UN 2023 Water Conference - an Interview with Clara Brown
Between 22 and 24 March 2023 the United Nations convened 10,000 participants, in person in New York and online, in a landmark conference on water and Sustainable Development Goal 6, on Clean Water and Sanitation.
“The commitments at this Conference will propel humanity towards the water-secure future every person on the planet needs,” noted UN Secretary-General António Guterres at the closing ceremony.
To achieve this, the Secretary-General highlighted key game-changers: from reinforcing water’s place as a fundamental human right and reducing the pressures on the hydrological system, to developing new, alternative food systems to reduce the unsustainable use of water in food production and agriculture and designing and implementing a new global water information system to guide plans and priorities by 2030.
The Secretary-General also advocated for integrating the approach on water, ecosystems and climate to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and strengthen communities — from resilient infrastructure, water pipelines and wastewater treatment plans, to ensuring every person in the world is protected with early warning systems against natural disasters by 2027; and continued to press for climate justice and global action to limit global warming to a 1.5-degree rise. Lastly, he called for a dramatic acceleration in resources and investment into the ability of all countries to reach SDG 6.” (Sustainable Development Goal 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation)
We wanted to find out more about the participation by young people in the critical debates on water and SDG 6, so we managed to contact Clara Brown, the Contact Point for the YOUNGO Water and Climate Working Group, who kindly answered some of our questions.
COP26andbeyond: Could you tell us a bit about who you are and your background, and how you got into climate activism in general, and YOUNGO and the water conference in particular?
Clara Brown: My name is Clara Brown, I am an environmental advocate focused on the areas of water and climate action, sustainability, youth empowerment, and how those areas intersect with technology. I am currently Contact Point for the Water and Climate Working Group of YOUNGO, the Youth Constituency for UN Climate Change (UN FCCC), a UNICEF Canada Youth Advocate, and was named a Top 25 Environmentalist Under 25 in Canada.
I have always cared about the health of our planet, as I spend a great deal of time exploring nature, hiking and kayaking. I started volunteering locally with shoreline cleanups and small initiatives, and continued to learn about environmental issues as part of the Ontario Nature Youth Council.
I completed the UNICEF Canada Youth Advocacy Program, the Innovation Hub with Plan International Canada, and expanded my knowledge with UNITAR certificate courses and through leadership courses with the UN Foundation. I am now a member of multiple UN youth constituencies as well as a Youth Advocate with UNICEF Canada.
By taking on these positions I am doing my part to help create a better world with an incredible mutually supportive community of global environmental advocates. As a member of the YOUNGO Water and Climate Working Group, I was chosen by the Selection Committee to be an accredited Delegate for the 2023 UN Water Conference. Delegates are selected based on their contributions to the Working Group and YOUNGO in general, in addition to their own accomplishments and expertise, so active involvement in meetings, intervention/statement drafting, and engagement with Working Group deliverables is important.
We have been looking at the background to the UN 2023 Water Conference and its main themes and findings. The obvious implications of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Synthesis Report are that climate change will affect both greater incidence of floods, and perhaps even more scarily the greater incidence of drought. Was that what the conference covered? How did you find it? What did you learn from it that was either what you expected or new and different?
The theme of the 2023 UN Water Conference was about small actions creating a big impact, and taking issues into your own hands: Be the change you want to see in the world. There is a folktale about a hummingbird who tries to put out a large wildfire by doing her part and carrying tiny drops of water and placing them on the fire.
In many ways, the UN Water Conference held at United Nations Headquarters was an expression of hope for a better way forward in the water action space. Throughout the conference, many world leaders expressed the need for more work to be done on water issues, stating that water is a human right that everyone deserves access to.
Water is essential to all life, but there is a surprising lack of awareness about water scarcity and other related issues. There were numerous calls to action by world leaders for continued discussion on this critical topic, and for more frequent conferences which makes activists like me hopeful for the future of water action. What is needed is more accountability. The UN’s recent request for an advisory ruling from the International Court of Justice has the potential to positively influence global climate collaboration.
What did you find and learn about youth engagement in the water and climate issues? What went well, and what could be done better? Could you tell us a bit about your YOUNGO work on water and climate going forward, and what are your priorities for next steps and future actions? How can other young people get involved to support your work?
The UN 2023 Water Conference was the UN’s first major event with a water focus since 1977. That 50 year void is indicative that water issues have not received sufficient attention, and may explain the lack of progress in ensuring safe, secure access to water as a human right, protecting ground water, fresh water and ocean environments, and mitigating and adapting to water and climate-related environmental issues. I feel that youth engagement in the water action space is accelerating, but would still like to see more being done, as well as increased accountability for water and climate action.
While attending the UN Water Conference, I was notified that I had been selected as new Contact Point of the YOUNGO Water and Climate Working Group. This is a great honour, and to receive that information inside UN Headquarters was incredibly inspiring. I am enjoying this new opportunity to make an impact on the water and climate dialogue, as well as to help empower other youth to use their voices for positive change.
Knowledge transfer, capacity building, and work to increase youth representation are my key goals for impacting in the water space. Integrating technology into solutions to water and climate issues can help to accelerate productivity and help us to determine which solutions are preeminent. Youth engagement and technology often go hand in hand, and by providing youth with the skills to take action to combat the water and climate crisis, we are building our resources for a responsive and responsible future.
For those interested in youth advocacy roles, expanding knowledge through events and webinars as well as local volunteering is a great start. Regular contributions also allow youth to gain working knowledge of UN processes and procedures that will allow them to effect real positive change as they become more involved. Consistent commitment is key to the success of youth-led initiatives.