The Urgent Case for Action: Setting up the Water Agenda for Resilience
Date & Time: Wednesday, 22 March; 18:30-19:45 EDT
Location: UN Headquarters (New York City, USA), ECOSOC Chamber
The world currently faces a set of global challenges that are interconnected and require an integrated response. The World Economic Forum’s 2016 Global Risk Report has identified water as both a “global megatrend” and a “key driver of human progress, prosperity, health and quality of life.” It is therefore essential for nations to work together to set up a water agenda for societal resilience.
For the UN 2023 Water Conference, the Government of Malaysia, the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, and Aither present a high-level panel discussion delivering a strategic direction to support the implementation of the Water Action Decade 2018-2028 and to explore a global water framework for resilience.
A resilience-focused global water agenda must address the complex challenges and opportunities related to water and promote the sustainable and integrated management of water resources for the benefit of all people and the planet. The global water agenda must include initiatives that aim to:
address the impacts of climate change on water resources, and to promote the adoption of water management practices that are resilient to the impacts of climate change;
build the resilience of communities to water-related disasters, and to improve the ability of water management systems to cope with extreme events; and
protect and restore water-related ecosystems, and to promote the adoption of sustainable water management practices that minimize environmental impacts.
This session will feature two panel discussions on the following topics:
Developing a water agenda for resilience. This discussion will focus on developing a global agenda for water resilience in the context of a changing climate. The discussion will frame water resilience, discuss the process to transforming our water management systems, and the types of ground breaking initiatives and interventions that may be necessary to effectively address the challenges and opportunities;
Financing water resilience. This discussion will explore the various ways in which water resilience can be financed, including through public and private sector investments, international development assistance, and innovative financing mechanisms such as green bonds and water funds. The discussion will also explore the potential benefits of investing in water resilience, including improved water security, reduced risk of natural disasters, and enhanced economic and social development.
How to Participate
Official registration is required to physically attend conference events at the UN Headquarters in New York City.
Event Program
Opening Remarks (5 min.): Hon. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Minister of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change of Malaysia
Keynote: Water at the heart of resilience (5 min.) : Dr Musonda Mumba, Secretary General, Convention on Wetlands
Call to Action (5 min.) : Hon. Dr Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt [TBC]
Panel Discussion on Developing a Water Agenda for Resilience (30 min.)
Panelists:
Ching Thoo, Deputy Secretary General (Water and Sewerage), Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment and Climate Change of Malaysia
Mike Enskat, Head of Section for Energy, Water and Mobility in the Department for Sectoral and Global Programmes, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Delegate from Ministry of Environment, Uruguay [TBC]
Mr Paolo Paron, Senior Land and Water Advisor at FAO-Somalia
Moderator: Adam Saffian Ghazali, Treasurer General of Malaysia Water Association
Panel Discussion on Financing Water Resilience (30 min.)
Panelists:
Amy Syvrud, Principal, Aither
Aparna Shrivastava, Deputy Chief Climate Officer, United States International Development Finance Corporation
Claudia Neuschulz, Climate Strategy and Delivery, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Joel Kolker, Lead Water Resources Specialist (Financing), World Bank
Moderator: Ahmad Faizal, CEO of National Water Commission of Malaysia (SPAN)