Commemorating World Lake Day: Strengthening Global Cooperation for Sustainable Lake Management

Good morning, good morning to everyone, Excellency.
It's a pleasure to have you all here with us.
On this important day, Wall Lake Day, a day that helps us mark a critical resource of our planet.
Now, I would first like to send our sincere appreciation to our co organizers to the permanent missions of Indonesia and Japan, the high level experts and leaders panel on Water and disasters, as well as the UN Center for Regional Development.
Now, everyone's leadership and commitment on this area is critical.
Your countries, your organizations, they're playing a central role in moving this agenda and making sure that it doesn't follow the priorities of the international community.
Now, I will start by recognizing the presence of His Excellency, Ambassador ida Satovich, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Indonesia to the United Nations.
Thank you for being here with us today, as well as to His Excellency, Ambassador Shigeru Utsu, the Deputy Permanent Representative of Japan to the United Nations.
Thank you, sir.
It's my honor to invite the distinguished Deputy Permanent Representative of Indonesia to deliver his remarks today.
I'll hand over the floor to you, sir.
Thank you, Director.
Good morning, Excellencies, Distinguished delegates, ladies and gentlemen.
Allow me to begin with expressions of deepest condolence and solidarity with the government and the people of Nepal, also with other countries that are affected following the devastating floods that have affected their communities.
Our thoughts are especially with the families who have lost their lives and also those affected and displaced and all communities facing the consequences of this disaster.
At the gathering dedicated to our lakes and freshwater ecosystems.
This tragedy is also a sobbering reminder of the growing vulnerability of communities to water related disasters and the importance of strengthening resilience and preparedness.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, allow me as well to express our appreciation to the co organizers and also all the participants on this World Lake Day, commemorating the World Lake Day today.
This is a day to celebrate our lakes, but it must also be day for our collective actions.
For Indonesia, this commemoration carries particular meaning.
Indonesia had asset fence, the global agenda on sustainable Lake Management, from the UNA resolution on Sustainable Lake Management to the General Assembly resolution adopted in 2024, establishing World like Day which was made possible through the broad support of member states.
This commitment is also being translated into action at home.
This year, Indonesia is commemorating nationally a World like Day under the theme healthy lakes, serving generations.
Through a nationwide initiative, we mobilized local governments, businesses, communities, educational institutions, and other stakeholders to undertake concrete actions to protect and sustainably manage our lake ecosystems.
With more than 2000 lakes, Indonesia understands very well their importance.
Lakes are more than bodies of water.
They sustain livelihood, preserve cultures, support local economies, contribute to food and water security, and provide habitats for invaluable diversity.
They are a vital part of our freshwater ecosystems and indispensable to achieving the sustainable development goals.
In this regard, allow me to highlight three points.
First, we need to manage lakes as part of wider and interconnected ecosystems.
Across the world, lakes are under increasing pressure from pollutions, climate change, biodiversity loss, land use change, and unsustainable patterns of use.
These pressures do not begin or end at the shoreline.
What happens in surrounding watersheds affects our lakes and what happens to our lakes ultimately affect communities and future generations.
Such an integrated approach must therefore be supported by stronger science to policy linkage, reliable data, innovations, and appropriate technologies, including earth observation and other monitoring tools.
Second, ambition must be matched by the means to implement it.
Technology alone will not deliver transformations.
For developing countries in particular, sustainable lake management requires concrete international support, including technical assistance, accessible financing, equitable technology transfer, and sustained capacity building.
South South and triangular cooperation can provide an important avenue for such cooperations, enabling countries to exchange experience, adapt solutions to local circumstances, strengthen international capacities, and translate knowledge into concrete action on the ground.
Finally, sustainable lake management must be inclusive and local government, researchers, academics, youth, and communities who depend directly on lake ecosystems must have meaningful seat at their table.
Their knowledge, experience, and innovation are essential to achieving lasting results.
Excellencies, as we move toward the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, World Lake T provides an important opportunity to ensure that sustainable lake management contributes to our broader efforts to accelerate SDG six and strengthen water security for all.
As we look ahead as well to the 21st World Lake Conference in Tanzania, in 2027, let us send a strong message.
Protecting our lakes means protecting the ecosystems, livelihoods and communities that depend upon them.
Finally, Excellencies, in Indonesia, we have these oral traditions of Panton.
It's a rhyming poems that usually carried by the people of water, usually on the coastline as well on the lake.
So let me begin, let me end my introductions with this Panton.
The morning mis rests on Lake Toba.
Birds take flights at break of day.
Looking forward to Abu Dhabi and Tanzania.
Let co patients guide the way in this world Lake day.
Thank you.
Your Honor.
Thank you very much, Your Excellency, and thank you particularly for that inspirational pantom.
If I may, I will turn to my left to Ambassador Retsu.
Ambassador, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Chair.
Excellency, distinguished delegates.
On behalf of Japan, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to India, Indonesia, UNEP, and the UN CLD and the high level experts and leaders panel on Water and the disasters for convening this timely event.
Japan is pleased to co organize this event.
Okay.
And also, I would like to join my Indonesian colleagues in expressing our deepest condolences for the loss caused by this natural disaster along the Nepal and China border.
Lakes are the lifeblood of ecosystem, securing food and drinking water for billions of people, yet they face unprecedented threats, making urgent and coordinated global action essential.
Since the late 1960s, Japan has established comprehensive legislation and collaborative governance between national and local authorities, leading to substantial water quality improvement across our basins.
Integrated basin management remains at the heart of our approach across both rural and urban landscape.
For example, Mariama Riba Basin in Kygo Prefecture of Japan.
Wetland restoration for oriental stocks was combined with eco friendly rice farming and eco tourism, linking ecosystem protection directly to regional economic value.
Similarly, along the canal side in Ag to B area, improved water wastewater treatment and waterfront revitalization transformed polluted waterway into a three thriving urban hub, boosting local commerce and tourism while recollecting resonance with nature.
These experiences demonstrate a vital principle, which means conservations cannot succeed in isolation.
To be sustainable, ecosystem protection must deliver tangible economic benefits and foster social acceptance.
When communities recognize that healthy ecosystem enhance their livelihoods, whether through agriculture, tourism, or commercial activities, conservation becomes a shared interests rather than a burden.
Today, lake management faces evolving challenges.
Rising water temperature caused by climate change and shifting ecosystems demand that we continuously and accordingly adapt our governance strategies.
August 27 marks the anniversary of the first Wild Lake conference held on the shores of Lake Ba in Siga Prefecture.
Japan in Siga Prefecture, Japan in 1984.
