By Sonja Koeppel, Secretary of the Water Convention, UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)

Water is critical for life and survival, climate action and health, peace and regional integration. Recent devastating floods in Central and Eastern Europe and drought emergencies in Southern Africa have served as stark reminders of the vulnerability of our water systems.

We can only address these challenges together.

More than 60% of all freshwater resources worldwide are shared between two or more countries. However, as the recent report on SDG indicator 6.5.2 on transboundary water cooperation, launched on 1 October 2024, shows, only 26 countries have operational, effective arrangements in place for all their shared waters – to prevent conflicts, adapt jointly to climate change, and reap the full benefits transboundary cooperation can bring. Only 15% of shared basins have joint climate change adaptation strategies.

However, there is hope: more than ten new transboundary agreements have been signed in the last three years. The Water Convention has been facilitating such progress for more than 30 years, with clear results: 22 of the 26 countries that have operational agreements are parties to the Convention.

These good practices need to be shared, and political momentum must be built to demonstrate how transboundary cooperation accelerates climate action and helps reduce disaster risks, among other benefits.

For this reason, nearly 100 countries, including more than 30 ministers and deputy ministers, will convene in Ljubljana, Slovenia, from 23 to 25 October 2024 for the tenth Meeting of the Parties (MOP 10) to the UN Water Convention.

Ljubljana is an ideal location, showcasing how water can be a tool for peace. Slovenia lies upstream in the iconic Sava River basin, shared with Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Serbia. The Sava Framework Agreement was the first international agreement signed by the riparian countries after the Balkan war. The Sava Commission, created by the agreement, has multiple functions beyond water, such as navigation. However, the basin faces challenges like climate change and pollution, similar to many others worldwide.

High-level segment: Our waters, our future

On 23 October, the high-level segment themed, ‘Our Waters, Our Future: Transboundary Water Cooperation to Power Climate Resilience,’ will gather more than 30 ministers and other high-level officials to strategize on how transboundary cooperation can enhance climate resilience. The conclusions from this segment will be presented at the 2024 UN Climate Change Conference (UNFCCC COP 29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, in November.

During the segment, concrete progress in transboundary basins will be celebrated, such as in the Senegalo-Mauritanian aquifer basin.

On days two and three of the conference, discussions will continue on many crucial challenges for transboundary water cooperation, including:

• Climate change adaptation;
• Integrated water management from source to sea;
• The interconnections between water, food, energy, and ecosystems; and
• Innovative financing for transboundary initiatives.

Launching key publications

Three important publications will be launched or presented, aimed at bolstering transboundary water cooperation:

• ‘Good Practices and Lessons Learned in Data-Sharing in Transboundary Basins’;
• The Third Progress Report on SDG Indicator 6.5.2; and
• The Third Progress Report on the Water Convention.

One of the key outcomes of the meeting will be the adoption of an innovative work program for 2025-2027, developed through extensive consultation with a diverse range of stakeholders.

Time for collective action is now

As we prepare for this significant gathering, I urge all countries to recognize that water is a shared resource requiring unified action. The ongoing challenges of floods, droughts, and increasing water demand necessitate a transformative approach to how we manage this vital resource.

The tenth Meeting of the Parties to the UN Water Convention is not merely a conference. It is a call to action for all nations to collaborate and innovate in their approaches to water management. By working together, we can ensure the sustainability of our water resources and make meaningful strides toward achieving the SDGs by 2030.

Let us seize this moment to strengthen our partnerships and commitments to effective transboundary water management. Together, we can build a resilient future for our water resources and, ultimately, for our planet.

I look forward to seeing you in Slovenia!