NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS
Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York
Wednesday, 22 March 2023
UN WATER CONFERENCE
President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi today is participating in the 2023 UN Water Conference.
He spoke at the opening in the General Assembly Hall this morning.
The President said that water is a global common good and we must adjust policy, legislation, and financing accordingly.
He noted that we have today a global water crisis – I know this was a question some of you asked yesterday’s guests.
The President does believe that we are already in a global water crisis.
This is manifested in three forms of water disasters – to much water, too little, and too polluted.
The President said that the solution is not rocket science.
Most importantly, it requires political will.
The President also called for financing that is water-, climate-, and biodiversity-smart. So here he is talking about investment – private and public – into projects and programs that benefit everyone, including groups that are marginalized.
And ones that integrate land-use, water and climate policies, to make sure that the we have enough food to keep people from starving.
And he said we need to urgently stop wasting water. We need to reuse the water that we already have, not extract more.
An example of this is the project that the President saw on his trip to India, which I showed you here – sewage water treated, put into a reservoir and used for agriculture.
In his remarks, the President also noted the need for a global water information system, which he calls “our life insurance for resolving the dilemma of water availability, demand and storage.”
He also speaks about guaranteed access to safe drinking water and sanitation to all.. as a human right.
You have his full remarks in English, Arabic, French and Russian: https://www.un.org/pga/77/2023/03/22/pga-remarks-to-the-opening-plenary-of-the-2023-un-water-conference/
MARATHONER
The President sends his congratulations today to Mina Guli, the Australian marathoner who completed her 200th marathon in one year, here outside of the UN earlier today.
That’s four marathons every week.
Ms. Guli was running for water action – across some of the most water insecure areas of the world.
The President has quoted her in his remarks, saying she is right when she says that “every single one of us can make a difference.”
LAST PGA BRIEFING OF THE WEEK
I will not brief tomorrow or Friday. I will be available online for anything you need.
Since I will be out, let me share the Week Ahead.
WEEK AHEAD
On Monday, 27 March, at 10AM ET, the General Assembly will hold the commemoration of the abolition of slavery and the transatlantic slave trade. This year’s keynote will be given by Professor Djamila Ribeiro, a Brazilian Black feminist philosopher and journalist. The Youth Speaker will be Taylor Cassidy, a Tik Tok creator. President Kőrösi will make remarks.
Throughout the day, Member States will hold informal consultations on the Global Digital Compact. This is one of the 16 mandated GA processes.
On Tuesday, 28 March at 10AM ET, the General Assembly will hold a debate on the role of diamonds in fueling conflict.
Still on 28 March at 3PM, in the GA Hall, there will be an informal briefing in the form of an interactive dialogue on missing persons in the Syrian Arab Republic.
On Wednesday, 29 March at 10AM ET, Member States will take action on a resolution sponsored by Vanuatu and others asking the International Court of Justice to issue an advisory opinion on climate change. There will be a GA press stakeout after action is taken.
That same day, Member States will take part in intergovernmental negotiations on a draft political declaration to renew commitment and accelerate the implementation of the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030.
On Thursday, 30 March, at 10AM ET and 3PM ET, there will be a high-level meeting on Zero Waste, which will provide an opportunity to exchange experiences and success stories on developing and implementing solid waste management solutions and technologies.
QUESTIONS
The Spokesperson was asked about an outcome from the 28 March informal briefing on missing persons in Syria. The Spokesperson confirmed by email that there is no mandated summary expected from the Office of the PGA. Any further steps are up to Member States.
The Spokesperson was asked whether President Kőrösi supports the creation of a Special Envoy for Water. The Spokesperson said the President has been vocal about this Conference having tangible, ambitious outcomes. He has personally been supporting the gamechangers that came out of the October consultation. The issue of a Special Envoy is one raised by Member States and up to them to act on.