We are pleased that this historic milestone is celebrated globally as Word Lake Day.
Throughout the upcoming 21st World Lake Conference to be hosted by Tanzania in 2027, Japan stands ready to actively contribute, drawing on our experience and encourage all partners to make efforts to maintain this momentum in shaping a shared sustainable vision for the World Lake today.
Thank you.
Thank you, ambassador.
Thank you, particularly for drawing attention to that 1984 momentous conference that has created this global significance.
Now, if I may say a few words in my UNP capacity beyond my chairing capacity today.
I want to start by obviously echoing the messages of condolences to Nepal and the People's Republic of China.
The Secretary-General earlier today express his strong condolences to the countries affected, to the peoples affected.
This is a major tragedy.
Now, In this somber day, Walt Lake has to be more than ever a call to action to strengthen sustainable lake management and international cooperation in protecting some of the planet's most valuable freshwater economies ecosystem.
Lakes are essential to communities they're essential to economies, they're sent to nature.
They contained around 90% of the Earth's liquid surface freshwater, and they provide critical services from drinking water to food to livelihoods to biodiversity habitat to climate regulation, and critical to flood protections for billions of people.
Of course, as we have heard from Indonesia and Japan, they face growing pressures and there are evolving challenges.
Water levels are declining, water quality is deteriorating, biodiversity is being lost and pollution continues to accumulate.
Because lakes reflect the conditions of landscapes around them, protecting them requires integrated management as was just highlighted across entire watersheds and sectors and basins.
This is why today's gathering is so critical.
We will hear from practitioners and from practical experience from member states that exploring how science and technology can help us better understand, monitor, and protect freshwater ecosystems.
Now, Excellencies, effective action begins with effective information.
We at UNT believe that it is critical to strengthen the connection between science and policy and translate knowledge into practical action.
Or we remain committed to support member states in this regard through science, policy advice, capacity building, and partnerships.
We believe that the upcoming W conference later this year in the UA as well as obviously the subsequent Wordle Conference and the subsequent year in Tanzania are critical in this regard.
Now, data is key to this task.
It's obviously not enough, but it is an essential component of that effective information I was talking about ago.
It is my privilege, therefore to introduce the UNEP Global Wetland Watch, an EU initiative from the Global Earth observation for mapping and monitoring wetlands ecosystems, an initiative that is aimed at supporting countries through monitoring and reporting.
The standardized data supports improved monitoring, policy development, and international reporting.
We're very pleased to be able to bring to you, one of our estemed colleagues from UP headquarters in Nairobi in Kenya, miss Anu Rai, who is a water ecosystem specialist from our freshwater ecosystems and wetlands unit.
Dear Anu, thank you for taking the time to join us.
I hope that you are going to appear on the screen and there is Anu.
Anu, you have the floor.
Thank you for joining us from Nairobi.
Over to you.
And, can you hear us? Can you please begin your presentation? Yes, I can hear you.
Thank you so much.
Go ahead, please.
Can I get a nod that the presentation is? Yes, it works.
Thank you so much.
Good morning, everyone.
I'm Andre from the Freshwater Ecosystems and Wetlands Unit, and today I'll be providing an overview of Global Wetland Watch, which is an innovative platform that supports wetland monitoring through Earth observation and data analytics.
As has been reiterated today, lake face a de crisis of declining water quality and quantity and are heavily impacted by land use change and climate change.
Yet, their accurate, reliable, and accessible data remain limited.
Similarly, there is a demand from UN member states for national and global datasets on changes to lakes and wetlands and to improve global monitoring and reporting under different multilateral environmental agreements and the sustainable development goals.
Global Wetland Watch is a new initiative designed to fill this gap through global mapping and monitoring of changes in wetland extent.
Global Wetland Watch is a partnership between UNEP, UNEP DHI, DHI, and Google and is working closely with countries to co design and co develop solutions to wetland and lake monitoring.
The initiative will be launched towards the end of 2026 ahead of the UN Water Conference.
The platform provides several key data products.
These include annual wetland maps from 2017 onwards, monthly surface data to track hydrological dynamics, intertidal products to support understanding of coastal dynamics.
It also includes terrain layers to help interpret wetland likelihood and surface water dynamics, as well as the exportable statistics based on time series change, and transition data.
The platform will provide data on several indicators that support reporting under several multilateral environmental agreements and frameworks such as the Kin Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, SCG 661 sub indicator on wetland, the Ramsar Convention, and so on.
By providing richer global datasets, the platform supports decision making while reducing the reporting burden on member states.
Now, let me show you an example of how global wetland watch can be used to map and monitor changes in a lake.
So here you will see Lake Sophia, which is a primary site for reintroduction for the critically endangered Madagascar poach art.
Early in 2024, heavy rainfall eroded a channel linking the lake to a nearby river.
This caused water levels to drop by around 90% and dramatically altered the habitat.
Satellite data provides a consistent way to track changes in lake extent and surface water over time.
By comparing condition before and after the 2024 drainage event, global wetland watch can help quantify the scale of water loss, monitor recovery, and support conservation actions to protect critical habitats and the species that depend on them.
Um, Global wetland W is currently focused on mapping surface water extent.
To the right, you will see a preview of our new platform, and one of the things that's been mapped is lakes along with other classes of wetlands.
Looking ahead, the priorities include estimating water volume, developing near real time alerts and expanding water quality and habitat indicators.
But the pace and sequence of these developments will be guided by country needs, user feedback, and available resources.
Thank you, everyone, and wishing you all a happy world day.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Anu.
Thank you for that inspiring presentation.
I think everybody in the room had a feeling of wow in terms of what you were presenting.
Now, it is my pleasure to now move to a video from the governor of the Siga Prefecture in Japan, Governor Taisu Mikasuki.
The prefecture hosted the first World Lake Conference in 1984, that we heard he's excellent speak about a minute ago.
And this marked the beginning of a biennial global dialogue on lake conservation.
So let us please project the video which should be on the screen in a minute.
Please bear with us for 1 second.
Okay.
Our apologies.
Oh, there it is.
We do need the sound, unfortunately.
Tina, Coology share to you messages.
Coast, totes, Cook Masu, origin, Kaku, Chika, Indonesia, Kcen due to attack, mito organ, Haji, This, Achiatu needs you.
Kiki, you know, Kasi.
Same u Nippon or Mizui you are Kris.
Dai Koch Kaia ***, ankyok up or hajimeto, Kaiana, imto Jimmy, kaino at sharp.
No, Haoa stupid.
So total Mizuino pay money.
Next I get on my shop.
Kaag tostek, Coconono, Dota, chili tostesson that's, Mori, Ka, Sato, i, i.
