Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Comment
  • Published:

The UN 2023 Water Conference and pathways towards sustainability transformation for a water-secure world

Transforming how we understand, value and manage water towards water security and resilience will accelerate progress in achieving the 2030 Agenda. On 22–24 March 2023, a unique United Nations (UN) Conference on water will be held, uniting the world for water. We reflect on this once-in-generation opportunity, and how it can spillover a just and sustainable transformation across all sectors and governance levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Fig. 1

The vision and principles that informed the UN2023 Water Conference’s process by Marieke van der Velden, www.eyeopeners.eu

References

  1. Wallemacq, P. & House, R. Economic Losses, Poverty & Disasters: 1998-2017 (UNISDR, 2018); https://www.unisdr.org/files/61119_credeconomiclosses.pdf

  2. IPCC Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (eds Pörtner, H.-O. et al.) (Cambridge Univ. Press, UK/USA, 2022).

  3. Rockström, J. et al. Earths Future 9, e2020EF001866 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Gupta, J. et al. Earth Syst. Govern. 10, 100122 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Mazzucato, M. Mission Economy: A Moonshot Guide to Changing Capitalism (Penguin Press, 2021).

  6. Rammelt, C. F. et al. Nat. Sustain. 6, 211–221 (2023).

    Google Scholar 

  7. Emissions Gap Report 2022: The Closing Window — Climate Crisis Calls for Rapid Transformation of Societies (UNEP, 2022); https://www.unep.org/emissions-gap-report-2022

  8. Taka, M. et al. One Earth 4, 258–268 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gerlak, A. K., Karambelkar, S. & Ferguson, D. B. Environ. Sci. Policy 125, 219–230 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Holling, C. S. & Meffe, G. K. Conserv. Biol. 10, 328–337 (1996).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Brierley, G. & Fryirs, K. Geosci. Lett. 9, 14 (2022).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Pahl-Wostl, C., Holtz, G., Kastens, B. & Knieper, C. Environ. Sci. Policy 13, 571–581 (2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  13. Imperiale, A. J. & Vanclay, F. Sustain. Develop. 29, 891–905 (2021).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Lee, J., Perera, D., Glickman, T. & Taing, L. Progress Disaster Sci. 8, 100123 (2020).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. The Sustainable Development Goal 6 Global Acceleration Framework (UN-Water, 2020); https://www.unwater.org/sites/default/files/app/uploads/2020/07/Global-Acceleration-Framework.pdf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Henk Ovink, Sulton Rahimzoda, Johannes Cullman or Angelo Jonas Imperiale.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors H.O., S.R., and J.C. had (and still have) a leading role in the co-organization of the Water Conference and of the participatory meetings leading up to the conference.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ovink, H., Rahimzoda, S., Cullman, J. et al. The UN 2023 Water Conference and pathways towards sustainability transformation for a water-secure world. Nat Water 1, 212–215 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-023-00052-1

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44221-023-00052-1

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing Anthropocene

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Anthropocene newsletter — what matters in anthropocene research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Anthropocene