The international conference 'Groundwater, key to the sustainable development goals' will take place from 18 to 20 May 2022 in Paris, and is organised by IAH-CFH, UNESCO-IHP, the French Water Partnership, under patronage of the French national commission for UNESCO and with the support of the Ministry for Environment, Seine-Normandy Water Agency and Sorbonne University.
Groundwater and SDGs
Within the « 2030 Agenda », the 17 « Sustainable Developpement Goals » (SDGs) and their 169 targets associated to 240 well monitored indicators, multinational and multilateral roadmaps, constitute a great message of hope for the future of human societies and terrestrial ecosystems, currently facing the impacts of global change.
In this framework, groundwater resources (GWR) have a key role to play, directly in terms of food, hygiene and health, protection and restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity … and, indirectly, for the reduction of poverty and inequalities, contribution to education and gender equality, peace.
Key dates
- Deadline for abstracts submission: February 1st 2022
- Deadline for early-bird registration: March 15th 2022
- Abstracts acceptance: March 1st 2022
- Third circular: April 20th 2022
Session 4.C. - Contributions of Transboundary Aquifers to the SDGs
IGRAC is co-organizing session 4C on contributions of transboundary aquifers to the sustainable development goals.
Session description: Groundwater is the most available source of freshwater worldwide and most of it spans two or more countries. It is now estimated that there are 468 Transboundary aquifers (TBA) worldwide. Sustainable management of TBA raises specific challenges due to the technical, social, economic, and political issues across the riparian States sharing the groundwater resource. Under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, water cooperation in transboundary basin areas (including Transboundary Aquifers) is highlighted in Target 6.5 through the indicators 6.5.1 and 6.5.2. In addition, TBA can contribute to several other Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) related to zero poverty, ecosystems, clean water and sanitation, food security... This session seeks to reflect experiences on assessment of TBA and illustrate through case studies the success stories and challenges of cooperation over TBA and how TBA are contributing to the SDGs. We also welcome contributions reporting on progresses and challenges in TBA cooperation with a focus on indicator 6.5.2.
IGRAC and SDGs
IGRAC has drafted position papers regarding the inclusion of groundwater in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and emphasizing groundwater in the negotiation of the final goals. IGRAC recommends that the crucial role of groundwater resources in sustainable development is taken into consideration.