Search our archived site
We updated our website in 2021 to better share our reports from events covered since 1992. It also includes full coverage – including photography and highlights of proceedings – from more recent events.
While we manually migrate some elements, you can still find them on our archived site using a Google custom search.
Search the site
All results
Showing 21 - 30 of 48 results
31st UN-Water Meeting
The 31st UN-Water Meeting discussed progress on and next steps for joint initiatives that UN-Water Members and Partners have undertaken to ensure that the UN is “delivering as one” to address global water challenges. Many of the initiatives discussed during this meeting, which took place immediately prior to World Water Week 2019, will contribute to implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with particular emphasis on Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 (clean water and sanitation).
Highlights and images for 2 March 2022
UNEA Flagship Side Events
Highlights and images for 25 September 2019
Transformative Water Actions to Accelerate Global Achievement of Climate Change Related Goals
Co-hosted by the Permanent Missions of Tajikistan, Fiji, Morocco, Russia, Portugal, Singapore, Switzerland to the UN, and the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), with the support from UN-Water, this event presented water actions aimed at accelerating the achievement of climate change-related goals and targets. Participants shared experiences and provided recommendations on implementing water actions, including on partnerships and financing.
Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tajikistan; Gilbert Houngbo, UN-Water Chair; and Madhushree Chatterjee, Secretary, UN-Water
Highlights
Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said nature-based solutions are key to addressing the stress posed by climate change on water sources, and recommended ecosystem restoration as mitigation and adaption measure.
Louise Blais, Permanent Mission of Canada, underscored the need for a green economy that is sustainable and makes water a solution to climate change, and said Canada is exploring innovative financing mechanisms to that end.
Stuart Orr, WWF International, mentioned that WWF’s work has shown that return on investment in water projects is possible and nature-based solutions are feasible, adding that if all stakeholders work together countries can enjoy economic growth while implementing their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and protecting the environment.
Kokhir Rasulzoda, Prime Minister, Tajikistan, noted that the number and intensity of natural disasters caused by climate change increased by 25% in Tajikistan, affecting both food security and energy access. He underscored that without adequate financing and transfer of clean technologies, all efforts to reduce CO2 emissions and the incidence of natural disasters are futile. He added that the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028 is important to promote dialogue on water issues and enable finding solutions to water challenges.
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister, Fiji, mentioned that 60% of Fiji’s electricity grids are fueled by Fiji’s waters. He presented national measures taken to address the challenges posed by climate chance, such as the pollution of rivers by natural disasters and the salinization of rivers caused by sea level rise.
Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Portugal, stressed the need for measures to prevent and address water scarcity, desertification, and water-related forced migration. Noting that the efficiency and availability of water supplies are some of Portugal’s current challenges, he mentioned that the government has started to take steps and institute policies and laws for water reuse.
Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, said nature-based solutions are key to address the stress posed by climate change on water sources, and recommended ecosystem restoration as mitigation and adaption measure. He said the International Decade for Action on Water for Sustainable Development 2018-2028 provides the opportunity to strengthen governmental cooperation for the implementation of the water-related global agreements.
Manuel Sager, Director-General, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, highlighted the need for multifaceted partnerships to find multifaceted diplomatic and technical solutions to water-related issues. To that end, he said, Switzerland launched the Blue Peace initiative, which will include a focus on sustainable investments in sustainable water management solutions.
Louise Blais, Permanent Mission of Canada, underscored the need for a green economy that is sustainable and makes water a solution to climate change, and said Canada is exploring innovative financing mechanisms to that end. She added that climate change mitigation can provide the rebirth for a different economy.
Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco, said Morocco adopted a national water plan that will guide the building of a water infrastructure that helps address Morocco’s water-related challenges, as well as specific measures for the preservation of water resources and addressing draught and desertification.
Dmitry Chumakov, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN, highlighted the value of water as a basis for nature-based solutions to climate change. He underscored the need to focus on sustainable water management backed by sound data and to carefully consider local ecosystems and economies in national adaptation plans.
