UN / TRANSBOUNDARY WATER COOPERATION
22-Mar-2023
00:03:27
On the sidelines of the UN 2023 Water conference, delegates discussed how to advance transboundary water cooperation through the application of international water law principles at basin and regional levels. UNIFEED
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STORY: UN / TRANSBOUNDARY WATER COOPERATION
TRT: 3:23
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 MARCH 2023, NEW YORK CITY
TRT: 3:23
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / FRENCH / NATS
DATELINE: 22 MARCH 2023, NEW YORK CITY
SHOTLIST
1.Various shots, exterior, United Nations
2.Wide shot, conference room
3.SOUNDBITE (English) Meelis Münt, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment, Estonia:
“As we know, more than 60 percent of freshwater resources are divided by two or more countries. And therefore, I am convinced that transboundary ater cooperation is crucial for peace and security for sustainable development and climate action. To this end, we strongly believe that water convention has a key role here to play.
4.Wide shot, conference room
5.SOUNDBITE (English) Meelis Münt, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment, Estonia:
“As the chair of the Convention, we can confirm that there are a lot of enthusiasm and initiatives in transboundary water cooperation in different regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is extremely important to support the countries in accession and in practical implementation of the Convention to move faster and sooner towards sustainable future.
6. Wide shot, conference room
7.SOUNDBITE (English) Olga Algayerova, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE):
“The Water Convention as a unique global, legal and intergovernmental platform has promoted the development and implementation of transboundary agreements and common policy responses. It offers a community of practice that fosters the exchange of experiences between basins and countries, and strengthens technical and institutional capacity. Its platform helps to connect with development partners and international financial institutions where water cooperation is a deal maker.”
8.Wide shot, conference room
9.SOUNDBITE (English) Zulfiya Suleimenova, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Kazakhstan:
“The task of protection of water ecosystems to preserve their vital ecosystem services becomes even more pressing in the context of climate change. Water is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to the negative effects of climate change, and there is no life without water. Working together in the spirit of solidarity and having predictable and basin wide approaches to integrated water management are critical in preserving the water ecosystems, as well as enabling equitable use of the water resources by the basin states. And on that note, we would like to express our hope that there would be more members to the Convention and share common aspiration to join to utilize share watercourses.”
10. Wide shot, conference room
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Alio Abdoulaye Ibrahim, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Chad:
“Facing the situation, Chad benefited from the cooperation that is transboundary with other countries to face some of the challenges and to mitigate any conflicts with the neighbors. It offers us the legal mechanisms to manage the shared resources to prevent conflict and to preserve the ecology and foster cooperation.”
12.Wide shot, conference room
13. SOUNDITE (English) Uroš Brežan, Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Slovenia:
“We see the role of the Water Convention in the framework of the UN Water Conference as the key global instrument institutional and legal tool for transboundary water cooperation. As the next presidential country to the water convention, we are of course a proud partner in the UN Water Convention commitment.”
14. Wide shot, conference room
2.Wide shot, conference room
3.SOUNDBITE (English) Meelis Münt, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment, Estonia:
“As we know, more than 60 percent of freshwater resources are divided by two or more countries. And therefore, I am convinced that transboundary ater cooperation is crucial for peace and security for sustainable development and climate action. To this end, we strongly believe that water convention has a key role here to play.
4.Wide shot, conference room
5.SOUNDBITE (English) Meelis Münt, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment, Estonia:
“As the chair of the Convention, we can confirm that there are a lot of enthusiasm and initiatives in transboundary water cooperation in different regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is extremely important to support the countries in accession and in practical implementation of the Convention to move faster and sooner towards sustainable future.
6. Wide shot, conference room
7.SOUNDBITE (English) Olga Algayerova, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE):
“The Water Convention as a unique global, legal and intergovernmental platform has promoted the development and implementation of transboundary agreements and common policy responses. It offers a community of practice that fosters the exchange of experiences between basins and countries, and strengthens technical and institutional capacity. Its platform helps to connect with development partners and international financial institutions where water cooperation is a deal maker.”
