Global Commission on the Economics of Water encourage UN action on governance at Sustainable Development Goal Meeting

New York, USA – July 16, 2024 – At the annual ‘Water Action Agenda Special Event’ at the UN HLPF in New York, Henk Ovink, Executive Director at the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW) will call on governments to promise to incorporate the water crisis into all global processes. 

Henk Ovink, Executive Director, GCEW said: “The UN must anchor the values of the water cycle in every deliberation and conference – from climate to economics, from biodiversity to food, from cities to health. UN leadership alongside national, regional and local actions, is critical for moving beyond words to partnerships and transformative practice.”

GCEW argues that this multilateral action is needed to restore the breakdown of the hydrological cycle, ensure water access and quality, and redress entrenched injustices, and also that this will require a substantial shift in how we value water, with a market-shaping approach.

GCEW representatives are encouraging UN leadership to defragment their water processes, as part of the Water Action Decade running from 2018 to 2028. This includes via member states, through consistent policy, continuous agency, and committed leadership, from institutions, individual water stewards, professionals, ambassadors, and informal power coalitions.

The Commissions final report in October will provide actionable recommendations for water safety, sustainability, resilience, equity, and equality.

Note to Editors

The Global Commission on the Economics of Water is dedicated to advancing sustainable water management practices worldwide. With a focus on innovative research, policy advocacy, and strategic partnerships, the Commission works to ensure the sustainable use and equitable distribution of water resources, addressing critical challenges in the face of climate change and global development.

For more information please visit www.watercommission.org or contact William Yeates, GCEW media team, at [email protected] or +44(0)7582711870.