International Symposium on Water and Disaster for Cooperation and Partnerships (5 March 2025, Tokyo)

On 5 March 2025, the International Symposium on Water and Disaster for Cooperation and Partnerships was convened in Tokyo, bringing together over 150 participants from 27 countries. The event was co-organized by the United Nations Centre for Regional Development (UNCRD), the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism of Japan (MLIT), the Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS), and the High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP). The Symposium was honoured by the presence of His Majesty the Emperor of Japan, whose attendance reflected the high-level commitment to addressing global water and disaster challenges.

Opening remarks by Dr. Han Seung-soo, Chair of HELP, framed the water crisis as a pressing global challenge, citing that over 2.2 billion people still lack access to safe drinking water. He called for intensified global cooperation to mitigate growing water-related disasters driven by climate change.

Keynote speakers included Prof. Danilo Türk, former President of Slovenia; Mr. Jigmi Y. Thinley, former Prime Minister of Bhutan; and Ms. Retno L.P. Marsudi, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Water and former Foreign Minister of Indonesia. Each emphasized water’s role in conflict prevention, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.

Discussions centered on: advancing transboundary cooperation and water diplomacy; enhancing climate resilience and early warning systems; Supporting implementation of the UN 2023 Water Action Agenda; and strengthening global water governance and financing.

Outcomes of the Symposium will inform preparations for the 7th Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters (July 2025, UNHQ) and the UN 2026 Water Conference. The Symposium reaffirmed water as a catalyst for peace, sustainability, and resilience.