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Environment
Aquatic landscape with lush vegetation seen from above.
EU efforts on the global water agenda

Beyond UN 2023 Water Conference

It is essential to sustain the political momentum of the UN 2023 Water Conference, to accelerate actions for clean water and sanitation for all by 2030. The EU’s commitments to the Water Action Agenda show its determination to take action.

What’s at stake?

Without water there is no life. Access to water is a human right. It is also an indispensable resource for the economy – for food, energy and industry.

Water stress is increasing worldwide. It is driven by overdemand, mismanagement and the impacts of the triple crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.

Unless we act now, almost half of the world’s population will suffer acute water stress by 2030. Urgent global action is needed to turn this around.

We need water for…

40%
of the world’s people are affected by water scarcity
80%
of the world's wastewater is discharged untreated into the environment
90%
of disasters are water-related

EU vision for 2050

The EU commitments to the Water Action Agenda aim to achieve

  • water security for all
  • global resilience to water stress
  • the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation, without compromising the rights of future generations
  • protected and restored aquatic ecosystems
  • a fair balance between water supply and demand

EU priorities

  • access to safe drinking water and sanitation as a human right
  • protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems for sustainable development, climate mitigation and adaptation
  • promoting a more integrated approach to the management of water resources across sectors
  • promoting circularity in the use of water for industry, energy and agriculture by increasing water efficiency and water reuse
  • developing transboundary water cooperation, as a catalyst for peace and security
  • mobilising public and private finance, research and innovation, and knowledge sharing

Upcoming events

Bali – 10th World Water Forum

Dushanbe – 3rd High-level International Conference Dushanbe Water Process

NY – Summit of the Future and One Water Summit

Ljubljana – 10th Meeting of the Parties to UN Water Convention

EU commitments to the Water Action Agenda