Note Keita.
A ipso has changed that.
So hold no.
So, yeah.
Saks Sosa, Toshi, they cached gets this.
So, oh, gas.
With my appreciation to Governor Migasuki, I am now going to turn to our multi stakeholder panel discussion, and I'm honored to introduce Professor Hiroki, who will moderate this distinguished group of speakers.
Professor Hiroki is a global expert in water resources management and disaster risk reduction.
He's currently Professor Emeritus and adjunt professor at Japan's National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies.
And coordinator of the high level experts and Leaders panel on Water and disasters.
Beyond that, if I may say so, he's really the brains that have brought this event to life.
He had an idea for it and he's worked tirelessly with us to bring it to fruition.
Thank you, Professor, I hand over the proceedings to you.
Thank you very much chair.
As introduced, I'm Kena Hiroki and now I'm serving as a shepherd to Japanese co chair of the Interactive DoC of the 2026 UN Water Conference.
I also in that capacity, I'd like to celebrate together with you the Second World Lake Day today.
First of all, I'd like to express with others the deepest condolence and sympathy to the victims and those affected by the recent China Nepal border flooding, which we unfortunately suspect the association with the lakes temporarily or permanently in that area.
You may know that there are thousands of the glacier lakes in that area and yet less than 5% of those lakes are monitored, let alone monitored for early warning purposes.
This also shows how deeply the lakes are affected directly by the lives of the people everywhere.
Yet these lakes are the source of life.
As the governor of iga mentioned, the lakes are giving us water, the ecosystems, and peace of mind.
The conserving the lakes are primary responsibility of all the member states, although I really appreciate that World Lake day was adopted unanimously two years back.
As the shepherd to the IDC co chair, this lake is integral but missing part of the water system from the glacier to ocean.
IDC under the theme of the water for plant is addressing this lake as a missing link under the theme from source to the sea.
Today, we are going to have a very important discussion on how we can take actions to conserve and make use of the lakes in terms of the quantity and also quality.
I'd like to first start by the speeches of the important and distinguished delegates.
First, let me start by inviting His Excellency, Mr.
Samuel Žbogar, permanent representative of the Republic of Slovenia.
Excellency, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, Professor.
And thank you to UNP and Japan and Indonesia for organizing this event.
As address, I would also like to express our condolences to the people of Nepal and China for the disaster and actually increasing intensity of the disasters that we are witnessing.
Um, past few years.
I think they are very clear message from mother nature that we should wake up.
That's why I think today's event is important because it's not only about awareness raising about the importance of the lakes and water in general, but also for mobilization for the management and protection.
Um, so thank you very much, Professor.
I would like to focus on the topic of cooperation among the countries.
What can we learn from each other in managing the water, managing lakes, and how can multilateral cooperation help advance integrated water.
Resources management, especially for Slovenia is important.
We are at the moment chairing the Bureau of the Convention on the Protection and use of transboundary water.
Courses and international lakes, in short, the UN Water Convention.
Um, and the convention reminds us of a reality that water that does not follow borders, and neither do the ecosystems that depend on it.
I think it's very simple truth, but that's the fact.
I myself have an experience when I was ambassador of European Union in North Macedonia and there is one very historic lake, the deepest lake in Europe, Ochrid Lake, which is divided between the two countries, North Macedonia and Albania and the border go just across the middle.
And there one can witness how important is transboundary cooperation because it doesn't help that you manage your part of the lake if the other side is not managed.
Um.
That lake is also, uh, very good to study because also underground, it's linked to another lake, where agriculture, overproduction, really polluted it and that came over to this lake.
I think it speaks about the interconnection and, um, uh, and how one could really look at the whole basin as a whole, uh, rather than focus on the lake itself.
Um, yes, uh, as I said, the lake cannot be managed sustainably by looking only at the lake itself.
Its condition depends on the entire catchment area, on the rivers and groundwater that feed it, on land use, on agriculture, on cities and industrials upstream, and increasingly on the impacts of the climate change.
Um, so this is why the integrated water resources management and transboundary operation must go hand in hand.
Slovenia's own experience demonstrates this very clearly.
We are part of the Danube, Danube, and Saba river basins and have a long tradition of managing waters together with our neighbors.
From this experience, I have a few points or four lessons that I wanted to highlight.
First, that we need to manage water according to the basin, not according to the border.
Rivers, lakes, wetlands and groundwater are interconnected.
Decisions upstream affect ecosystems and communities downstream.
We therefore need a basin wide approach that considers the entire hydrological system and what we call, as Professor just mentioned, at the UN from source to sea.
Second, cooperation needs institutions.
We need agreements, we need joint bodies.
We need river and lake basin commissions that allow us to meet regularly to exchange information, to develop common objectives, and address problems before they become disputes.
This is precisely where the UN Water Convention has proved its value because it provides a legal framework and a practical platform through which countries can develop bilaterally and basin agreements, establish joint bodies, and exchange experience and build capacity.
Third, we need to build cooperation through data, and I'm really grateful for presentation today about the UNP Global wetland Watch because we need joint monitoring, transparent exchange of hydrological and environmental information, and common assessment are essential.
Today as climate change makes water availability increasingly unpredictable, this cooperation is becoming even more important to address floods, droughts, and ecosystem degradation, and we need data ever changing data for that.
The fourth, water must be a central part of our climate and biodiversity response.
Why? Because water connects many of the challenges that we often address separately.
Climate adaptation, biodiversity conservation, food and energy security, disaster risk reduction, and sustainable development all depend on how we manage our water resources.
During our Water Convention presidency, Slovenia is working to strengthen synergies between the Water Convention and other relevant international framework.
Finally, When countries monitor water together, when they protect ecosystems together, when they prepare for the floods and droughts together, and when they invest in shared water resources together, they build something beyond water management, and this is trust.
This is why Slovenia strongly supports the further universalization of the UN Water Convention and stronger international cooperation on integrated water resources management.
As others were saying, the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference as the conference a year later on lakes, the water conference in Abu Dhabi this year will be an opportunity to discuss integrated water management further.
I hope that today's World Lake Day will contribute to this conversation that is coming in the next months.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much Ambassadga.
His speech reminds me of the importance of the integrated water management the transboundary water is the important aspect of the lake management.
I appreciate the long standing leadership of the country of Slovenia for promoting transboundary water cooperation because this is a must for the lake management at international levels.
Also, his speech reminds me of one jargon by the lake specialists that is integrated antic lotic management, which is very weird word for you still.
But that is how scientists see lakes from the source to sea.
