Geneva Urban Debate Sets the Scene for UN Water Conference

With 100 days remaining before the United Nations Water Conference 2026 in Abu Dhabi, the latest Geneva Urban Debate brought together representatives of national governments, international organizations, water utilities, local and regional governments, and the Geneva water community to discuss how international cooperation can accelerate progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6): clean water and sanitation for all.

Organized by the Global Cities Hub and UN-Habitat, the webinar provided an important opportunity for partners to better understand the preparations for the December conference and to consider how local realities can shape its outcomes.

A central message emerging from the discussion was that the success of the conference will depend on connecting global commitments with implementation on the ground. With 2.1 billion people still lacking safe water and 3.5 billion without adequate sanitation, participants stressed the urgency of moving beyond commitments towards sustainable, affordable and resilient services.

The conference will be structured in six interactive dialogues covering ‘Water for people’, ‘Water for prosperity’, ‘Water for the planet’, ‘Water for cooperation’, ‘Water in Multilateral Processes’, and ‘Investments for water’. Germany, together with Mexico, is co-chairing the dialogue on water and multilateral processes. Consultations with Member States and stakeholders have already taken place in Geneva, Dakar, New York and Stockholm, alongside an online consultation open to governments and other stakeholders, including local and regional governments.

Speakers stressed the need for an integrated urban approach. Water and sanitation cannot be separated from housing, urban development, infrastructure and climate resilience. Access to water and sanitation cannot be achieved without sustainable delivery services. Investment in water infrastructure cannot yield results without capacity building and knowledge sharing on the ground. The conference offers an opportunity to ensure that these dimensions of water security are firmly reflected in international action.

The links between water, peace and security was also highlighted, calling for equitable and accountable water governance and stronger protection of water resources and infrastructure, particularly in conflict-affected contexts. The suggestion to adopt a UNSC resolution on “Water, peace and security” was one of the bold outcomes of the discussion.

Participants emphasized that the process must be genuinely inclusive: ‘Power not presence’. Local and regional governments and other local actors are not simply implementers of international decisions. They possess essential knowledge of the challenges and solutions required to deliver water and sanitation services. Strengthening their participation in the conference and future multilateral water governance was therefore highlighted as a key priority.

As the UN Water Conference approaches, speakers encouraged the audience to engage actively in the ongoing consultations and calls for participation. The Abu Dhabi conference represents a critical opportunity to strengthen international cooperation, amplify local voices and translate the ambition of SDG 6 into concrete action that improves people’s lives.

Looking beyond 2030, speakers called for a stronger and more ambitious global water agenda, rather than simply extending existing deadlines. Priorities include moving from measuring access to measuring the quality, affordability and reliability of delivery services; strengthening water institutions and human capacity; embedding climate resilience into planning and investment; and ensuring that global water commitments are effectively localized. There was an agreement that water must be placed higher on the international political agenda.

GCH launched on this occasion its policy paper on “International cooperation for a water-secure future” and was pleased to hear several of its recommendations been echoed by the speakers, such as:

• Empower Cities as Key Actors in Water Governance
• Integrate the Localization of SDG6 Across Multilateral Agendas
• Embed a resilience approach into governance, budgeting, and policy
• Engage in multilevel collaboration for maximum impact

Thank you to our distinguished speakers, Aline da Matta, Erik A. Schnetzler, Janine Muzau and Rose Christine Kaggwa, for their valuable insights.

📹  Watch the recording of the event