FAO statement at the UN 2023 Water Conference - side event 'Cryosphere, Climate, Cooperation: Preserving Glaciers & Snow for the Water Action Agenda

UN 2023 Water Conference - side event

Cryosphere, Climate, Cooperation: Preserving Glaciers & Snow for the Water Action Agenda

As prepared for delivery

Ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies,

I am pleased to represent the Mountain Partnership Secretariat, hosted by FAO, whose colleagues could not join us in person for this side event.

I would like to thank International Cryosphere Climate Initiative for the invitation. 

The Mountain Partnership is a unique alliance dedicated to protecting mountain environments and communities and to achieve sustainable mountain development.

Founded in 2002, the Partnership has over 480 members to date, including 63 national governments. I am pleased to see many partners here today.

Ladies and gentlemen, Excellencies, 

Mountains are a vital source of water for billions of people living in both mountains and lowland areas. Mountains are the water towers of the world and need to be protected to continue providing water to the Earth.

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) recognize the crucial role of mountains by calling to protect and restore water related ecosystems, including mountains, by 2030. 

Yet, the cryosphere is rapidly declining due to the effects of climate change. Climate change is also causing an increase in extreme weather events that modify the hydrological cycle and create water stress for all uses, including agriculture, energy supply and food security. 

FAO recently launched an initiative to support National Water Roadmaps that can help countries, across sectors and with all relevant actors, address water scarcity, droughts, floods and pollution and lead the way to integrated water resources management. 

Given their importance as provider of water, mountains need to be appropriately considered and integrated in all discussions about water resources and their sustainable management.

FAO and the Mountain Partnership are committed to accelerating change and political momentum to ensure that mountains can continue providing water and other key ecosystem services.

In the lead up to this Water Conference, the Mountain Partnership submitted a commitment of action titled "Advancing sustainable mountain development and protecting the 'water towers' of the world".

This commitment recognizes that the benefits derived from mountain regions are essential for sustainable development and that mountain ecosystems play a crucial role in providing water and other life-serving resources and services to billions of the world's growing population.

Given this commitment to the Water Action Agenda, and the launching of the Ambition on Melting Ice at COP27, and in light of the UNGA declaring 2023-2027 “Five Years of Action for the Development of Mountain Regions”, now is a key moment to come together to enhance dialogue, attention and action for sustainable mountain development.

The Mountain Partnership and FAO stand ready to cooperate with the World Meteorological Organization and other UN agencies for the International Year of Cryosphere 2025 which is an excellent opportunity to advocate for the protection of our water sources. 

We should go beyond business as usual and ensure the necessary public and private sector commitment and investment to address water crisis in mountains and foster the social and economic livelihoods and well-being of mountain people – leaving no one behind.

Thank you.