Gilbert F. Houngbo, Chair, UN-Water, called for high-level political support and leadership on addressing water-related issues.
Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, the Netherlands, said water is the deal-breaker for climate and the environment and can be converted into the deal-maker, if it is better understood, and is evaluated from all points of view: environmental, economic, social, political, and cultural, and better managed at all levels.
Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director General for Natural Sciences, UNESCO, highlighted the role of human behavior in changing approaches to and management of water, and underscored the need to understand the cultural beliefs around water. To that end, she presented UNESCO’s idea of building a water and peace observatory.
Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute, said water needs to become a key part of the climate discussions and looked forward to the 25th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC COP 25) in Chile, which he said will be “the blue COP.”
Howard Bamsey, Global Chair, Global Water Partnership, said water is the core of climate change adaptation and called for its inclusion in national development plans and for prioritizing capacity-building on water issues as part of national adaptation strategies.
Claudia W. Sadoff, Director-General, The International Water Management Institute, invited focus on governance at the basin-scale, in order to ensure equitable access to and use of water resources by all segments of the population, including women, youth, and marginalized communities.
Jean-Louis Chaussade, Chairman, Suez, cautioned that if the environment is not protected, many countries’ GDP will decrease. To address the current water-related challenges, he said Suez is working with the World Bank to find solutions, adding that partnerships are key to increasing finance and the capacity to build resilient systems to climate change.
Stuart Orr, WWF International, mentioned that WWF’s work has shown that return on investment in water projects is possible and nature-based solutions are feasible, adding that if all stakeholders work together countries can enjoy economic growth while implementing NDCs and protecting the environment. In the ensuing discussion, participants raised issues related to, inter alia: the contribution of SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) to advancing progress on SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy); the Budapest Water Summit to take place from 15-17 October 2019 in Hungary; the international fund for saving the Aral sea; and Finland’s plans to become carbon neutral by 2035 and carbon-negative soon after that.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page.
A view of the room
Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister, Fiji
Liu Zhenmin, UN Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs
Augusto Santos Silva, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Portugal
Manuel Sager, Director-General, the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
Louise Blais, Permanent Mission of Canada to the UN
Omar Hilale, Permanent Representative of Morocco to the UN
Péter Szijjártó, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hungary
Dmitry Chumakov, Permanent Mission of the Russian Federation to the UN
Emilia van Veen, Permanent Mission of Finland to the UN
Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Tajikistan
Shamila Nair-Bedouelle, Assistant Director General for the Natural Resources, UNESCO
Jean-Louis Chaussade, Chairman, Suez
Howard Bamsey, Global Chair, Global Water Partnership
Stuart Orr, Fresh Water Practice Leader, WWF International
Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, the Netherlands
Claudia Sadoff, Director General, The International Water Management Institute
Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute
Madhushree Chatterjee, Secretary, UN-Water
Gilbert Houngbo, UN-Water Chair
CONTACT
Nicolas Franke | franken@un.org
MORE INFORMATION
https://www.unwater.org/transformative-water-actions-to-accelerate-global-achievement-of-climate-change-related-goals/
5th Session of the Intergovernmental Conference (IGC) on the BBNJ
Despite more progress at this two-week session than over the last decade, delegates were unable to reach consensus on a new high seas treaty addressing marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction and, instead, suspended the session, to be resumed in early 2023. (View coverage of the resumed BBNJ talks in late February - early March 2023)
11th Meeting of the Monaco Blue Initiative
The 11th meeting of the Monaco Blue Initiative (MBI) convened for its first-ever digital edition under the presidency of HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco. The workshops were held with the objective of maintaining momentum on global discussions on oceans, and articulate key recommendations to important global ocean meetings, many of which have also been affected by the global pandemic.
