Nirobi, 8 December 2025 – Water was at the heart of the first day of the seventh session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-7). IUCN organised an official side-event titled “Flow Forward: Transboundary water cooperation to restore and sustain water ecosystems from source to sea”. The event was held together with the European Union, UNECE, Slovenia and Finland.
In the opening remarks, both Dr. Luther Anukur Director of IUCN Eastern and Southern Africa, and Ambassador Ms. Riina-Riikka Heikka, Permanent Representative of Finland to UNEP stressed the importance of water diplomacy and the potential that Nature-based Solutions hold in this context. Ambassador Heikka reiterated the need for a strategic approach to water resilience and commended IUCN for its unique ability to combine science, policy and practice in a way that is inclusive, science-based and globally connected.
