Science for a water secure world in a changing environment

On April 25, 2022, the Science and Technology Side Event of UNESCO-IHP: World Water Security in a Changing Environment was successfully held at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, France. Prof. Zhongbo Yu, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Program of UNESCO, Professor of Hohai University, and Director of the State Key Laboratory of Hydrology, Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering Sciences, attended the meeting.

This side event is a scientific and technological event before the 25th UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Program Council Meeting. Chairman Zhongbo Yu and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences Sharmila Nair-Beduele attended And gave a welcome speech.

Chairman Zhongbo Yu pointed out that under the framework of the ninth phase of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Program (IHP-IX, 2022-2029), UNESCO-IHP will give priority to responding to changes in scientific research and innovation, water education, integrated water resources management, and scientific water governance. Water challenges in the environment, supporting member countries to accelerate the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially the SDG water-related goals and other water-related global agendas, such as the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and New Urban Agenda (NUA). In the new stage, by strengthening the close cooperation of member countries, on the basis of improving scientific data, research, knowledge, capacity and mutual feedback between science policy and society, it also pays attention to water education, enhances capacity development and public awareness of sustainable water culture, implements scientific water governance and management to achieve the vision of building sustainable and resilient societies.

The meeting revolved around the three aspects of science policy, water education and capacity development, scientific research and innovation, formed the scientific contribution of IHP-IX (2022-2029) - "World Water Security in a Changing Environment", and decided to include it in 2023 Scientific Research Agenda of the 2010 UN-Water Conference. The meeting advocated that all member states and the UNESCO water resources family composed of IHP national committees, centers, chairmen and key partners work together to support the implementation of IHP-IX (2022-2029), solve water problems in a changing environment, and accelerate the realization of Sustainable Development Agenda wading goals.