8.Wide shot, conference room
9.SOUNDBITE (English) Zulfiya Suleimenova, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, Kazakhstan:
“The task of protection of water ecosystems to preserve their vital ecosystem services becomes even more pressing in the context of climate change. Water is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to the negative effects of climate change, and there is no life without water. Working together in the spirit of solidarity and having predictable and basin wide approaches to integrated water management are critical in preserving the water ecosystems, as well as enabling equitable use of the water resources by the basin states. And on that note, we would like to express our hope that there would be more members to the Convention and share common aspiration to join to utilize share watercourses.”
10. Wide shot, conference room
11. SOUNDBITE (French) Alio Abdoulaye Ibrahim, Minister of Water and Sanitation, Chad:
“Facing the situation, Chad benefited from the cooperation that is transboundary with other countries to face some of the challenges and to mitigate any conflicts with the neighbors. It offers us the legal mechanisms to manage the shared resources to prevent conflict and to preserve the ecology and foster cooperation.”
12.Wide shot, conference room
13. SOUNDITE (English) Uroš Brežan, Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Slovenia:
“We see the role of the Water Convention in the framework of the UN Water Conference as the key global instrument institutional and legal tool for transboundary water cooperation. As the next presidential country to the water convention, we are of course a proud partner in the UN Water Convention commitment.”
14. Wide shot, conference room
STORYLINE
At a UN 2023 Water conference side event, delegates discussed how new Parties to the Water Convention and countries in the accession process plan to advance transboundary water cooperation through the application of international water law principles at basin and regional levels.
Speaking today (22 Mar) as the Chair of the Convention, Meelis Münt, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment of Estonia said, “As we know, more than 60 percent of freshwater resources are divided by two or more countries,” therefore, he is convinced that “transboundary water cooperation is crucial for peace and security for sustainable development and climate action.”
He reiterated, “we strongly believe that water convention has a key role here to play.”
Münt also said, “As the chair of the Convention, we can confirm that there are a lot of enthusiasm and initiatives in transboundary water cooperation in different regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is extremely important to support the countries in accession and in practical implementation of the Convention to move faster and sooner towards sustainable future.
The side event "Speeding up transboundary water cooperation: the value of the Water Convention" was co-organized by Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Senegal, Slovenia, Switzerland, UNECE (Water Convention secretariat).
Olga Algayerova, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) also spoke at the event.
She said, “The Water Convention as a unique global, legal and intergovernmental platform has promoted the development and implementation of transboundary agreements and common policy responses. It offers a community of practice that fosters the exchange of experiences between basins and countries, and strengthens technical and institutional capacity. Its platform helps to connect with development partners and international financial institutions where water cooperation is a deal maker.”
Zulfiya Suleimenova, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources from Kazakhstan also spoke at the event. Her country was the first one to join the Convention in Central Asia.
She said, “The task of protection of water ecosystems to preserve their vital ecosystem services becomes even more pressing in the context of climate change. Water is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to the negative effects of climate change, and there is no life without water.”
Suleimenova continued, “Working together in the spirit of solidarity and having predictable and basin wide approaches to integrated water management are critical in preserving the water ecosystems, as well as enabling equitable use of the water resources by the basin states. And on that note, we would like to express our hope that there would be more members to the Convention and share common aspiration to join to utilize share watercourses.”
Alio Abdoulaye Ibrahim, Minister of Water and Sanitation from Chad said, “Chad benefited from the cooperation that is transboundary with other countries to face some of the challenges and to mitigate any conflicts with the neighbors.”
He continued, “It offers us the legal mechanisms to manage the shared resources to prevent conflict and to preserve the ecology and foster cooperation.”
Uroš Brežan, Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning from Slovenia, said, “We see the role of the Water Convention in the framework of the UN Water Conference as the key global instrument institutional and legal tool for transboundary water cooperation. As the next presidential country to the water convention, we are of course a proud partner in the UN Water Convention commitment.”
More than 60 percent of freshwater resources worldwide are shared by two or more countries. Climate change, population growth, urbanization and unsustainable economic development are negatively impacting such rivers, lakes and groundwaters. Transboundary water cooperation is therefore crucial for peace, sustainable development and climate action.
Nevertheless, only 24 countries out of the 153 countries sharing transboundary waters have all their transboundary basins covered by operational arrangements for water cooperation. Progress on SDG indicator 6.5.2 (transboundary cooperation) is too slow and must be accelerated to achieve the goal.
