Highlights and images for 1 October 2025

Representatives from UN Member States joined participants at the 42nd UN-Water meeting for a briefing on preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference and activities underway to move the global water agenda forward. Several speakers highlighted that UN-Water provides an example of the collaboration called for under the UN80 Initiative, while others noted challenges related to the uncertainty that this UN reform process brings to the discussion of future activities. Speakers also identified priorities and upcoming preparatory opportunities related to the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal in December 2026.

Alvaro Lario, UN-Water Chair, opened the briefing and highlighted ways in which UN-Water is contributing to the UN80 objective of greater integration, noting for example that the implementation strategy for the UN System-wide Strategy on Water and Sanitation is bringing together the expertise of the UN system and its partners. He also highlighted UN-Water’s role in coordinating input to the 2026 Conference.

Special Envoy on Water Retno Marsudi reported stakeholders hope the 2026 Conference will have representation at the highest level, will focus on actions and ways to address financial gaps, and will initiate a discussion on the future of the global water agenda post-2030.  

Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Meteorological Organization (WMO), suggested that the 2026 Conference should call for closing the water data information gap and ensure water data, science, and services are accessible to all. 

Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary, UNECE, recalled that, while 153 countries share water with other countries, only 43 have arrangements among neighboring countries that fully cover those shared waters. She said high level commitment is needed to address transboundary issues and noted that the 2026 UN Water Conference will consider this theme.  

Madhushree Chatterjee, UN-Water Secretary, reported that Member States have been invited to submit expressions of interest in co-chairing the six interactive dialogues during the Conference. She said Egypt, Indonesia, and Pakistan have submitted official responses, while Japan and Cambodia have informally expressed interest. During the briefing with Member States, France and Switzerland also expressed an interest in co-chairing a dialogue.  

Ambassador Jamal Jama Al Musharakh, Permanent Representative of the UAE Mission in Geneva, encouraged Member States to submit their offers to co-chair the dialogues by 17 October. He noted the unique role of international Geneva in driving forward the global water agenda, highlighted that water is essential for peace and sustainable development, and said his country is committed to finding solutions to water scarcity.

Mohamed Cisse Diatta, Senegal Sherpa for the 2026 UN Water Conference, invited participants to the high-level meeting in Dakar on 26-27 January 2026, noting it will launch the preparations for the conference.

During the discussion with Member States, government representatives highlighted connections between the UN Water Conferences in 2023, 2026, 2028, and the inclusion of water issues in the post-2030 development agenda. In closing the briefing and open part of the 42nd UN-Water meeting, Lario noted that Member States’ leadership will shape the vision for water to 2030 and beyond. He closed the meeting at 12:20 pm.