IEF Input on Water to Preparatory Meeting for UN 2023 Water Conference

As part of the IEF accreditation to the UN 2023 Water Conference, IEF representative and water expert Mark Griffin has been participating in the stakeholder consultation and Preparatory Meeting in New York on 24-25 October 2022. In addition to Mark's own professional stakeholder input to the Preparatory Meeting, the IEF made the following formal input as an accredited organisation:

The International Environment Forum proposes to the UN 2023 Water Conference to consider more strongly the manifold values of water to local populations and ecosystems to ensure its effective management.

Water is more than a resource. The aquatic environment is a habitat for many species and provides many ecosystem services. Water also has other values beyond its practical uses. In many cultures, water has social, symbolic and spiritual meanings. The Maori sacred rivers in Aotearoa-New Zealand, and many Pacific Islanders’ unity with water and oceans are some examples.

The Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) recent Assessment of the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature shows how a broader perspective on natural resources can improve management. Such an approach, with more consultation and participation in decision-making, can lead to better outcomes for water in general.