The UN 2023 Water Conference concluded last week, and we are excited to have participated in a conference that brought together 8.000 delegates from all over the world and made water the centre of everyone’s attention. With the first copies of our new vision in our hands, Water Europe team and ambassadors were present to spread the message of the need to build a Water-Smart Society. For this, five side-events were organised with a dedicated agenda covering the key thematic areas of our new vision. Scroll down to explore the main highlights.
During the UN Water Conference and the organised side-events, Water Europe had the opportunity to hand over the first copies of its new vision to Zuhal Demir, the Flemish Minister for Environment, Dr Daniel Westlén, State Secretary to Swedish Minister for Climate and Environment and Magnus Heunicke, the Danish Minister for Environment.
Our project’s representatives also participated in the programme of our side-events with Chrysi Laspidou, ARSINOE’s coordinator presenting the project at the ‘Climate resilience needs a Water-Smart Society’ event. Luuk Rietveld, Coordinator of ToDrinQ, and Luisa Rocha Durães, coordinator of H2Oforall presenting their project at the ‘Water & Health: Going beyond the WASH approach’ event and Gerard van der Berg, coordinator of ULTIMATE presenting the project in the WEFE nexus and the need for Water-Smart industry.
Water Europe team had the pleasure to meet in person with its board members, Vision Leadership Teams, Working Group members, but also long-standing collaborators throughout the whole week of the UN Water Conference by organising informal get togethers to enhance the exchanges and collaborative spirit. Our Water Vision is included in the new publication “Emergency preparedness – Time for a Blue Deal #Food #WATER #Energy”. The book will be officially launched next week at the European Economic and Social Committee.
Arthur Valkieser, Water Europe board member handed over the publication Blueprint for a Circular Water-Smart Society to Willem Alexander, king of the Netherlands and Mark Harbers, Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management, in which our new vision’s model, core value and innovation areas are included.
