World Water Week 2024: contributions and reflections from the Netherlands
Stockholm World Water Week 2024 brought significant knowledge exchange around innovative solutions and ongoing global, national and local practices that work towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030.
The Government of the Netherlands, strategic partner of World Water Week, was represented by several officials who joined the event to present innovative solutions, learn from others, and further advance the Water Action Agenda. This article introduces some of the activities in which the Dutch Government participated.
Water is essential for life and ecosystems. Water pollution, droughts and floods affect peace and security, health, economic activity, food security, biodiversity, and greenery, requiring holistic and collaborative solutions across sectors.
While a variety of international conferences exist that focus on water, the way in which World Water Week attracts a diverse blend of participants from various professional backgrounds and corners of the world is unique.
"We want to make optimal use of this week to strengthen partnerships, foster collaboration and meet the colleagues that we work with so that we can continue to showcase that the Netherlands is a driver for water action and international collaboration on water,” says Eva Schreuder, Head of the Water Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The UN 2026 Water Conference and the Water Action Agenda
The Netherlands and Tajikistan handed over their role as co-host of the UN 2023 Water Conference to the designated hosts for the UN 2026 Water Conference, Senegal and the United Arab Emirates. On the occasion of the handing over ceremony, both Tajikistan and the Netherlands reaffirmed their commitment to water and Meike van Ginneken, Water Envoy for the Kingdom of the Netherlands, presented the ‘Action Sparks Hope’ Water Action Agenda Magazine.
“Eighteen months ago, governments, civil society organisations, businesses, universities, and basin organisations made more than 800 commitments to the Water Action Agenda. These actions are now in full swing. We see results,” says Van Ginneken.
This new publication aims to ensure that the Water Action Agenda sustains its momentum towards the UN 2026 and 2028 Water Conferences and contributes to achieving the water-related SDGs by 2030.
A holistic approach to water, food and biodiversity
Successful implementation of the current commitments requires cross-sectoral collaboration. Addressing the nexus of water, food and biodiversity with an integrated approach is a good start. This was the topic of a panel discussion with the Government of the Netherlands and Stockholm International Water Institute that brought together academia, the private sector, and governmental representatives. Key points from the Netherlands and SIWI are presented in this article.
The importance of looking at the water cycle more holistically was also emphasised by the Global Commission on the Economics of Water (GCEW). GCEW is redefining how water is valued and governed, emphasising collective responsibility and need for transformational change to stabilise the hydrological cycle. During World Water Week, the GCEW facilitated discussions on achieving higher levels of collective ambition and presented highlights from a new report to be published at the end of the year, following the earlier ‘Turning the Tide – A Call to Collective Action’ report.
Political leadership through the Heads of State Initiatives
Successful water action also requires political leadership. A relevant example presented in Stockholm is the Heads of State Initiatives (HoSI), which brings supports to heads of states when they express interest in taking water and sanitation as a priority. This is a key commitment of the Dutch Government and its partners, namely Sanitation and Water for All, UNICEF, IRC and Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, that was made to the Water Action Agenda. HoSI is starting to show impact with a new presidential compact on water and sanitation launched in Ghana and South Sudan.
During the HoSI session held in Stockholm, Bello Mohammad, Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation of Nigeria reflected on their political commitment to water sanitation and hygiene (WASH) in Nigeria and their role as a mentor country within the initiative. “Countries must come together, and leaders must come together to take off this initiative. There must be political will, and there must be leadership.”
Water in Business
Concrete action by the private sector is equally essential for advancing sustainable water management. In collaboration with SIWI, the Government of the Netherlands hosted the 'Water in Business' programme at World Water Week. This year's initiative brought together representatives from the public, private, and non-profit sectors to examine how new European disclosure and due diligence directives can help stimulate transparency and accountability for water impacts across global value chains. It highlighted recent legislative developments including the importance of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD), and the role they can potentially play in helping address corporate water impacts.
While the new package of measures will have far-reaching implications for businesses, ensuring a positive impact on water security requires that water and business communities work closely together. The Netherlands’ Valuing Water Initiative (VWI) will continue to convene stakeholders to facilitate dialogue on this important topic.
To further strengthen the visibility of the innovative solutions championed by the Netherlands and partners, the VWI introduced innovative methodologies for inclusive decision-making, while the Netherlands Pavilion served as a hub for knowledge sharing and networking among water experts. The Dutch embassy in Stockholm hosted a lively reception for the Dutch water sector and their close partners.
Once again, the World Water Week exemplified how continued collaboration across borders and sectors, leaving no one behind, is essential to ensure a sustainable and peaceful future for all.
