VIDEO MESSAGE
Excellencies,
Distinguished Delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is my honour and pleasure to speak at the 18th World Water Congress. I would like to congratulate the International Water Resources Association and the Ministry of Water Resources of China for hosting this important Congress in Beijing.
Six months ago, the historic UN 2023 Water Conference marked an unprecedented watershed moment, gathering more than ten thousand participants in New York to accelerate action towards water and sanitation for all. The Conference focused the international community on critical water and sanitation targets and called for greater action to protect and shape a sustainable future.
The Conference united the world¡¯s governments, stakeholders, and UN entities in support of the Water Action Agenda ¨C a collection of water- and sanitation-related commitments designed to deliver rapid progress.
Harnessing the ongoing endeavors and utilizing the political momentum created by the Conference, the Water Action Agenda contains over 800 commitments to date. It stands to mobilize action across countries, sectors and stakeholders to meet the global water and sanitation related goals and targets.
I congratulate both hosts of this congress, the Ministry of Water Resources of China and IWRA for submitting dozens of ambitious commitments to the Water Action Agenda. By sharing your commitment to act with the international community, both of your organizations are part of a global movement to improve water management for future generations.
The 18th World Water Congress comes at a pivotal moment. It is my aspiration that the Congress can successfully sustain the momentum generated at the UN 2023 Water Conference, leading the way into the second half of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
A well managed water cycle underpins progress across the 2030 Agenda. Our food security, economic growth, health, education, gender equality, ecosystems, and livelihoods all depend on water.
I commend the Congress theme- harmony between humans and nature, along with the six sub-themes, which will impact on all of the Sustainable Development Goals.
As water is an integral part of a complex natural process, we need nature-based solutions to manage water resources so as to meet the emerging challenges to water security from population growth and climate change. Nature-based solutions can play a vital role in improving the supply and quality of water and reducing the impact of natural disasters.
2023 must be the turning point.
In this new chapter, we must collaborate to seize the catalytic opportunities presented by solving our water-related challenges and establishing harmony between humans and nature.
Thank you.