There are many lakes connected from the upstream to the downstream.
The scientists propose that those lakes in terms of the quality and quantity, have to be managed as they are integrated and whole water cycle.
Thank you very much, Ambassador, for raising the issue of the transboundary water management.
That we also discussed in the IDD of the UN Water Conference.
Now I'd like to ask Mr.
Juan Pablo Vegas, Excellency, Charge Affairs in terms of the permanent mission of the Peru.
The floor.
Thank you very much.
Professor Hiroki, of course, my delegation shares the consternation and condolences manifested by previous speakers about the natural disaster that occurred in the border of Nepal and China.
Peru hosts the 70% of tropical glaciers in the world, so we totally understand the challenges that comport the melting of those glaciers.
Peru feels very close to the victims of this tragedy and their families.
I would like to thank the organizers for bringing us together on this occasion of World Lake Day.
For Peru, this discussion is particularly relevant.
Our country is home to an extraordinary diversity of freshwater ecosystems from high Andean lakes and wetlands to the cochas on the Amazon, which are essential for weather security, biodiversity, local livelihoods, and climate resilience.
Let me focus on Lake Titaca, perhaps Peru's most emblematic experience in sustainable lake management and transboundary cooperation.
Perhaps you know that Lake Titicaca is the highest navigable lake in the world at 3,812 meters above sea level.
Shared by Bolivia and Peru, Lake Titicaca is part of the broader Titicaca de Aguado Salar de Coy Pasa, or TDPS transboundary water system.
Experience has taught us a fundamental lesson.
Protecting a lake requires protecting the entire system around it.
Its watershed, associated ecosystems, water sources, and the communities and economic activities that depend upon them.
This brings me to the first question on integrating lake conservation into climate and biodiversity strategies.
Lake Titick illustrates precisely why these agendas cannot be addressed separately.
The lake faces pressures from insufficiently treated wastewater, certain mining and productive activities, as well as climate change and increasing hydrological variability.
Droughts and changing precipitation patterns affect water levels, ecosystems, and the livelihoods of communities that depend on the lake.
Our approach therefore combines pollution prevention and control with integrated water resources management, biodiversity conservation, and climate adaptation.
More broadly, Peru believes that nature based solutions, ecosystem restoration, wetland conservation and protection of headwaters should complement traditional water infrastructure.
The second issue concerns cooperation.
Transboundary lakes require permanent dialogue and institutions capable of translating that dialogue into action.
Peru and Bolivia have developed a binational governance architecture for the TDPS system, including the establishment of a binational autonomous authority, as well as technical commissions addressing specific shared river basins.
The experience can contribute to South South cooperation, particularly on transboundary governance, joint monitoring, institutional strengthening, and climate adaptation.
But cooperation must work in both directions.
Peru is equally interested in learning from other countries experiences in lake restoration, wastewater treatment, pollution control, new monitoring technologies, and community participation.
Triangular cooperation can therefore help take this one step further, bringing together developing countries, international organizations, scientific institutions, and financial partners to transform successful experiences into replicable and scalable solutions.
This leads to the third question, what support is needed? The challenge is not only generating knowledge, but translating knowledge into implementation.
Sustainable lake management requires sustained and predictable financing together with technical capacities for environmental monitoring, hydrological modeling, wastewater treatment, ecosystem restoration, and institutional strengthening.
International cooperation can play a catalytic role here.
Bolivia and Peru, for example, are participating in initiatives supporting integrated weather resources management in the TDPS system with the support of the UN Development Program and the Global Environmental Facility.
For us, such cooperation is most effective when it strengthens existing national and multinational institutions and leaves behind permanent capacities.
Finally, science and technology are indispensable.
So is the knowledge and participation of the communities that have lived alongside these ecosystems for generations.
Thus, if there is one message we would like to offer from the Peruvian experience, it is that the protection of a lake begins in its watershed, science must inform policy and cooperation must ultimately translate into implementation.
World Lake Day provides us with an important platform to advance that agenda, and Peru looks forward for continuing this conversation towards the next World Lake Conference and across the broader weather climate and biodiversity agendas.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much Ambassador Vegas and thank you also very much that you start from the story of the Lake Titicaca.
Lake Titata is very famous globally for cohabitation between nature and the local people.
This is one great example of having indigenous people's voices heard in the country policies.
Also, you mentioned about the three key elements, actually, science, technology, financing, and governance.
The recent survey results by over 100 ministers in the world have revealed that all the SDG six targets have a three barriers.
Those three barriers are financing, governance, and science and technology and capaciting.
Exactly what you mentioned coincide with the very important things for the UN 2026 conference.
Thank you very much for mentioning that for future discussion towards the 2026 W Conference.
Now, I'd like to ask Mr.
Roberto Bolero, Associate Director, International Indian Treaty Council.
You have the floor.
Thank you very much for the opportunity to participate in this discussion today and I bring you greetings on behalf of the International Indian Treaty Council, which was the very first indigenous organization to be accredited by EcoSac in 1977.
My question that was posed to me was how can indigenous peoples contribute to sustainable lake management? My short answer is first, we need to be asked.
Indigenous peoples are already protecting lakes, rivers, wetlands, watersheds and we contribute through our traditional knowledge, our governance systems, spiritual relationships to water, and our direct observation of environmental change over generations.
However, our knowledge cannot just be extracted and added to policies developed by others.
Indigenous peoples are rights holders and our participation must begin when priorities are established, not after projects and policies has been designed.
Where decisions may affect our lands, waters, resources, or cultural heritage, our free prior and informed consent or FPC is essential.
Let me give you some examples.
In North America, Great Lakes provide a good example.
They're not only an enormous freshwater ecosystem, they're the ancestral homelands and living cultural landscapes of many indigenous nations.
There's a Line five pipeline that includes a section beneath the straits of the Mackinaac and that's raised concerns about oil spills, damage to wetlands, treaty protected fishing, wild rice, sacred places, and the continuation of indigenous lifeways.
This demonstrates why sustainable lake management cannot just be based on technical monitoring.
Satellite data can tell us that a lake is changing.
However, indigenous peoples can help explain what those changes mean for the fish, medicines, ceremonies, food systems, and responsibilities connecting generations.
Another example we can find in the Caribbean on Guatikbui or the island known today as Dominica, where the Kalinago people maintain profound relationships with rivers, coastal waterways, and the entire freshwater system.
Although the Caribbean Islands don't have the same lake systems on the scale of the Great Lakes, their lakes, rivers, forests, wetlands, aquifers, coastal waters form one interconnected system.
What happens upstream eventually affects indigenous peoples, communities, and the sea.
