FAO statement at the UN 2023 Water Conference – Plenary
Statement by Lifeng Li, Director of the FAO Land and Water Division
24/03/2023
UN 2023 Water Conference – Plenary
As prepared for delivery
Madam President, Excellencies, distinguished delegates,
FAO thanks the co-host countries of this UN 2023 Water Conference, the Kingdom of the Netherlands and Tajikistan, for the great efforts and success in hosting this Conference
that brought together Member states and crucial actors from all stakeholder groups, to discuss Water Actions to get back on track of the water related goals and targets and to achieve all SDGs, leaving no one behind, especially the women, the youth, the vulnerable, and the Indigenous Peoples.
Globally, we are facing severe water challenges such as water scarcity, drought, floods and pollution, exacerbated by climate change and combined by other challenges of food crisis, climate crisis and biodiversity crisis.
In addition, 90% of natural disasters are water related.
We all know that water is at the centre of sustainable development and is of crucial importance to the achievement of all SDGs.
We need to value water as a global public good. And we need to protect it, sustainably use and reuse it, restore and replenish it for the future.
Agriculture accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. Through increasing efficiency, reducing negative impacts and reusing wastewater, agriculture holds the solutions to the global water crisis.
Water is essential for food production on land and in waters, fresh or salty.
Acknowledging that no one-size-fits-all solution exists, all stakeholders need to be engaged in the process of finding integrated, innovative and holistic solutions to the interconnected challenges and crises.
Since early 2022, FAO has initiated several important initiatives towards this Conference to mobilize actions and commitments towards integrated water resources management for the Agenda2030.
FAO submitted the following 7 commitments to the UN 2023 Water Conference to accelerate change to solve the water-food-climate-biodiversity crises:
(1) National Water Roadmaps towards the 2030 Agenda
(2) Global Dialogue on Water Tenure
(3) FinancIng Integrated Drought Management.
(4) Global Irrigation needs & potential mapping
(6) Remote Sensing Technologies for Water Productivity
(7) Global Platform on Water Scarcity in Agriculture (WASAG) and Praia Call for Action
Food is water, water is food, and water is vitamin W!
FAO is firmly committed to implement these commitment with all Member States and partners to achieve water and food security for all.
Water is now on the top of FAO’s agendas, as the theme of the 43rd Session of the FAO Ministerial Conference in July, and the theme of FAO governing bodies during 2024-2025.
In addition, FAO will continue to organize Rome Water Dialogue every year to take stock of the implementation progress and mobilize further resources to support Member states to implement these commitments.
At the critical point of the 2030 Agenda, we look forward to the event of the High Level Week in September, and towards working with all Member states in an effective, efficient and coherent manner to co-create, co-advocate and co-implement the Water Actions and solutions.
I thank you.