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Cofunded by the European Union

Last December in Paris, for the first time, UNESCO and IGRAC organised an international and high-level event to make groundwaters visible! This event gathered more than 700 participants on-site and 3,000 online from all around the world.

Because groundwater represents more than 30% of freshwaters worldwide and is a major resource for human health and ecological life, this event allowed a large worldwide commitment to better protect and sustainably use groundwaters.

The Groundwater Summit 2022 was a preparatory event of the United Nations Water Conference 2023 to be held in New York on March 2023.

Water4All took part in this event and in a side event discussing “ how research and innovation can contribute to solving groundwater challenges and accelerate transitions”. The main key messages addressed to the 120 participants are :

  • Research and innovation are key for accelerating reaching the UN SDGs. Encouraging investments in research and innovation (e.g. climate adaptation based on nature-based solutions & grey infrastructure) and digital data access (e.g. near real-time monitoring and modelling results) will support solutions, development and implementation.
  • Water-related public policies should be designed based on knowledge, support innovations, and create and build the capacities of all categories of stakeholders, for more sustainable management of the environment, including water resources

For more information about the event: Groundwater Summit link

To access the replay of the side event: side event link (from 1:15:04 to 2:14:21)

Other news

The Water4All Partnership - Water Security for the Planet - is a funding programme for scientific research in freshwater. It aims to tackle water challenges to face climate change, help to achieve the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals and boost the EU’s competitiveness and growth.

It is co-funded by the European Union within the frame of the Horizon Europe programme (a key funding programme for research and innovation). The Partnership duration is for seven years from 2022.

The Water4All objective is to enable water security at a large scale and in the long term. Its goal is also to tackle water issues in a holistic frame. 

All forms of life on earth need water. All human activities operate with this resource. Water is part of our everyday life. It is also integrated within urban and countryside landscapes. It is one of the most valuable elements we share with plants and animals.

These simple facts must be kept in mind to understand the Water4All ambition.

This resource is weakened in many places due to climate changes, and human habits. We know that we can improve the way we use water. Everyone has a role to play and especially the scientific research community.

Scientific research is the heart of the Partnership as It is a powerful tool to improve knowledge on preserving, restoring, and managing this essential resource. 

International cooperation is also needed as water has no borders on Earth and runs from one country to another.

Water4All brings together a broad and cohesive group of 90 partners from 33 countries in the European Union and beyond. This consortium gathers partners from the whole water Research, Development and Innovation (RDI) chain.