24 March 2023, New York, USA – In the framework of the UN 2023 Water Conference UNITAR hosted the side event “Promoting Water Culture through Learning & Action”. The overall objective of the side event is to mobilize support and expertise to deliver innovative training and build human capacities on pressing water-related issues at a large scale.

The Stakeholder Consultation Roundtable on Capacity Development held on October 2022 as part of the preparatory meeting of the UN 2023 Water Conference highlighted the need for a “Global network of education and capacity building on water”. UNITAR has registered its commitment and concrete contribution to the Water Action Agenda concerning this need with the creation of the Water Academy. 

The 90-minute side event was co-chaired by the UN Assistant Secretary-General and Executive Director of UNITAR Mr Nikhil Seth and the President of York University, Prof. Rhonda Lenton. High-level speakers from academic institutions and the private sector shared concrete contributions to the Water Academy. For instance, Andre Fourie, Global Vice President of Sustainability, Anheuser-Busch InBev, spoke on the importance of global partnerships to achieve sustainable development. Other speakers included Jayant Kairam, President of Sustainability and Society 2030, Diageo; Sonia Thimmiah, Senior Director of Global Sustainability, Heineken, Ambroise Veillon, Senior Vice President Sustainability and Transformation, Danone, Jennifer Chirico, Associate Vice-President for Sustainability, Georgia Institute of Technology, Pedro Oliveira, Dean of Nova School of Business and Economics, Noemi Bauer, Sustainable Business Director, Pernod Ricard, France among others.

Following this event, UNITAR and partners will continue to work together towards achieving commitments concerning the Water Academy. Water is an intersectional issue and it is key to reaching sustainable global targets.