Water Conference: A turning point for global water security
The first UN water conference took place in New York. The event "UN Water Conference 2023" was organized jointly by the governments of Tajikistan and the Netherlands. Among the participants at the event was Kunal Sood, a world-renowned entrepreneur and award-winning innovator. Kunal is the founder of major projects such as #WeThePlanet, NOVUS, X Fellows and We The Future (WTF), and he also creates public-private partnerships with such prominent organizations as the UN, NASA, Facebook, Google, SAP, X Prize and many others. The event was also attended by Irina Proskurina, her company E-PR Online is a global platform that makes publications in first-class international media possible. By covering major events such as UN conferences, the company participates in major social events and contributes to raising awareness of critical global issues.
The Water Conference aimed to mobilize states, the UN and stakeholders to take action and find solutions to water-related problems. The conference focused on addressing the global water and sanitation crisis, the role of water in sustainable development and the importance of international cooperation. During the conference, various panels and discussions were held on topics such as water scarcity, transboundary water cooperation, innovative water management technologies and the critical role of women in water management. Participants shared experiences and best practices, explored new ideas and technologies, and sought to establish partnerships to accelerate progress towards global water security.
Today, a quarter of the world's population (about 2 billion people) rely on unsafe drinking water sources, and half of humanity (about 3,6 billion people) live without sanitation. One in three people (about 2,3 billion) do not have basic handwashing facilities at home. More than 80% of wastewater ends up in the environment without treatment or reuse. Droughts could be the next pandemic: Over the past 20 years, nearly three-quarters of all recent disasters have been water-related, causing economic losses of nearly US$700 billion. These alarming statistics highlight the urgency of addressing water-related problems. The ongoing water and sanitation crisis threatens everyone, as poor water management increases risks in all areas of life.
Potential future actions and policy recommendations include:
- improving water security, investing in sustainable water infrastructure;
- promoting sustainable water management practices.
These steps are critical to achieving a water-secure future for all. Encouraging public-private partnerships, stimulating innovation and ensuring inclusive water management can also help address water challenges.
The conference served as a reminder that we must continue to collaborate and take action to ensure a water-secure future for all. Decision makers, stakeholders and the public must work together to prioritize water and sanitation issues, implement innovative solutions and preserve our shared resources for future generations.
Author: Irina Proskurina
