IUCN Policy Brief for the UN Water Conference 2026

  policy brief     UN Water Conference  

The global water cycle is experiencing unprecedented, potentially irreversible disruption driven by climate change, competition for fresh water and human mismanagement. The 2026 UN Water Conference is a unique opportunity for action to address the global water crisis and ensure a secure future for all. It is essential that political will is built for decisive action, supported by wide support from an inclusive and participatory stakeholder engagement process.

 

IUCN has four main objectives for the UN Water Conference 2026:

• Strengthen the global water governance system through the initiation of an intergovernmental process on water.
• Scale up transboundary water cooperation including through showcasing IUCN’s work on transboundary cooperation as best practices.
• Emphasize water as an organizing principle for sustainable development and integrate water, climate and biodiversity policy at national and global levels by 2030, including through scaling up water outcome focused Nature-based Solutions.
• Promote science - based decision - making and enhanced cooperation and sharing of hydrological data.

 

Find out more: UN Water Conference 2026 - events | IUCN