A Call for Ethical Stewardship
From 2–4 December 2026, the world will gather in the United Arab Emirates for the UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE. Six interactive dialogues will form the core: 1) water for people, 2) water for prosperity, 3) water for the planet, 4) water for cooperation, 5) water in multilateral processes, and 6) investing for water.
In the lead-up, the UN has launched the second global online consultation (deadline 17 October 2025). Civil society organizations, academics, Indigenous peoples, local communities, businesses, and citizens are invited to share their ideas for the concept notes that will guide the conference.
Beyond the objectives, however, lies a deeper question: what ethic shapes our relationship with water? Too often, water is seen merely as an economic good. We must recognize it as the essence of life, the lifeblood of ecosystems, and the foundation of resilient societies.
The conference should move us toward a water ethic that treats rivers and groundwater as living systems with rights. A systems and resilience approach can overcome today’s fragmentation, while regenerative water management can restore ecosystems, empower communities, and unite us around a common purpose.
👉 Contribute here: UN Water Conference 2026 Consultation