13 July 2023 | UN Headquarters, New York (by invitation only)

Side Event – SDG 6: Sustainable Management of Water for Sustainable Development

Australia, Fiji and India face both unique and common challenges in sustainable water management. While Australia grapples with the challenge of managing its scarce water resources to meet the needs of a growing and highly urbanised population across a vast and arid continent; Fiji is facing the need for a major upgrade of the country’s water infrastructure system; while India is taking bold steps to manage its consumption of water and water scarcity. Common to all three countries, and globally of course, is the overlay of the climate crisis.

This event will focus on SDG 6 and the sustainable management of water – with SDG 6 being one of the five SDGs for in-depth review at this year’s HLPF. In-line with the integrated, indivisible, and interconnected nature of the SDGs, the side-event will explore the linkages between SDG 6, SDG 12 (responsible water consumption), SDG 13 (climate action), and as an enabler of all 17 SDGs.

The sustainable management of water is a key element of water security, connecting SDG 6 and SDG 12, with both SDGs including dedicated targets intended to promote this connection, such as SDG 6.4: “substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and SDG 12.2: “achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources”. Since water and sustainable use of natural resources are inextricably linked with climate change, both are critical to the achievement of SDG 13.

Speakers will include:

• H.E. Mr. Filipo Tarakinikini, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations
• H.E. Mr. Ravindra Raguttahalli, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations
• H.E. Ms. Giovanna Valverde, Co-Chair, 10 Year Framework Programmes on Sustainable Consumption and Production, Permanent Representative of Costa Rica to UNEP & UN Habitat
• Professor Tony Wong, Professor of Sustainable Development at Monash University & Water Sensitive Cities Australia
• Mr. Johannes Cullman, Vice Chair of UN Water, Scientific Adviser to the President of the UNGA
• Ms. Kerry Bannigan, Executive Director of Fashion Impact Fund

For further information, visit the High Level Political Forum website.