Water resilience at a turning point: the EESC’s contribution to the UN Water Conference 2026

The 2026 United Nations Water Conference comes at a decisive moment for global water governance. As increased demand from economic activities, unsustainable water use, population growth and climate change put increasing pressure on hydrological resources, water has become a central challenge for societal and economic resilience, social stability and sustainable development. In its dedicated opinion, the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC) outlines a strategic vision for global action, based on its work on the EU Blue Deal and informed by the experience of employers, workers and organised civil society. 

The EESC considers the Conference a turning point because current progress is insufficient: at the present pace, sustainable water management will not be achieved before 2049. Water stress is increasingly a societal and social constraint, affecting local communities, ecosystems as well as economic performance and entire value chains. The Committee underlines that water must be addressed beyond purely environmental and climate frameworks, given its cross-cutting implications for economic resilience, social cohesion, energy systems and public health. 

Furthermore, in the current geopolitical context, we have witnessed water infrastructure becoming a target of armed attacks, directly threatening the human right to water and undermining regional stability. The UN Water Conference will be an important forum for the international community to unequivocally recognise that these attacks constitute a violation of international law and must be clearly condemned.

The UN Conference can provide the momentum needed to place water resilience at the top of the global agenda. The EESC calls for a paradigm shift from fragmented and linear water use towards circular systems, recognising water as a public good with social, environmental and economic value, embedded into all policies. 

Concrete proposals for global action

The EESC’s contribution sets out a comprehensive set of recommendations to accelerate water resilience worldwide.

A first priority is integrated and cross-cutting governance. The EESC believes that water must be mainstreamed into all relevant policies, including industrial, agricultural, climate and financial policies, through coordinated action across sectors and levels of government. The EESC stresses that the EU should lead this effort globally through “Blue Diplomacy”, ensuring that water resilience is integrated into global governance frameworks.

A central proposal is the introduction of a “Water Test” to assess the impact of legislation and policies on water resources, efficiency and resilience. If adopted at the EU level, this tool would help ensure policy coherence and could serve as a model for other regions.

The EESC also calls for a transition to a water-smart society, involving reduced consumption and pollution, improved efficiency and water reuse as well as the transformation of wastewater into a resource. It proposes global targets, including improving water-use efficiency by at least 10% by 2030, following the ambition of the European Water Resilience Strategy. 

The EESC recognises underinvestment as a global challenge and calls for water to become a strategic funding priority. Public financing must be complemented by private capital, blended finance and improved investment frameworks to deliver scalable solutions. In addition, the Committee highlights the importance of nature-based solutions, such as wetlands, as critical infrastructure for water storage, climate adaptation and resilience. These solutions should be deployed at scale.

Finally, we underline the importance of data, digitalisation and monitoring, calling for harmonised indicators and global frameworks to track progress, support evidence-based decision-making and ensure accountability at EU and global level.

The vital role of civil society in fostering water resilience

A central message of the EESC is that effective water policy cannot be designed or implemented without the active involvement of key stakeholders on the ground. Employers, workers and civil society organisations are uniquely positioned to address water challenges in a balanced way, taking into account local social, economic and environmental realities.

Listening to civil society is also essential to uphold water as a public good and a fundamental human right. Policies must reflect the needs and expectations of communities, especially vulnerable groups, and ensure affordability and universal access. Without this perspective, there is a risk that strategies remain disconnected from real challenges.

Moreover, inclusive governance enhances legitimacy, transparency and accountability. By involving stakeholders in decision-making, public authorities can foster trust and collective responsibility. The EESC highlights that public awareness and participation are key to achieving the behavioural changes required for a transition towards a water-smart society.

Ultimately, change is only possible by connecting people with solutions, sharing knowledge and supporting communities as they adapt to evolving water realities. This is why the EESC calls on the EU to integrate civil society’s contributions into its position and into the outcomes of the UN Water Conference.

Towards a global water resilience agenda

The UN Water Conference 2026 presents a key opportunity to redefine how water is managed globally. The EESC’s contribution provides a clear roadmap: integrate water across all policies, implement the water test, mobilise investment, strengthen cooperation and place people at the centre of solutions.

By advancing this agenda, the international community can move from commitments to tangible results. Water must be recognised as a strategic resource underpinning sustainable development, social cohesion as well as economic prosperity and preparedness, for the benefit of all. 

By Dr. Paul Rübig, Member of the European Economic and Social Committee and Rapporteur of Opinion CCMI/254 "EESC Contribution to the UN Water Conference 2026: from the EU Blue Deal and Water Resilience Strategy to global water action".

Article originally published by Open Access Government magazine.