We join with others who've spoken about that lake policy must take a watershed or source to sea approach, and they must include the knowledge and priorities of indigenous peoples.
We have a few recommendations.
One, is to establish a formal and distinct mechanism for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples in sustainable lake management, not subsumed under general civil society engagement.
Two, require EPIC before approving projects or management measures that might affect indigenous lands, waters, treaty rights, sacred places, or cultural heritage.
I indigenous peoples.
This is number three, as decision makers and co governors from the beginning of lake and watershed planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.
I have a few others, but for the consideration of time, I'll submit my full presentation to the organizers.
Finally, we must remember that indigenous peoples are not simply asking to contribute information to sustainable water lake management.
We're calling for our rights, our governance systems, and responsibilities to water to be respected.
If UNP begins with that recognition, as well as the other partners, indigenous peoples can, if they choose, contribute not only to knowledge, but living systems of stewardship capable of strengthening the protection of lakes for generations to come.
In my language, I say home, thank you for this opportunity.
Thank you very much.
As you said, lakes are home to the indigenous people.
This is natural because the lakes gives everything which is needed for the human lives.
Indigenous people are closely related and living closely with the lakes.
That reminds me of some of my studies, that is about lakes and heritages.
And also lakes and stories.
There are many cases, lakes have a lot of stories about lake ghosts, lake snakes, lake dragons, lakes, and skies.
These are coming from the indigenous people.
And that shows how people should closely relate ourselves to lakes, not only physically, but also spiritually.
And as you said, the responsibility of the governments, state, and local grave in ensuring the rights and the lives of the Indonesian people living along lakes.
I hope that this World Lake Day is also a starting point to have a deeper and closer connection between Indonesian people and lakes.
Thank you very much.
Now, I'd like to ask miss wanita Kang, a member of the OSG six constituency of the UN MEG CY, you have the floor.
Morning to Your Excellencies, delegates and esteemed personalities.
Let me begin by stating a very important fact and that's that lake management largely remains unsustainable because destruction of our lakes outpaces the protection and recovery methods.
The most sincere condolences to the people of Nepal and China because they've been victims of climate change and a lack of accountability.
Now, I'll speak to my experience here in Canada.
Accountability measures are placed through various laws and policies, and they're set to prevent the ecological destruction of lakes and their surrounding areas, but they are ignored in pursuit of economic gain.
This sets a very dangerous precedent because it allows governments and corporations to face no major repercussions for their actions.
And this is where we, the youth are focusing our efforts.
And accountability and collaboration to protect and promote sustainable leak management.
Because leak management is not an isolated field, it requires extensive systemic and in depth collaboration.
I'm happy to remind everybody here of the One Health approach, which is human health, animal health, and the natural environment because we're all interconnected.
Damage to one impacts us all.
And so we can do this by one, pushing for government internal compliance reviews to assess the impact and damage of government policies and hold officials responsible for creating legal loopholes that allow corporations to damage lakes.
So in Canada, there's this thing called the Schedule two of Canada's Metal and Diamond mining effluent regulations under the Fisheries Act, which basically list specific freshwater bodies that can be used as dumping grounds by corporations for mine waste disposal.
And this allows corporations to propose multiple different lakes, rivers, and ponds for waste dumping, and it incentivizes the government in the name of economic gain.
Second, we can hold corporations accountable for waste dumping and being the pioneers of manmade pollution, which is affecting our leaks, and it chokeholds entire communities by making their freshwater systems toxic and harmful to all living things.
So in May 2022, an investigation by Alberta's energy regulator revealed that Imperial Oil, which is a calgory based corporation, had been dumping toxic sludge into the rivers and lakes of the Peace Athabasca Delta, which is the traditional homeland of the Cree, the Dana and the Meti people.
And so the samples in the investigation revealed that there were high levels of arsenic, iron, sulfate, and hydrocarbon, which had all exceeded provincial guidelines.
But I guess not shockingly, Alberta actually cleared Imperial Oil of any responsibility because they believed the toxic sludge did not have any impact on the fishes in the piece at the Vasco Delta.
My current research at the University of Toronto investigates violations of the 1999 Canadian Environmental Protection Act and Section 363 of the Fisheries Act by corporations.
As of 18 August 2026, there have been 137 corporations that have violated the 1999 Canadian Environmental Protection Act and 121 corporations that have violated Section 363 of the Fisheries Act.
And just to give a more in depth on what we at the Water Youth Network are doing, we are part of the SDG six constituency of the UN Major Group for Children and Youth, and we are trying to integrate youth into these processes, water governance processes and provide a platform for meaningful youth engagement.
A few other important initiatives that we have are the Youth Organizing Committee, which is an engagement process for youth in the 2026 UN Water Conference.
So the YOC is convened by the MGCY and it's supported by the global youth movement for water.
And so the YOC engages grassroots and regional organizations across, you know, through interactive dialogues and functions for multilateral water governance and advocacy.
The Water Youth Network is also supporting capacity building activities for the International Water Association and the International Institute of Sustainable Development.
And this is really aimed at developing individual and organizational strengths to engage in UN processes and understanding the future challenges that we as young people will face in the future, when it comes to the water sector.
So to conclude, lake management is not isolated.
It does require extensive collaboration with governments, farmers, public health officials and educator.
And this is just a reminder for everyone that the current youth, we are aged 14-29, so we are in classrooms as teachers, we're also students.
We're in the workplace as environmental conservationists, entrepreneurs, farmers, government workers, and public health officials.
Currently, we are one of the most important driving force for sustainable lake management.
We are already mobilizing resources and speaking up for the health of all ecosystem because and this is very important, we are advocating for the right to live.
Thank you.
Thank you very much, miss Guanita for bringing in not only the views of the youth, but also views of the scientists.
I hope that the research will make a progress on the front of the lakes also.
But also, you also mentioned the important aspect of the organizing the next UN water conference, how the voices of the youth is reflected and made use for the decision making of the International Committee for water.
I hope that you also bring your messages for the lakes conservation and action for the lakes.
Thank you very much.
Now I have still a few minutes left for the intervention from the four.
If you have anything to make a comment, to make a question, please let me know.
Let me start from Morocco.
Thank you very much, Mr.
Chair Excellency, distinguished colleagues.
The Kingdom of Morocco welcomes the commemoration of the Worley Day and also would like to thank you, and Anand and also the Part Missions of Indonesia and Japan.
As well as for convening this timely discussion.
We also join other delegations to express our sincere sympathies and condolences to Nepal and China following the natural disaster at the borders.
Morocco is pleased to be among the first co sponsors of this initiative that led to the establishment of World Lake Day.
