At the United Nations Water Conference in New York from 22 to 24 March, the EU will be confirming its strong engagement for global water security by announcing 33 commitments for action starting now. These commitments will underpin the EU vision that by 2050, the world should be resilient to increasing water stress, providing water security for all.

The world is currently facing a water crisis driven by overdemand, mismanagement and the impacts of the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. 40% of the world’s population live in areas affected by water stress. Water resilience is key to prevent and address the current and future health, food and energy crises.

The UN 2023 Water Conference is the first of its kind in almost 50 years, aiming to mobilise global action for water resilience and security. The EU delegation, led by Commission Vice-President Dubravka Šuica, will be presenting the EU voluntary commitments to the Water Action Agenda – a platform to accelerate global progress on the water-related sustainable development goals. The EU priorities for the conference include:

• Ensuring access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right;
• Protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems for sustainable development, climate mitigation and adaptation;
• Promoting a more integrated approach to the management of water resources across sectors;
• Promoting circularity in the use of water for industry, energy and agriculture by increasing water efficiency and water reuse;
• Promoting transboundary water cooperation, as a catalyst for peace and security; and
• Mobilising public and private finance, research and innovation, and knowledge sharing.