STATEMENT BY MR JASON TAN, FIRST SECRETARY (SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT), PERMANENT MISSION OF SINGAPORE, AT THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE 2026 UNITED NATIONS WATER CONFERENCE, 3 MARCH 2025

Thank you Chair.

1          Singapore expresses its appreciation to Senegal and the UAE, co-hosts of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, for hosting this organizational meeting today. We would also like to thank UN DESA and UN-Water for their steadfast support towards what we believe will be successful conference next year.

2          As many speakers have also detailed, water remains critical for sustainable development, and a key accelerator to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Interlinked with a myriad of other SDGs, water is essential to many facets of development, and yet we continue to face an uphill battle in achieving global water security. The water crisis, which is a global crisis, is exacerbated by many other challenges, but also exacerbates these other challenges in return. It is in this vein that the world must accelerate global water action, strengthen global water governance, and unlock global water solutions, to address the global water crisis.

3          It is no coincidence that following the last Water Conference, which took place 46 years after the first, there will be three UN Water Conferences in this decade alone. It shows that the world is stepping up to the task of tackling water issues, in a collective and unified manner. Singapore therefore welcomes today’s discussion on shaping the 2026 UN Water Conference. As we build up momentum towards 2026, let me share three key priorities from Singapore’s point of view.

4          First, we must take forward the outcomes of the 2023 UN Water Conference, riding that wave into 2026 and beyond. This includes taking stock of the commitments under the Water Action Agenda, so as to ensure the world is on track to meet our water goals. Importantly, we should build on the successes of the 2023 Conference. In this regard, Singapore advocates for continuity of the themes of the interactive dialogues from 2023. We believe that these themes remain highly relevant, and we should take the opportunity to review progress on these discussions, and also delve deeper into them. 

5          Second, we should build consensus around core, fundamental issues of the water agenda that will support global water action in the long-term. This will be critical in feeding into the theme for the sixth interactive dialogue for 2026, which will need to not only address current water challenges, but also build momentum towards the 2028 Water Conference and the 2030 Agenda, as well as beyond. This sixth theme must be decisive and action-oriented. Whether it is unlocking water technologies, mobilising finance and investments, or improving governance of water, the 2026 Conference must lay the foundations for success in the global water agenda.

6          Third, we need to continue driving partnerships to build a water secure future for all. This begins here at the UN, coming in the form of collaboration between all Member States as well as with the UN System, but it also goes beyond, as we will need to work closely with the private sector to ensure a cohesive, collective effort towards our water goals.

Mr Chair,

7          Singapore remains committed to engaging actively and constructively in this process, as well as other meetings in your roadmap towards the 2026 UN Water Conference. We reiterate our strong support to both co-hosts towards ensuring a successful conference next year, which has the full potential to be as momentous, if not more momentous, than the 2023 Conference, and we will continue to ensure the momentum continues onward to our next milestones as well.

I thank you.

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