Its observance is particularly important at a time when freshwater ecosystems are increasingly affected by climate change, water scarcity, pollution and biodiversity, and these are concrete challenges for Morocco as a country facing structural water stress and increasingly recurrent to droughts, we have placed integrated water resources management and climate resilience and preservation of the heart of our national water policies.
The protection and restoration of wetlands and inland water ecosystems, form an important part of this approach.
Morocco has been party to the Ramsar Convention since 1980 and today has 38 Ramsar sites covering more than 300,000 hectars.
From this experience, we would like quickly to just highlight three points.
First, we need stronger science based monitoring with reliable data and Earth observation and innovation tools to anticipate degradation and translate scientific knowledge into sound public policies.
Here we would like to welcome initiatives such as the Global Wet and Watch, And second, lake protection cannot be addressed in isolation.
It must be fully integrated into water management, climate adaptation, biodiversity strategies, which is an approach that considers entire watersheds and ecosystems.
Third, international cooperation, it was also highlighted in the presentations.
International cooperation must be translated into concrete implementation, including through technology exchange and exchange of national experiences.
Let me conclude by an anecdote and this is just because I remember following what the representative of He said about the culture.
Here in Morocco's high Atlas Mountains lies two lakes called Ili and Tislit.
The names mean the bridegroom and the bride.
According to the ancient legend in Morocco, both young people coming from rival tribes were forbidden to marry and their tears made the two lakes.
So this is to say that beyond the legend lies also a powerful truth that a lake is never merely a body of water and you correctly said it, it represents the collective memory, the culture, but also the unity and stories like this remind us of the importance of water and water never stays in one place as we say, and it has diverse impact, multifaced impact even at the security.
And we had an open debate about the impact of the food security just a couple of days.
Lack and scarcity of water has also an impact on that, but also on borders, on international peace and security, et cetera.
This coming international conference on water is very important and we look forward to its success.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
First, my apologies that I am a bit confused about my own role of the coordination because the chair is supposed to coordinate.
Please excuse me by the name of the lakes.
Thank you.
No worries.
Thank you very much, Professor Hiros thank you, of course, the delegate from the Permanent Mission of Morocco.
It was interesting what you mentioned about those two lakes and those tears that were shed.
I now I am going to keep the floor to the permanent Mission of Senegal.
Sir, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Senegal is pleased to participate in the commemoration of World Lake Day and thanks to the organizers for this important initiative.
Lakes and their associated ecosystem play an essential role in water and food security, biodiversity conservation, livelihood, and resilience to climate change.
Their protection must therefore be part of integrated approach to the management of water resources.
For Senegal, what is a national priority and strategic issue for sustainable development? Like the Ger, the country's main surface freshwater reserve is a major illustration of this commitment.
It plays an essential role in the supply of drinking water, agriculture, and preservation of ecosystem, which call for the integrated and sustainable management of this strategic resources.
Senegal is convinced that the protection of lakes cannot be dissociated from that of rivers, wetland, aquifers, and river basin to which they are connected.
Sustainable water management must therefore be approach it from an ecosystem perspective and where resources are shared be based on cooperation between states.
In this regard, our regional experience is particularly noteworthy due to its significant results.
Established in 1972, the Organization for the Development of Senegal River MVS, bringing together Guinea, Mali, Mauritania, and Senegal demonstrate that the Transboundary Water resorts can be a powerful factor for cooperation, peace, regional integration, and shared development.
It stands as remarkable model of South South cooperation and water diplomacy.
Enga is committed to integrating this experience into multilateral action.
We therefore look forward to co organizing together with the United Arab Emirates, the 2026 United Nations Conference on Water to be held in Abu Dhabi 8-10 December 2026, which will provide undoubtedly further opportunity to accelerate the implementation of SDG six and strengthen collective action on water.
Senegal, we also have the honor of hosting in Dhaka 26-29 October 2027, the 11th session of the meeting of parties to the W convention.
This meeting will provide an important opportunity to strengthen cooperation on transboundary waters and to showcase African experience regarding water governance and shared water management.
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Segal reaffirms its conviction that water must be a factor for peace, cooperation, and shared prosperity.
Pratt our lakes, rivers, and all aquatic ecosystem means safeguarding our common future, including in rural areas.
Senegal will continue to contribute actively to the achievement of this objective in a spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and collective responsibility.
Thank you.
Thank you very much to distinguished delegate of Senegal.
I will proceed with a list of speakers, but I do want to remind member states that have not signaled their interest to speak today to please do so by pressing the microphone button in front of them.
Now, I then hand over to the permanent mission of Kazakhstan Serhaf the floor.
Thank you.
I co organizers of today's event and to all speakers for their insightful presentations.
I also would like to express our sincere condolences to the peoples of Nepal and China affected by the recent natural disasters.
World Lake Day is an opportunity not only to recognize the immense value of lakes, but also to reflect on our collective responsibility to preserve these vital ecosystems for future generations.
Across the world, lakes are increasingly threatened by pollution, unsustainable water use, ecosystem degradation, and climate change.
For Central Asia, this discussion has a particularly profound meaning.
The RLC, once the world's fourth largest inland body of water, has become one of the most dramatic environmental disasters of our time.
Since the 1960s, unsustainable water use and large scale diversion of river flows compounded by climatic factors have caused the sea to shrink dramatically.
The consequences have affected ecosystems, livelihoods, public health, and the climate on the entire region.
The ARL tragedy is therefore not only a central Asia story.
It is a global warning about the consequences of unsustainable water and ecosystem management.
Lessons of this tragedy also point to a broader challenge, the way we manage water at a global level.
Today, the UN water mandate remains fragmented with insufficient coordination and institutional coherence.
President of Kazakstan Kassandra Matakev therefore proposed the establishment of a dedicated international water organization under the auspices of the UN.
In our view, a pragmatic way forward could be to strengthen UN water, providing it with clear mandate, adequate staffing and predictable resources.
This would help ensure continuity between UN water conferences, strengthen monitoring and follow up of commitments, accelerate progress towards SDG six and support work on the global water agenda beyond 2030.
As we prepare for the UN 2026 Water Conference, we invite member states and partners to support Kazakhstan's initiative to build a more coherent, effective, and fit for purpose global water architecture.
Protecting our lakes, rivers, and water systems requires not only better policies, but institutions capable of turning our commitments into sustained action.
I thank you.
Thank you very much, distinguished delegate of Kazakhstan.
I now turn to India and I hand over the floor to the Permanent museum.
Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Excellency's distinguished delegates.
