The UN Water Conference was held on 22-24 March 2023 in New York, and brought together governments, civil society and all stakeholders towards achieving SDG 6 and other water-related goals and targets, compiled in the Water Action Agenda.  Multi-stakeholder participants presented their new commitments and pledges to the Water Agenda’s building blocks: (i) commitment to action, (ii) sustained and scalable implementation and (iii)  the follow-up and review processes. These blocks will enable replication and scaling up of what works and bring successful solutions to global scale.

The official side event ‘Indigenous Peoples and Water: Joint commitments to transforming water governance, climate adaptation and biodiversity’ was held on 23 March.  Led by UNESCO, the Global Support Initiative to ICCAs represented UNDP in this joint Inter-Agency effort which also included UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), Food and Agriculture Organization, International Fund for Agricultural Development, International Labour Organization, Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights UN Department of Socioeconomic Affairs, UN Environment Programme, World Health Organization, World Food Programme.  It was co-sponsored by the governments of Australia, Bolivia, Burundi, Canada, Chile and Mexico, with additional support also provided by Stockholm International Water Institute and Pawanka Fund.

The side event focused on Indigenous Peoples’ long heritage of water management, governance and a holistic understanding of water sustainability. Indigenous Peoples leaders and representatives from Australia, Canada Chad, Nepal and Suriname shared a series of case studies aimed at transforming international understanding of water management and governance while emphasizing the rights, technical capacities, values and full participation of Indigenous Peoples.

Simon Stiell, the UNFCCC Executive Secretary, emphasized on the importance of rethinking our approach to addressing the water-climate nexus and learning from Indigenous knowledge. Indigenous Peoples have been managing water resources for centuries and their knowledge is crucial in addressing water-related challenges. COP27 provided a space to feature water prominently, and Indigenous Peoples and local communities played a critical role in shaping intergovernmental negotiations. The UNFCCC Secretariat established an action pledge through its Nairobi Work Programme on adaptation to address the water-climate nexus challenges, which hinges on three major pillars: knowledge, innovation, and action. The Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform is designed to strengthen knowledge and increase their participation in the UNFCCC process. Governments need to increase engagement and collaboration with Indigenous Peoples and local communities in designing and implementing climate policies and actions, including developing and delivering on Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans of Action. The UNFCCC is committed to getting all Least Developed Countries on the journey to delivering a National Adaptation Plan.

Dario José Mejia Montalvo, a Zenú from San Andrés Sotavento in Colombia and Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Peoples Issues, highlighted the global water crisis facing humanity is troubling, with only 3% of the planet's water being fresh and 1.2% suitable for consumption. He emphasized the positive role of Indigenous Peoples in addressing current crises and how water is at the center of these crises. He stressed that water is not only a right, but also a vital cycle that connects different crises such as climate change, environmental degradation, and food scarcity.  As he acknowledged the challenges faced by Indigenous Peoples, he also called attention to their ability to position theirperspectivesintheinternationalarena --- thateffortsaddressingthewater crisis must respect the territorial rights and free determination of Indigenous Peoples and that Member States must recognize and adopt concrete goals for Indigenous Peoples tied to global discussions such as climate change and biodiversity conservation. In his final remarks, Mr. Mejia Montalvo underscored that any decision taken during the water decade must have Indigenous Peoples as actors on the table, and they should be part of deciding the menu, as they possess valuable knowledge and solutions for addressing water issues. 

Please also see the video of the side event.