declaration.

The Special Envoy is expected to work on the further development of partnerships and efforts to advance the global water agenda, including the follow-up of the outcomes of the United Nations (UN) 2023 Water Conference. The conference, which convened in March 2023, was concluded with the submission of over 700 voluntary commitments (which have since increased in number to more than 832), collectively referred to as the “Water Action Agenda”. The conference was seen as a watershed moment  for the advancement of the global water agenda as well as to help ensure a water-secure future.

The Special Envoy is also expected to advance international cooperation and synergies among various international water processes in support of the achievement of all water-related goals and targets, such as Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Representing the United Nations Secretary-General in global water processes, Ms. Marsudi will also work in partnership with UN-Water with its members agencies to  support of the implementation of the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation, as well as on the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework.

Water is also increasingly influential in the climate agenda. At COP 26 in 2021, the first Water Pavilion was a fact making its mark in the Blue Zone. At COP 27 in 2022, water was a theme within the Presidency Programme and water was in the cover decision, the Sharm El Sheikh Implementation Plan,  marking the first time that water was ever mentioned in a cover decision, and sending the signal that water is a key important topic both for climate adaptation and mitigation. At COP 28 in 2023, a dedicated day on food, agriculture and water was initiated. COP 28 featured two other water related themes, the first being the restoration of freshwater ecosystems, taking forward The Freshwater Challenge, a country-led initiative that aims to support, integrate and accelerate the restoration of 300,000 km of degraded rivers and 350 million hectares of degraded wetlands by 2030, as well as conserve intact freshwater ecosystems. 46 countries have joined this challenge so far. A third water related initiative at COP 28 was the focus on urban water resilience.

Cate Lamb, the Strategic Advisor on Water Security and the Economy at the United Nations Environment Programme Finance Initiative, has argued that the appointment of the Special Envoy is crucial for five main reasons. 

Firstly, it is important from the point of view of global coordination: water issues transcend borders, and a UN Water Envoy will help unite nations in coordinated efforts to manage shared water resources. This, she says, is especially important in regions where rivers, aquifers and lakes cross political boundaries.

Secondly, it will centralise advocacy: with a dedicated envoy, water will finally get the high-level attention it deserves. Having a formal advocate ensures that water issues are prioritised on the global political agenda, raising awareness of critical issues like freshwater scarcity, pollution, and climate change impacts.  

Thirdly, it is important in achieving equitable access: over 2 billion people worldwide lack access to safe drinking water. A Water Envoy can help drive efforts to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 6- clean water and sanitation for all – by promoting equitable water distribution and stronger governance.

Fourthly, it is important for crisis prevention: water-related conflicts are a growing risk. A formal envoy will be pivotal in defusing tensions over water resources, mediating disputes, and promoting sustainable management practices.

Finally, she argues, it is important for innovation and collaboration: with global backing, a UN Water Envoy can foster international cooperation on water technologies, investments, and policies that are essential for building resilient water systems in the face of climate change. In a world where water scarcity is rising, she argues, this role is more vital than ever.