A Swiss delegation actively participated in the UN’s 2023 High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) in New York from 10 to 19 July. They hosted an event highlighting transboundary water management as a driver of sustainable development and peace, ahead of the 2023 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Summit in September.

Switzerland has been collaborating with all UN member states since 2015 to implement the 17 SDGs. At this HLPF, they focused on SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation for all) and SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities).

To delve deeper into these themes, Switzerland organized an event on transboundary water management on 12 July, showcasing examples of cooperation for sustainable development and peace. For instance, they facilitated political dialogue in Central Asia and supported better water resource management to ease tensions among various users.

Switzerland is well-regarded for its expertise in transboundary water management, having launched the Blue Peace initiative in 2010. Recently, they assisted in setting up the Transboundary Water Cooperation Coalition with over 40 participating states and non-state actors.

At the HLPF, organized by the UN Economic and Social Council, heads of state will adopt a political declaration for additional measures to achieve the 2030 Agenda. Switzerland is working to involve non-state actors from business, science, and civil society in pursuing the SDGs.

The 2030 Agenda’s focus on environmental issues, including water resource management, remains a crucial framework for Switzerland in tackling global challenges.

Link to the news