Commitments to Accelerate Cooperation on Water, Environment, Climate, and Peace

In the face of a changing climate, coordinated action can contribute to peace, prosperity and strengthen resilience. The side event will provide a platform for Member States, affected by water scarcity, to communicate or explain the barriers to forming commitments to transboundary cooperation for peace and regional stability. It will explore relevant, innovative, and useful tools and methodologies, including solutions and pathways for policy.

In addition, the event will include comments from experts. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) will share insights from its  SIPRI’s Environmental of Peace Report and the Stockholm International Water Institute will describe its Experience Exchange methodology from the Shared Waters Partnership (SWP) Programme. The aim is to jointly explore examples of how water cooperation can address climate-related security risks, with a focus on more effective and relevant approaches.

The purpose of the event is to inspire countries to pledge commitments before or after the UN 2023 Water Conference up until the end of the Water Action Decade 2018-2028 and the 2030 Agenda. It aligns with the interactive dialogue on Water for Cooperation: Transboundary and International Water Cooperation, Cross Sectoral Cooperation, including Scientific Cooperation, and Water Across the 2030 Agenda (SDG 6.5, 6.b and SDGs 16, 17). The event will feature high-level representatives from countries experiencing water scarcity and leading experts on water-related topics.

The side event builds on the High-Level Panel on Climate and Peace organized during the 2022 World Water Week in Stockholm. A similar High-Level Panel will be held at the 2023 World Water Week in August to further discuss Member State commitments to cooperation over shared water resources across boundaries and sectors.