The two United Nations global Water Conventions have advanced transboundary water cooperation worldwide. In particular the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), a unique global legal instrument and intergovernmental platform for transboundary water cooperation, has facilitated development of numerous transboundary agreements, reduced pollution and promoted ecosystem conservation, prevented conflicts, facilitated joint climate action and promoted sustainable development. Many countries are linking their accession to and implementation of the Water Convention to the Water Action Agenda when developing their commitments on water cooperation.
More than 20 countries are in the process of accession to the Water Convention and several aim to finalize the process by the time of the conference. Building on this momentum, the side event will welcome new Parties, discuss benefits of joining the Convention and the next steps in implementing the Convention for existing and new Parties.
Speaking today (22 Mar) as the Chair of the Convention, Meelis Münt, Secretary General of the Ministry of the Environment of Estonia said, “As we know, more than 60 percent of freshwater resources are divided by two or more countries,” therefore, he is convinced that “transboundary water cooperation is crucial for peace and security for sustainable development and climate action.”
He reiterated, “we strongly believe that water convention has a key role here to play.”
Münt also said, “As the chair of the Convention, we can confirm that there are a lot of enthusiasm and initiatives in transboundary water cooperation in different regions of Africa, Asia and Latin America. It is extremely important to support the countries in accession and in practical implementation of the Convention to move faster and sooner towards sustainable future.
The side event "Speeding up transboundary water cooperation: the value of the Water Convention" was co-organized by Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Senegal, Slovenia, Switzerland, UNECE (Water Convention secretariat).
Olga Algayerova, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) also spoke at the event.
She said, “The Water Convention as a unique global, legal and intergovernmental platform has promoted the development and implementation of transboundary agreements and common policy responses. It offers a community of practice that fosters the exchange of experiences between basins and countries, and strengthens technical and institutional capacity. Its platform helps to connect with development partners and international financial institutions where water cooperation is a deal maker.”
Zulfiya Suleimenova, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources from Kazakhstan also spoke at the event. Her country was the first one to join the Convention in Central Asia.
She said, “The task of protection of water ecosystems to preserve their vital ecosystem services becomes even more pressing in the context of climate change. Water is one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to the negative effects of climate change, and there is no life without water.”
Suleimenova continued, “Working together in the spirit of solidarity and having predictable and basin wide approaches to integrated water management are critical in preserving the water ecosystems, as well as enabling equitable use of the water resources by the basin states. And on that note, we would like to express our hope that there would be more members to the Convention and share common aspiration to join to utilize share watercourses.”
Alio Abdoulaye Ibrahim, Minister of Water and Sanitation from Chad said, “Chad benefited from the cooperation that is transboundary with other countries to face some of the challenges and to mitigate any conflicts with the neighbors.”
He continued, “It offers us the legal mechanisms to manage the shared resources to prevent conflict and to preserve the ecology and foster cooperation.”
Uroš Brežan, Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning from Slovenia, said, “We see the role of the Water Convention in the framework of the UN Water Conference as the key global instrument institutional and legal tool for transboundary water cooperation. As the next presidential country to the water convention, we are of course a proud partner in the UN Water Convention commitment.”
More than 60 percent of freshwater resources worldwide are shared by two or more countries. Climate change, population growth, urbanization and unsustainable economic development are negatively impacting such rivers, lakes and groundwaters. Transboundary water cooperation is therefore crucial for peace, sustainable development and climate action.
Nevertheless, only 24 countries out of the 153 countries sharing transboundary waters have all their transboundary basins covered by operational arrangements for water cooperation. Progress on SDG indicator 6.5.2 (transboundary cooperation) is too slow and must be accelerated to achieve the goal.
The two United Nations global Water Conventions have advanced transboundary water cooperation worldwide. In particular the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention), a unique global legal instrument and intergovernmental platform for transboundary water cooperation, has facilitated development of numerous transboundary agreements, reduced pollution and promoted ecosystem conservation, prevented conflicts, facilitated joint climate action and promoted sustainable development. Many countries are linking their accession to and implementation of the Water Convention to the Water Action Agenda when developing their commitments on water cooperation.
More than 20 countries are in the process of accession to the Water Convention and several aim to finalize the process by the time of the conference. Building on this momentum, the side event will welcome new Parties, discuss benefits of joining the Convention and the next steps in implementing the Convention for existing and new Parties.
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