World Water Council mobilizes Local and Regional Authorities at the XIIth Metropolis World Congress

The World Water Council, together with UCLG and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federative Republic of Brazil, participated in the XIIth Metropolis World Congress from the 19 to the 22 of June 2017. It was the occasion for the organizers of the 8th World Water Forum’s Political Process to consult with local and regional authorities and raise the political debate around local water-related challenges. The upcoming International Conference of Local and Regional Authorities on water, which will take place during the Forum week in 2018, will aim to provide concrete examples of how cities and regions can contribute to the implementation of numerous international frameworks, such as the New Urban Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), through water-related action. 

 

During a session on 21 June, co-organized by the World Water Council and UCLG, Mr. Mohamed Sadiki, Mayor of Rabat, delivered a keynote speech on the implementation of the SDG 6 on water and sanitation from a city perspective. Additionally, the World Water Council conducted a consultation among Mayors to identify their needs for effective, on-the-ground implementation of the various international frameworks. 

 

Water has multiple socio-economic benefits, but is often overlooked on the political agenda. Investing in urban resilience to tackle water security, water-related disasters, and effects of climate change in the context of rapid urbanization, will lead to tradeoffs for healthier and more prosperous communities. Therefore, nurturing political will for sustainable urban water management is as important as getting the hardware right. In this perspective, the next edition the Conference will be pivotal in providing local and regional leaders with opportunities for enhancing their cities through water actions.