HLPF Side event "Game Changer: Science Based Global Water Assessment"

UNESCO proposed the game-changer idea of a Science-based Global Water Assessment for the UN 2023 Water Conference (22-24 March) in NY. The proposed idea received overwhelmingly positive feedback and support from Member states and scientific community during the Water Conference. Building on the outcome of the UN 2023 Water Conference, UNESCO further mobilized countries, the scientific community and other stakeholders to develop it into an action an implementation plan, aligned with the mandate of the International Water Action Decade. The proposed range of future scenarios would enable stakeholders to analyze the likely consequences of different development paths.

The game-changing idea of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform for Water Sustainability (ISPWAS) is a new, innovative assessment mechanism, which expands upon existing institutions and expertise, helps to generate new information where necessary, and offers a productive intergovernmental process for validation of data. The platform aims to provide evidence-based policy for sustainable, inclusive water management and governance based on science, research, engineering, technology, and innovation. The game changer will address interlinkages across all the SDGs, as water has cross-sectorial importance for many other SDGs, including climate change adaptation. 

This side event will allow to continue the discussions from the UN 2023 Water Conference, and support the development of key recommendations and further define implementation pathways to improve the game-changer idea and bring in closer to Member States specific needs.

Supporting Countries: Austria, Belgium, Egypt, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Senegal, Republic of Korea, Tajikistan, Uganda

1.15 pm – 1.25 am - Welcoming remarks

Moderator: Abou Amani, Director, Division of Water Sciences Secretary, UNESCO IHP

• Johannes Cullmann, Chief Scientific Advisor in the Directory of the Office of the President of the 77th Session of the UNGA and Vice-Chair of UN-Water

1.25 pm – 1.35 pm - Presentation: Science-based Global Water Assessment

• Anil Mishra, Chief of the Hydrological Systems, Climate Change and Adaptation Section, UNESCO IHP

1.35 pm – 1:40 pm - Statement

• Mr Sulton Rahimzoda, Special Envoy of the President of Tajikistan for Water

1.40 pm – 2.10 am - Country Interventions

• H.E. Ms Zsuzsanna Horváth, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Hungary to the United Nations
• H.E. Mr Sangjin Kim, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of the Republic of Korea to the UN
• Mr Alfred Okot Okidi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Water and Environment, Uganda
• Mr Takahiro Konami, Director, International Affairs Office, Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan
• Mr Jorge Arturo Ríos Badillo, Third Secretary of the Second Commission on Environmental and Digital affairs of the Permanent Mission of Mexico
• Representative from Egypt (TBC)
• Representative from Poland(TBC)
• Representative from Senegal (TBC)

2.10 pm – 2:35 pm - Partner Interventions

• Mr Hua Liu, Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Technical Cooperation, IAEA
• Ms Laura Paterson, Head of WMO office in New York
• Mr Tim Scott, Senior Advisor, UNDP, New York
• European commission (TBC)
• Sir Peter Gluckman, President, ISC
• Mr William S Logan, Director of the International Center for Integrated Water Resources Management (ICIWaRM)

2.35 pm – 2:45 pm - Wrap-up and Closing

• Mr Abou Amani, Director, Division of Water Sciences Secretary, UNESCO IHP