The ‘game changer’ idea on water and sustainability, central stage before the big water conference |
The results from the roundtables on governance, capacity development, data and information, innovation and finance, will be shared with country representatives on Tuesday, at a preparatory meeting. given to the UN. Water Conference in 2023takes place in March.
Noting that the world stands at a watershed moment, the President of the General Assembly, Csaba Kőrösiwith which the Office held consultations, tell the participants that it is time to “move from reactive water management to proactive, science-based solutions to the water crisis”.
Science-based solutions
Mr. Kőrösi called on participants to discuss the game-changing factors from the perspective of “solidarity, sustainability and science”, the motto of 77order session of the General Assembly.
Former President of the Republic of Hungary, János Áder also delivered the opening remarks, as the Climate and Water Leadership Member. He called for a greater focus on information gathering and sharing: “We cannot prevent this country’s crisis. We have to adapt. And to adapt, we need data and information.”
Shake, do not stir
Remind participants of the “James Bond ratio”, according to which only 0.007% of the water on the planet is drinkable. Mr. Áder listed categories that lacked the database, such as water quality, grid losses, humidity and wastewater.
Mr. Áder noted that without good updates on these topics, it would be difficult to see the potential social, political and economic impact of water issues.
The opening session was also attended by the UN Chief of Staff for the Global Compact, Melissa Powell. She discussed the Water CEO Mission, which is an initiative to align business principles with water, sanitation and hygiene. Sustainable development goals (SDGs) – and call for greater engagement with the public sector.
Also speaking on behalf of the private sector during the opening ceremony, Matthias Berninger, who works in Public Affairs and Sustainability at Bayer, said more and more companies are getting into the water sector because it’s important. for their business.
Scientists, representatives of the private sector and civil society gathered today at the United Nations in New York to discuss game-changers related to water and sustainability.
Flexible new system
He suggests that now is the time to begin a more concerted effort to create a climate and water information system that will support farmers, riparians and decision-makers.
Youth advocate, Keziah Theresee Gerosana, has called on UN agencies to allocate at least half of their budgets to water and climate projects.
Mentioning the importance of intergenerational discussions, besides being interdisciplinary, she urged participants to see young people as allies: “You will open your doors and accept them. me? Allow us to be your partner for change? “
Young business leader Lindsey Blodgett, urged participants to “work together outside of our sphere of influence” to harmonize game changers across communities that would not normally cooperate .
Brief on climate action
Joining by video message, World Meteorological Organization Secretary-General Petteri Taalas warned that failure in climate action – including not using water – is the biggest global risk.
He emphasized the need to invest more in early warning systems and fill the gap in meteorological observation systems on the African continent, between the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
Monday’s discussions also included information from a series of online discussions with stakeholders held earlier this year by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA).
The Secretary-General of that Ministry is Li Junhua, who is the Secretary-General of the United Nations 2023 Water conference, present findings. UN DESA helped organize the discussions today.
Administration overhaul
Hank Ovink, Special Envoy for Water from the Netherlands, said the revolutions have taken a toll on the roundtable on governance. The Netherlands, along with Tajikistan, is the co-host of the 2023 UN Water Conference.
Mr. Ovink said that to really have an impact, the international community would need to change the “complete diary of what we used to do, combined with the political will, the social will, the approach. society as a whole. “
The Envoy told participants and moderator Danielle Gaillard-Picher, Global Coordinator of the Global Water Partnership, that the contributions and social will of every follower can make a difference separate.
Capacity Development
One of the issues discussed during the roundtable on capacity development was the establishment of a mechanism such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change or the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. IPCCcan provide policymakers with science-based knowledge.
Moderator Abou Amani, Director of the Water Science Division at UNESCO. “Because so many people are taking water for sure.”
Topics also discussed during the roundtable included leaving no one out, as well as formal and informal country finance and education to help support the movement.
Need to know
Carolina Tornesi MacKinnon, of the World Youth Parliament for Water, moderated the group for data and information.
One of the game changers discussed was the UN Early warning for all initiative, which is expected to be discussed at COP27 in Egypt next month.
Delegates also discussed the need for better information and databases on water use and water quality, open to all, without exclusive use or high subscription prices.
Some also mentioned the importance of gender, referring to UNICEF Statistics show that women and girls spend 200 million hours a day collecting water, which allows them to spend less time than they need for research and income-generating activities.
Children stand in flood water in Borno state, Nigeria.
Innovation
Among the game-changers discussed in the innovation roundtable run by Marc Zeitoun, from the Geneva Water Centre, participants discussed topics such as appointing water champions in parliament, to connect decision-makers with this issue.
Several participants highlighted unusual water resources, noting that in some countries water reuse cannot be part of the solution because there is no water to reuse. These technologies also include desalination systems and methods of extracting water from the air.
Access to finance
During the roundtable on finance run by Anna Dupont of the OECD economic development agency, one of the topics discussed was the importance of linking water to the resilience and resilience agenda Climate Change.
Nearly 80% of all natural disasters so far this century have been water-related.
Delegates also discussed the financial implications and how to promote investment, given the growing private sector interest in water-related sustainability issues. Interest is being driven in part by the need to access resources from the business side.
