UNESCO to Host Crucial Dialog on Overlooked “Green Water” Resource
PARIS, FRANCE – November 28, 2025 - UNESCO will convene a pivotal dialogue today focused on ”green water” – the moisture stored in soil and absorbed by vegetation – a critical yet frequently enough overlooked component of global water security and climate resilience. The “Green Water Dialogue,” taking place from 15:00 – 18:00 (CET) at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (Room XI), aims to elevate the importance of green water within international water governance and climate frameworks.
While traditional water management has largely centered on “blue water” sources like rivers, lakes, and aquifers, experts increasingly recognize the essential role green water plays in sustaining food production, ecosystem health, and overall climate stability. As climate change exacerbates droughts, land degradation, and ecological stress, effective green water management is becoming paramount to achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, particularly supporting Sustainable Development Goals 2 (Zero Hunger), 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), 13 (Climate Action), and 15 (Life on Land).
The event, held immediately following the extraordinary session of the IHP Council, will gather representatives from UNESCO Member States, leading water and climate experts, development partners, and stakeholders from the private sector and academia. Discussions will directly inform UNESCO’s future work on water and resilience under the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme.
Key speakers include Abou Amani, Secretary of the IHP and Director of the water Sciences Division at UNESCO, and the newly elected President of the PHI (to be confirmed). henk Ovink, Executive Director of the Global Commission on Adaptation, will deliver the keynote address.
A distinguished panel will further explore the integration of green water into policy and practice, featuring Åse Johannessen (Deltares), Anna Tengberg (International Center for Water Cooperation), Anastassia Makarieva (St. Petersburg Institute of Nuclear Physics), an AWARe Expert from Egypt (to be confirmed), and Johan rockström (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research – tbc).
The dialogue seeks to: promote open discussion on the meaning of green water; explore pathways for its integration into existing water governance, climate strategies, and the SDG framework; and foster collaboration between diverse stakeholders to bridge the gap between scientific research and policy implementation.
