A delegation from the Water Institute at the University of Waterloo, headed by Roy Brouwer, Executive Director of the Water Institute, is preparing for the UN 2023 Water Conference taking place at UN Headquarters in New York, 22-24 March.
This is the first United Nations Water Conference of its kind in 46 years, the last being held at Mar del Plata, Argentina, in March of 1977.
Co-hosted by the governments of the Netherlands and Tajikistan, the conference aims to accelerate progress towards achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to water and will focus on five themes: Water for Health; Water for Sustainable Development; Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment and Water for Cooperation and Water Action Decade.
“The 2023 conference provides a rare opportunity that I expect will be a “watershed moment” in water policy and action. Advancing SDG 6 advances the 16 other SDGs—in a changing climate, this is more important than ever. Canadians, including our team from the University of Waterloo, will be working with colleagues globally to innovate and advance upon that goal,” said Monica Emelko, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Water Science, Technology & Policy, University of Waterloo and part of the Water Institute conference delegation.
The conference is expected to adopt the Water Action Agenda representing voluntary commitments on action and implementation from countries and stakeholders to meet global water-related targets, along with a roadmap for the second half of the 2018-2028 Water Decade.
The Water Institute delegation of faculty and graduate students which was granted special accreditation by the General Assembly, will represent the University in participating in this generational conference and share their expert knowledge towards achieving SDG 6 - ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
The UN 2023 Water Conference in March must result in a bold Water Action Agenda that gives our world's lifeblood the commitment it deserves. – António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations
Meet our Water institute delegation and follow them on social media to monitor the 2023 UN Water Conference highlights:
- Nandita Basu, Canada Research Chair in Global Water Sustainability and Ecohydrology, Professor, Director Collaborative Water Program
- Roy Brouwer, Executive Director, the Water Institute; Professor and University Research Chair in Water Resources Economics
- Monica Emelko, Professor and Canada Research Chair in Water Science, Technology & Policy, University of Waterloo
- Dustin Garrick, Professor and University Research Chair in Water and Development Policy, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
- Nancy Goucher, Water Institute Knowledge Mobilization Specialist
- Philippe Van Cappellen, Professor and Canada Excellence Research Chair Laureate in Ecohydrology
- Harshina Brijlall, Ph.D. Student, Department of Biology
- Isabel Jorgensen, Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability
- Navya Vikraman Nair, Ph.D. Candidate in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development
- Kevin White, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