At the very outset, I would like to thank the permanent missions of Indonesia and Japan, as well as UNAP and UNCRD for convening this timely discussion and also to the panelists for sharing their insights.
We also join others in expressing our deepest condolences to the government and people of Nepal following the devastating flash floods.
Our thoughts are with the families who have lost their loved ones and all those who are affected.
In fact, nearly 300 Indian nationals are also among those who are missing after this disaster and India stands in solidarity with the people of Nepal at this difficult time and is providing all possible humanitarian assistance.
The strategy really is a stark reminder of the close relationship between water ecosystems, human settlements, and disaster resilience, and it reinforces the importance of sustainably managing our rivers, lakes, wetlands, catchments, and other water bodies, alongside effective monitoring, early warning, and preparedness for water related disasters.
For India, sustainable management of lakes and wetlands is therefore an important part of our broader approach to water resource management and sustainable development.
We have adopted an integrated approach combining conservation, restoration, and most importantly, community participation.
Under the National Plan for conservation of aquatic ecosystems, the government of India supports states and local authorities in the conservation and management of wetlands and lakes.
Mission Amritsar over has further sought to develop and rejuvenate water bodies across the country, combining water conservation with local participation, and our experience has highlighted three broad lessons for us.
First, Science and technology must increasingly inform water governance.
Earth observation, satellite based monitoring, remote sensing and geospatial technologies can help identify emerging stresses and enable timely action.
Science must translate into policy and action on the ground.
Second, communities must be at the heart of conservation.
As India emphasized at the UN CCD Cop 17 in Mongolia just recently, successful restoration requires communities to be treated not merely as beneficiaries, but as custodians.
Local knowledge and community stewardship must form an integral part of lake conservation.
Third and final, international cooperation must enable nationally appropriate solutions.
Developing countries require greater access to finance, technology, capacity building, and reliable data.
Global monitoring initiatives can contribute by complementing national systems and responding to nationally identified priorities.
India, for its part remains committed to sharing its experiences and capacities with partners, including through South South cooperation.
On this World League Day, let us translate science into policy, restoration into resilience, and cooperation into effective action on the ground.
Thank you.
I thank the distinguished delegate of India and our sympathies to the families of the 300 missing Indian nationals.
And then I hand over the floor to the Russian Federation, sir, you have the floor.
Thank you very much and let me also start by first of all, congratulating Indonesia, Japan, and UNEP on organizing this very valuable important event and Russia joins their heartfelt condolences to the people of Nepal on that devastating occasion of floods.
But back to the World Lake Day, we're pleased to mark this day designated by the General Assembly Resolution 70 9142 which the Russian Federation was proud to co sponsor.
This day represents an important recognition of the vital role that lakes play in the people's lives and in the sustainable development of our countries.
We believe that effective lake management should be grounded in science, supported by reliable monitoring systems and modern technologies.
Approaches to sustainable use of lakes should take into account the specific environmental, economic and social conditions of each lake basin, as well as the national circumstances and priorities of the parties concerned.
The Russian Federation attaches particular importance to the conservation and management of freshwater.
Our country is home to some of the world's largest and unique lakes, including Lake Baikal, Lake Ladga, and Lake Onega.
Their protection is among our national priorities and constitutes an important contribution to broader international efforts to preserve freshwater ecosystems.
This year, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the inscription of Lake Baikal on the UNESCO World Heritage L.
In order to preserve the priceless natural jewel, the deepest lake on the planet, our country is consistently implementing environmental protection measures provided for by national legislation of the Rational Federation and also international treaties.
It is encouraging to note that thanks to the joint efforts of government authorities, scientific community, private sector, NGOs and volunteers, significant progress has already been achieved in restoring the ecological health of bikal natural territory, that is protected territory under federal law.
We see considerable potential for sharing Russian scientific and technological expertise, including in water monitoring, pollution prevention, ecosystem restoration, and integrated water resources management.
We stand ready to continue contributing to these efforts in a spirit of equality, mutual respect, and practical cooperation.
Thank you.
I thank the distinguished delegate of the Russian Federation.
I now turn the floor to Nicaragua, Sarah, you have the floor.
Thank you.
Good morning, Excellencies, colleagues.
Thank you very much for convening this meeting.
First of all, we would like to express our condolences for the disaster occurred yesterday in Nepal in China.
Our delegation expresses its appreciation for the convening of this commemoration of World Lake Day.
This occasion reminds us that lakes are sources of life, well being and resilience, and that their protection requires solidarity and international cooperation.
For Nicaragua, known as the land of Lakes and volcanoes, this commemoration holds a special significance.
Lake Nicaragua, also known as Cosbca, the largest lake in Central America and the only lake in the world that has freshwater sharks.
And Lake Sotland are an essential part of our identity, our history, and our natural heritage.
Together with the other lakes and lagoons throughout our territory, they sustain valuable ecosystems, communities, productive activities, and extraordinary biological diversity.
Our country recognizes that the preservation of these resources requires comprehensive action, protecting and reforesting watersheds, preventing pollution, improving sanitization, promoting the responsible use of water, and strengthening environmental education.
Nicaragua affirms its commitment to the 2030 agenda, particularly as sustainable development goal six and to multilateral efforts to address climate change, biodiversity loss, and disaster risk.
Developing countries need greater access to financing appropriate technologies, scientific information, and international cooperation in accordance with the principles of solidarity and common but differentiated responsibilities.
On this Word Lake Day, we call for a renewal of our collective resolve.
Protecting lakes means protecting life, security, culture, and the future of our peoples.
Nicaragua, we continue to promote a harmonious relationship with mother earth and to work toward healthy and resilient lakes for present and future generations.
Thank you very much.
Thank you very much.
I thank the distinguished delegate of Nicaragua.
And now I hand over the floor to the Philippines.
Sir, you have the floor.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
We would like to thank UNP, Indonesia, Japan, and DSA for organizing this event.
We also join other delegations in expressing our condolences to China and Nepal following the recent disaster.
Excellency distinguished colleagues.
For the Philippines, lakes support human livelihoods, biodiversity and ecosystem resilience.
Our largest lake, the Laguna the Bay, is located close to Metropolitan Mania.
The lake supports thousands of fisher folk, provides water for domestic and agricultural uses, plays a critical role in receiving and storing floodwater.
The health of the lake impacts not only those who rely on it for their livelihood, but also millions of Filipinos who live near and around its basin.
Our experience has taught us that the future of a lake is determined far beyond the shoreline.
What happens across its watershed from land conversion and settlements, agriculture, waste management, and development affects the lake.
This is why the Philippines has adopted integrated approaches that recognize lakes and their surrounding watersheds as interconnected systems.
