A key milestone in global water governance was reached on 9 July 2025, when the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) adopted six thematic pillars for the upcoming UN 2026 Water Conference. This decision came during the 84th plenary of the 79th UNGA session, following a broad consultative process with Member States and stakeholders. The draft resolution (A/79/L.101), tabled by Senegal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), lays the foundation for the conference’s structure and strategic focus.
Adopted Themes for the Interactive Dialogues
- Water for People — Focus on the human rights to water and sanitation, including for those in vulnerable situations, fostering healthy societies and economies.
- Water for Prosperity — Emphasizes the water-energy-food nexus, integrated and sustainable water-resource management, wastewater and water-use efficiency, and socio-economic development.
- Water for Planet — Addresses climate resilience, biodiversity, desertification, environmental protection, “source to sea” dynamics, and disaster risk reduction.
- Water for Cooperation — Promotes transboundary and international water cooperation, scientific collaboration, and inclusive governance frameworks.
- Water in Multilateral Processes — Aligns with SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), the 2030 Agenda, and other global water initiatives.
- Investments for Water — Covers financing, technology and innovation, and capacity building necessary to drive water action globally.
Looking Ahead: The Roadmap to 2026
The UN 2026 Water Conference, titled “Accelerate the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all,” will be co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, and is scheduled to take place in the UAE from 2–4 December 2026.
As part of the preparatory process, Senegal announced a high-level preparatory meeting in Dakar, slated for 26–27 January 2026, to further reinforce planning efforts.
Source: https://sdg.iisd.org/news/unga-adopts-six-themes-for-un-2026-water-conference/
