Togheter with the cities of Rome, Florence and Assisi, Italy announced its candidacy to host the 10th edition of the World Water Forum, scheduled for 2024.
The Forum, organized every three years since 1997 by the World Water Council, is the main global event dedicated to water. The Forum allows for an international debate on the many challenges and opportunities connected to water: from its use in agriculture to desertification, from sea level rise to access to water and water distribution.
The Italian candidacy was presented in Rome on December 29th by Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Luigi Di Maio, Deputy Minister Marina Sereni and Mayor of Florence and President of the Promoting Committee, Dario Nardella.
Italy’s candidacy is based on the concept of “Renaissance of Water”, Minister Di Maio said, and “it focuses on inclusion, gender equality, sustainability and on the opportunity to intensify international cooperation on the promotion of human rights such as access to water”.
The main themes put forward by the promoting committee for the 10th World Water Forum include climate change, water management and related risks, the digital and ecological transition and the human right of access to water.
Key topics are also ports and the blue economy, the spiritual value of water, the connection between water, food, energy, health and well-being, and the importance of water in relation to art, culture, and beauty.
“The protection of our planet – added Minister Di Maio– is a priority for Italy. We will continue to make a contribution in this sense in terms of financial and human resources and investments in science and research”.
According to Minister Di Maio, the main objectives of Italy’s water diplomacy are free and fair access and sustainable management of water resources. “In the last three years the Foreign Ministry has financed development and humanitarian assistance initiatives in some 80 partner countries in the Mediterranean, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Central America, for more than € 80 million, opening credit lines for the implementation of infrastructure projects in the water sector“.
Access to drinking water and sanitation are part of the United Nations 2030 Agenda’s SDGs and are deeply connected with “the maintenance of international peace and security and the promotion of inclusive development“.
The 2024 World Water Forum host will be announced on March 22, 2022 in Dakar, Senegal, where the ninth edition of the Forum took place.