Through the Laguna Lake Development Authority, the Philippines has sought to bring environmental protection and development planning together.
Among our practical approaches are regular water quality monitoring of the lake and its tributaries, pollution control, environmental data collection, and basin wide planning.
These experiences demonstrate the importance of combining science, regulation, and development planning.
Colleagues, protecting lakes is an investment in development.
Healthy lakes support livelihoods, food and water security, and strengthens resilience to floods and other environmental and climate related risks.
The World Lake Day gives us an opportunity not only to raise awareness, but to share what works and learn from one another.
The Philippines supports stronger international cooperation and greater exchange of knowledge, technology, and experience, and practical solutions so that developing countries can strengthen their capacities for sustainable lake management.
Our task is to ensure that our lakes remain productive, resilient, and capable of sustaining life and opportunity in decades ahead.
Thank you, Mr.
Chair.
I thank the distinguished delegate from the Philippines and now I hand over to Guatemala.
Sir, you have the floor.
As and colleagues, thank you for giving me the floor.
At the outset, Guatemala would like to thank to thank you for convening this important meeting and highlighting the key role that lakes and water resources play in sustainable development, cooperation, and peace.
For Gmala, this commemoration has a special meaning.
Our country has great water, wealth with more than 20 major lakes and lagoons and major river basins across three geographic regions.
Among them is Lake Catan, considered one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
It is also an important source of water, biodiversity, livelihoods, and cultural identity, especially for our indigenous people.
Protecting our lakes and working together to manage water resources is an investment in peace development and the well being of present and future generations.
This also brings an important responsibility, what Mal approaches with cooperation and water with respect for national sovereignty and within the app legal frameworks in a spirit of dialogue and mutual respect with our neighborhood.
Thank you.
I thank the distinguished delegate of Guatemala and I believe this brings me to the end of my list of speakers.
I'm looking around the room just to make sure that there aren't any speakers that we have ignored, and I believe that's not the case.
Now, we do, however, have two closing remarks from both the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation and from Una.
We'll first go to Mr.
Kasuhiko Tkemoto, president of the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation.
Over to you, sir.
Thank you.
On behalf of the International Lake Environment Committee Foundation, Eric, I am delighted to deliver my closing remarks at this important event commemorating the Second World Lake Day.
I'm also encouraged to see the growing momentum for international dialogue and concrete actions as demonstrated here today at the UN headquarters, as well as through events in various places in the world, including Sigo Prefecture of Japan, West Java of Indonesia and the Baraton of Hungary.
I would like to highlight a couple of key messages that have emerged from today's discussions.
First, our discussions have reaffirmed that addressing the complex challenges facing the world lakes requires not only sound scientific knowledge and the evidence based approaches, but also sustained international cooperation.
Second, today's discussion have emphasized the importance of bringing together science policy and diverse perspectives and the expertise of stakeholders in our shared effort.
Third, we have identified opportunities for future and further strengthening international cooperation institutional arrangement and concrete actions.
Our organization, IRC is committed to advancing international cooperation for the sustainable management of the World lakes.
Drawing on our rich experience and strong expertise, ILC has worked to breach knowledge and action for sustainable lake management in the world.
Alec has also convened the Wild Lake Conference WLC every two years in partnership with the host organization around the world since 1984, as many speakers have already touched on in this morning.
Wilder Lake Conference provides a variable platform for bringing together a wide range of stakeholders to exchange knowledge, to share experiences, and to strengthen international cooperation.
I am pleased to inform you that the next conference, Wilder Lake Conference 21 will be held in Muanza Tanzania, which faces the Lake Victoria in August next year.
Before closing my short remarks, I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all the institutions and organizations that have contributed to the planning and organizationation of this important event.
Without your support and the cooperation contributions, we are not able to realize today's event in such a successful and fruitful manner.
Finally, I would like to conclude my remarks by expressing my sincere hope that the dialogue and the partnership we have developed here today will continue to further advancing our collective efforts towards sustainable lake management around the world.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mr.
Takmoto.
And to close the meeting, let me now give the floor to our colleague, miss Maduusri Chatter, who is the Chief for Natural Resources and interlinkages branch at the Division for Sustainable Development Goals in Unesa.
Over to you.
Thank you, Chair.
Excellencies, distinguished speakers, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.
It is also my pleasure to join you in closing this commemoration of World Lakes Day on behalf of you and Tessa and I thank all the co organizers, speakers, and participants for this rich exchange.
I would also like to join you all to express my deepest sympathies to Nepal and China for the tragedy that has occurred in their shores.
Now, sorry, for this exchange, I would like to also highlight some three priorities for action.
First, we must strengthen the bridge between science and policy, improved Earth observation, like many of the other speakers have mentioned, and initiatives such as the Global Wetland W can help countries better understand changes in lake extent and condition and inform national planning.
Data is very valuable when they can be accessed, they are comparable and translated into decisions.
I also want to congratulate UNEP on the global Wetland W.
Second, sustainable lake management, as we've heard across the speakers, must be integrated across policies and sectors, but lakes cannot be managed in isolation from their river basins, wetlands, and groundwaters or from policies on climate, biodiversity, agriculture, cities, and disaster risk reduction.
Integrated water resource management is therefore essential as decisions across sectors and across borders are closely connected.
Third, implementation depends on cooperation.
Countries and communities need stronger partnerships, adequate and predictable finance, technical support, and capacity development.
In this regard, we heard that multilateral south south and triangular cooperation can help share practical solutions.
Equally important and essential is meaningful participation of indigenous peoples, young people, local communities, and other stakeholders whose knowledge, leadership, and stewardship are indispensable.
Local communities are not simply beneficiaries, they have to be custodians in this regard.
Now, these messages are especially timely as we prepare for the UN 2026 Water conference to be held this December in the UAE.
Now DSA serves as the substantive and logistical Secretariat for this conference, and what we find that the messages that we heard today resonate and cut across all the six interactive dialogues that will be the core of the water conference.
This is going to be from water for people, prosperity and the planet to cooperation, water and multi processes, and water investments for impact.
And World Lake Day can help ensure that lakes and the communities and ecosystems that depend on them are visible within that broader global agenda.
As we look forward to the 21st World Lake Conference, I encourage all of us to take today's insights back to our institutions, countries, and communities, and to turn them into action.
Thank you.
No.
Thank you to miss Tetargi for that wrap up.
The only thing I will add is, once again, our appreciation to the permanent missions of Japan, of Indonesia to Professor Hiyshi to Alec for their partnership.
Thank you very much.
Have a nice day.
Thank you.