U.N. hopes water meeting can create 'rippling effect' to stave off
crisis
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[March 25, 2023]
By Isla Binnie
NEW YORK (Reuters) - The United Nations' first meeting on water in
nearly half a century drew towards a close on Friday with hopes it would
spur political momentum and fears that too little is being done to
tackle chronic water stress globally.
There is no international binding agreement for water like the one
reached for climate in Paris in 2015, or framework like that established
to protect nature in Montreal last year, despite dire warnings of the
risks humanity faces if water is not managed better.
Nearly 700 groups including state and local governments, non-profit
groups and some companies submitted water-related plans before and
during this week's conference in New York. Projects ranged from
investing in "climate-smart" agriculture and wetland restoration in the
Niger River basin, to mapping the water system in the Hague, the
Netherlands.
The U.N. will now review these plans ahead of another meeting in July,
Dutch special envoy to the United Nations Henk Ovink said.
"Is that enough? No.... We have fragmented water governance across the
world, fragmented finance and not enough science and data in place,"
said Ovink, whose country co-hosted the conference. "This conference is
the beginning of a rippling effect across the world."
Around 30% of the plans submitted looked to be impactful and indicated
funding, said Charles Iceland, acting global director of water at the
World Resources Institute.
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People look at exhibitions while
attending the 2023 United Nations Water Conference at the United
Nations in New York City, U.S., March 24, 2023. REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
"Each voluntary commitment has a place where you talk about how much
money is available, most of them left that blank," Iceland said.
"Water is the main way that climate is going to impact society so we
need to have at least a yearly discussion of it," Iceland added,
including a global binding agreement as well as national and
regional agreements where water basins cross national borders.
Non-profit environmental reporting group CDP lamented the low
turnout of 12 heads of state as well as the lack of a plan to hold
another conference.
"This sends a loud signal to the businesses, cities and investors
which have woken up to the water crisis that they are on their own,"
CDP global director for water security Cate Lamb said.
During the conference, French waste water and management company
Veolia pledged to spend $1.7 billion over the next five years on
infrastructure, technology and research and innovation in water and
sanitation, and global investor group Ceres said it had added 25
members to a campaign to press thirsty companies to address
financial risks linked to water and protect resources.
(Reporting by Isla Binnie; Editing by Josie Kao)
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