13th Meeting of the Monaco Blue Initiative
In a year when the Ocean features prominently in global environmental negotiations, attendees were urged to view the status quo as "the enemy."
Highlights and images for 8 September 2017
4th International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4)
The final day of the fourth International Marine Protected Areas Congress (IMPAC4) opened in La Serena, Chile, on Friday, 8 September 2017. The day saw many events taking place, all addressing the theme, ‘Our Shared Vision.’ A plenary session took place in the morning, followed by the workshops and symposia. This was followed by a closing plenary session. The high-level meeting will take place on Saturday, 9 September 2017, in Valparaiso, Chile.
The morning’s plenary session saw a panel discussion on the day’s theme, with panel members discussing key actions needed to continue ensuring successful management of marine protected areas (MPAs) and the obstacles faced. Key issues considered included: equitable and effective achievement of the goals under the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs); increased coordination within regions; engaging youth; illegal fishing; and, local capacity building.
Highlights from the symposia included discussions on: assessing advances towards achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in 2020 and the SDGs in 2030; indigenous, provincial, and federal governments integrating marine spatial plans and MPAs in Canada; Antarctic MPAs; and, meeting the 2020 targets in Canada.
Workshops addressed: twinning and partnerships, as well as tools to enhance collaboration between MPAs; and, guidance for MPA managers and planners on marine mammal protection, and marine renewable energy suitability and siting.
The closing session followed, with participants hearing a wrap-up of the key messages that had emerged during the course of the week. There was a report back on the IMPAC4 activities that had taken place during the week, such as ‘Our Science Camp.’ A musical performance closed the plenary.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada Vigil
Closing Ceremony
Carl Gustaf Lundin, IUCN
Claudio Ibáñez González, Mayor of Coquimbo
Alejandra Figueroa Fernández, Ministry of Environment, Chile
François Simard, IUCN
Daniel González, Juan Fernández Fisherman Union
Carlos Gaymer, UCN, Chile
Participants during the closign ceremony
Children from "Our Ocean Science Camp"
Opening plenary session
Mike Wong, IUCN
Sandra Bessudo, Malpelo Foundation
Tukabu Teroroko, Phoenix Islands Protected Area
Mariasole Bianco, IUCN-World Commission on Protected Areas (WCPA) Young Professionals
Dan Laffoley, IUCN
Julia Miranda, WCPA (World Comission on Protected Areas)
Keobel Sakuma, Palau, receiving the Kenton Miller Award Winner 2017 for his outstanding contribution to marine conservation
Twinning and partnerships, tools to enhance collaboration between MPA
A view of the room
Mathieu Ducrocq, Gabon Parks Agency
Mike De Luca, Rutgers University
Assessing advances towards global 2020 & 2030 targets
Celia Favacho, CONFREM, Brazil
Claudio Maretti, ICMBio
Guidance for MPA managers and planners on marine mammal protection and marine renewable energy suitability and siting
Anne Nelson, Collaborative Ocean Planning
Francine Kershaw, Natural Resources Defense Council
Indigenous, Provincial, and Federal Governments integrating Marine Spatial Plans and MPAs in Canada
Gord McGee, Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, Canada
Danielle Shaw, Wuikinuxv Nation
Christie Chute, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada
Allan Lidstone, Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Canada
(L-R): Meaghan Calcari Campbell, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, Allan Lidstone, Forests Lands and Natural Resource Operations, Canada, Christie Chute, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada, Gord McGee, Central Coast Indigenous Resource Alliance, Canada, and Danielle Shaw, Wuikinuxv Nation
Antarctic MPAs
Rodolfo Werner, Pew Charitable Trusts and Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition
Meeting the 2020 Targets in Canada: challenges, successes, opportunities and lessons learnt in developing a national network of MPAs over the past 25 years
Sigrid Keuhnemund, WWF-Canada
Kevin Stringer, Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Canada
Participant during the session
Alexandra Barron, C-PAWS, Canada
Around the Venue