On 12 June 2023, the United Nations Centre for Reginal Development (UNCRD) organized “The Symposium to Commemorate the UN 2023 Water Conference” in a hybrid format, in Tokyo and online. The symposium was co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, the Government of Japan, the Government of the Netherlands, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC), and the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) attended by 166 participants from 15 countries. The symposium aimed to share the main discussions and outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference, held in New York from 22 to 24 March 2023.
The opening remarks were delivered by the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Japan, Deputy Director-General/Deputy Assistant Minister for Global Issues of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Director of United Nations Information Centre in Tokyo. Mr. Amson Sibanda of DESA delivered a statement, as the secretariat of the UN 2023 Water Conference through video. In the session on the discussion and outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference, H.E. Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, Special Envoy of Prime Minister of Japan at UN 2023 Water Conference, a member of the House of Representatives, who co-chaired the Interactive Dialogue 3: "Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment" of the Water Conference, shared the its key messages. The Mayor of Kumamoto City, who also participated in the UN 2023 Water Conference, introduced his experiences of the Conference and the initiatives of Kumamoto City presented at the Conference.
The panel discussion featured on "Water and Local SDGs: Actions for Achieving Sustainable Cities" highlighted various initiatives to achieve the SDGs at the local level. The speakers provided on how to achieve all relevant SDGs from their work and the importance of partnerships and appropriate use of data were stressed amongst others. The last presentation after the panel discussion was delivered by the Ambassador of the Republic of Indonesia to Japan who introduced the preparation of on the 10th World Water Forum which will be held in May 2024 as one of key global water events after the Conference. The symposium was closed by the remarks by the UNCRD Director who expressed the hope that this symposium would be an opportunity to accelerate efforts to resolve global water issues.
Document
- Concept Note and Provisional Programme in English (As of 10 June 2023)
Speech and Presentation
Opening remarks
-- Mr. Li Junhu, Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, United Nations (UN DESA)
-- Mr. Peter van der Vliet, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Japan
-- Mr. Keiichi Hara, Deputy Director-General/Deputy Assistant Minister for Global Issues, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Japan (in English and Japanese)
-- Ms. Kaoru Nemoto, Director, United Nations Information Centre in Tokyo (in Japanese)
Discussion and outcomes of the UN 2023 Water Conference
Introduction of the General Overview of the Conference
Taeko Yokota, Facilitator of the Symposium / Programme Expert on DRR and Water, UNCRD (in English and Japanese)
Speakers
-- Interactive Dialogue 3: “Water for Climate, Resilience and Environment”
H.E. Ms. Yoko Kamikawa, Special Envoy of Prime Minister of Japan in UN 2023 Water Conference, a member of the House of Representatives
-- “Water Action Agenda” and future follow-up
Mr. Niels Vlaanderen, Coordinator of International Water Affairs, Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Government of the Netherlands
-- Kumamoto City Initiatives for a Sound Water Cycle and River Basin Disaster Management Creating a New Water Culture
Mr. Kazufumi Onishi, Mayor of Kumamoto, Japan (in English; and in Japanese)
-- Kumamoto Initiative for Water
Mr. Toshikazu Tokioka, Director for International Coordination of River Engineering, Water and Disaster Management Bureau, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, Government of Japan (in English; and in Japanese)
Panel discussion “Water and Local SDGs: Actions for Achieving Sustainable Cities”
Moderator
Prof. Kenzo Hiroki, Professor, National Graduate Institute of Policy Studies / Coordinator, High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (in English; and in Japanese)
Panelists
-- Dr. Riko Oki, Director, Earth Observation Research Center (EORC), Space Technology Directorate I, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
-- Mr. Atsushi Kato, Chairman, Japan Toilet Labo.
-- Mr. Hiroyuki Sougawa, General Manager, International Sales & Marketing Department, International Business Division METAWATER Co. Ltd.; and Leader, the Task Force for International Water Infrastructure Development by the Japan Machinery Center for Trade and Investment
-- Dr. Reita Furusawa, Associate Professor, Chubu University; and RCE Chubu Secretary General
-- Dr. Tomohito Yamada, Professor, Faculty of Engineering, Division of Field Engineering for the Environment, Hokkaido University
Towards the 10th World Water Forum: Indonesia’s Preparation
H.E. Mr. Heri Akhmadi, Indonesian Ambassador to Japan and Federated States of Indonesia
Closing remarks
Kazushige Endo, Director, UNCRD (in Japanese)