This year’s World Water Day, on 22 March 2024, will take place under the theme ‘Leveraging Water for Peace’.
The UN Secretary-General António Guterres, in his World Water Day message, emphasized the urgent need for increased transboundary water cooperation:
- “Water for peace is the theme of this year’s World Water Day. Achieving it relies on far greater cooperation. Today, 153 countries share water resources. Yet only twenty-four have reported cooperation agreements for all their shared water. We must accelerate efforts to work together across borders, and I urge all countries to join and implement the United Nations Water Convention – which promotes managing shared water resources sustainably.“
The following key events are scheduled for World Water Day:
- Official celebrations: The official celebrations will take place at UNESCO headquarters in Paris, featuring distinguished speakers, technical presentations, field experiences, and cultural activities. The event will be webcasted live, offering a global audience the opportunity to participate. The launch of the UN World Water Development Report 2024, titled 'Water for Prosperity and Peace,' will be a central part of this celebration.
- Member State-led Events: Various countries will host events in New York and Geneva, supported by the Water Convention Secretariat, UN-Water and affiliated entities:
- Geneva: "Water as a catalyst for cooperative climate action and peace" (22 March, 10:00-11:30 CET, WMO Building, Salle Obasi), organizers: Slovenia, WMO, UNECE, Geneva Water Hub, Agenda
- New York: "Water as a driving force for peace and stability" (22 March, 2024, 14:00-16:00, UNHQ), organizers: Slovenia, Switzerland, Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition
Resources, including visuals, are available on the official World Water Day website: https://www.un.org/en/observances/water-day/resources