9th World Water Forum: Water and Climate Coalition event, Gilbert Houngbo, President of IFAD and Chair of UN-Water

In a very real sense, we experience climate change through water – in floods, rising sea levels, and contamination. Or though its absence – in wild fires and drought.

Around three quarters of all disasters between 2001 and 2018 were water-related. Today, the crisis is worsening. Water scarcity could displace 700 million people worldwide by 2030. By 2050, 2 billion people may be vulnerable to floods.

To respond to climate change, reduce the risk of disasters, and make development truly sustainable, we must manage water more effectively.

That’s why, under the umbrella of the SDG 6 Global Acceleration Framework and with the leadership of the World Meteorological Organisation, the work of the high-level Water and Climate Leaders panel to integrate the global water and climate agendas is so urgent.

Improving the way we manage and use water is central to mitigating, adapting and combatting climate change.

Our job at UN-Water, through our Members and Partners, is to highlight the importance of water in the climate change agenda, here at the 9th World Water Forum and beyond.

We must do more to make the water cycle and our societies more resilient to climate change. 

I hope today’s event will help advance an integrated water and climate agenda.