The Freshwater Challenge to accelerate restoration of rivers and wetlands by 2030 has attracted 50 countries, and raised high hopes that it can provide a strategic way to help countries meet national commitments across the three Rio Conventions.

The newly appointed UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Water and approximately 130 UN-Water Members, Partners, and observers discussed links between the water agenda and the three Rio Conventions, and brainstormed priority collaborative actions to advance the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation.

The meeting reaffirmed the fundamental role of transboundary water cooperation for peace and sustainable development. Delegates adopted a Programme of Work and budget 2025-2027, and another 24 decisions, including on "source-to-sea" governance.

The full-day event brought leaders from governments, Indigenous Peoples, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector together at UN Headquarters to discuss opportunities to move the water agenda forward.