New York on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024
At this side event, participants reaffirmed the importance of conserving and sustainably managing lakes, and actively engaged in discussions toward the establishment of the World Lake Day to enhance international recognition and action.
Background and Objectives
Lakes supply around 87 per cent of fresh water on the surface of the Earth, providing a significant source for ecosystem services, including the provision of water for human consumption, health, food and renewable energy; regulate services for the food cycle, water purification, climate and biodiversity; and enable the pursuit of recreational and traditional activities.
Ensuring the health of lake ecosystems is critical to addressing the threat of water-related disasters, triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution, and biodiversity loss, and to further support the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly Goal 6, ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.
Efforts to raise public awareness and build a sense of urgency on lakes and sustainable lake management can be strengthened by designating an internationally recognized date for commemorating lakes as part of the global agenda. The World Lake Day will act as a reminder for constant promotion of sustainable lake management agenda at the local, national, regional, as well as international level.
Considering those circumstances, the 10th World Water Forum in the Ministerial Declaration called for establishment of the World Lake Day by UNGA. The UN Environmental Assembly also recommended that the World Lake Day be tabled in UNGA. It is expected that a proposal to establish the World Lake Day will be discussed for adoption by the 79th UN General Assembly.
Event outline
Date and Time : 1:15 – 2:45 pm on Tuesday, September 24th, 2024
Venue : Nuveen, 730 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017
Co-hosts : Government of the Republic of Indonesia and High-level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP)
Co-sponsors : Government of Japan, International Lake Environment Committee (ILEC), and more
Invited Participants : Representatives of Permanent Missions to the UN and others
Opening remarks
Moderator: Ms. Inge Retnowati, Director of Inland Water and Mangrove Rehabilitation, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Republic of Indonesia
- E. Dr. Han Seung-soo, Chair of HELP, former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea / President of the 56th Session of the UN General Assembly
- E. Mr. Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment, Republic of Indonesia
Presentation on the outcomes of the 10th World Water Forum
- Dadang Rukmana, Director General for Human Resources Development, Ministry of Public Works and Housing, Republic of Indonesia
High-level Panel
Moderator: Prof. Kenzo Hiroki, HELP Coordinator/Professor of National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS)
1.High-level Speeches:
- E. Professor Danilo Turk, former President of the Republic of Slovenia / President of Club de Madrid
- E. Mr. Jan Kavan, former Deputy Prime Minister of Czech / President of the 57th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations
- Alvaro Lario, Chair, UN-Water / President of the International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD)
- Inger Andersen, Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
- Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General, World Metrological Organization (WMO)
- Taizo Mikazuki, Governor of Shiga, Japan (video message)
- Musonda Mumba, Secretary General of the Convention on Wetlands (video message)
- Kazuhiko Takemoto, President of International Lake Environment Committee (video message)
2.Floor interventions: Questions and comments from the participants
Closing