Speaking notes for Mark Harbers, Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, at the COP28 event on follow-up to 2023 UN Water Conference and Water Action Agenda
‘Water is how climate change manifests itself. Mitigation is CO2 and adaptation is H2O. People experience the impacts of climate change through water. People living in vulnerable conditions are the most acutely impacted. […] It’s important to maintain the momentum generated in March. So we need to continue advocating follow-up action with the relevant UN agencies, including in the months leading up to the High-Level Political Forum and the Summit of the Future in 2024.’
Said Minister Harbers on Saturday 9th december 2023 at the COP28 in Dubai.
Hello, everyone. Thank you all for coming.
We’re here to follow up on the UN Water Conference held in New York last March, and the Water Action Agenda that was agreed there.
COP28 is a next step to ensure that water is at the center of decision making.
Water is how climate change manifests itself. Mitigation is CO2 and adaptation is H2O. People experience the impacts of climate change through water. People living in vulnerable conditions are the most acutely impacted.
We need to act together to make water the engine of climate adaptation.
The conclusions of the UN Water Conference and the commitments set out in the Water Action Agenda underscore the world’s willingness to take action and deliver results.
In other words: the conference created momentum to turn the tide. The important thing now is to maintain that momentum.
The conference provided us with a clear pathway. Both the UN system and its member states must now take responsibility in shaping the future of water at the UN, ensuring that water issues are effectively addressed.
I am very pleased that many governments, businesses and civil society groups are implementing the actions of the Water Action Agenda.
At the same time we see some steps towards ensuring that the UN is fit-for-purpose to address water priorities.
Resolution 77/334 was adopted by consensus at this year’s General Assembly.
It underscores member states’ commitment to driving this change. A big thank you to Senegal and Tajikistan for co-facilitating the resolution together with the Netherlands, and to all member states for their constructive engagement.
The resolution offers both affirmation and encouragement.
It affirms the imperative to better integrate water-related issues at UN level.
It mandates two UN water conferences – in 2026 and 2028.
And it requests the Secretary-General to present a UN system-wide strategy on water and sanitation.
I’m glad to hear that deliberations on this UN system-wide strategy have started.
However, more needs to be done, and more can be done.
Like appointing a UN Special Envoy on Water who will coordinate actions. This is becoming ever more urgent.
It’s important to maintain the momentum generated in March. So we need to continue advocating follow-up action with the relevant UN agencies, including in the months leading up to the High-Level Political Forum and the Summit of the Future in 2024.
I’m keen to hear your suggestions on how we can keep the momentum going towards the 2026 UN Water Conference.
The urgency is clear, the Agenda is there: let’s put water at the heart of our decision-making. Here at the COP28, let’s build coalitions to make water the engine of climate adaptation. For a safer, healthier and more prosperous world.
Thank you.