UN Water Conference Side Event
Integrative Highland to Ocean (H2O) Action for Disappearing Deltas: Towards a UN Convention on Conserving River Deltas
Thursday, March 23, 2023
2:30 PM 3:45 PM (New York)
Side Event Room A, United Nations Headquarters New York, New York USA
The objectives of the conference are to:
(i) Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity among delta communities and water stakeholders to
climate-related hazards and natural disasters through increased knowledge sharing, partnerships,
global attention, UN recognition, and community participation.
(ii) Build a regional to global stakeholder’s dialogue not only to identify but to also proffer
integrative Highlands to Oceans (H2O) solutions to growing water-related challenges
particularly those potentiated by climate change.
(iii) Enhance the local capacity of countries through training and capacity building including on
community data gathering and community-based context sensitive solutions to these complex
problems.
Key topics of discussion
1. Understand the causes and consequences of global climate change on integrated water
resources management
2. Challenges, policy deficit and investment opportunities in the countries spanning
transboundary Niger, Indus and Mekong river deltas with a focus on Nigeria, Pakistan and
Vietnam
3. Policies, collaboration including academic and community support in integrated water
resource protection and development.
4. Regional, continental and global benefits from the conservation and protection of river deltas.
5. Identify areas for capacity building and science knowledge development for gathering social-
scientific data and identifying community centric solutions.
Speakers/panelists:
1. Dr. Aboje Andrews, Environmental Specialist and Consultant with African Development Bank
(AfDB)
2. Prof. Michael Glantz, Director, University of Colorado Consortium for Capacity Building
3. Prof. Asim Zia, Director, Institute for Environmental Diplomacy and Security, University of
Vermont, United States (In person)
4. Senator Nisar Memon, Director, Water Environment Forum, Pakistan (virtual)
5. Prof. Bach Tan Sinh, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam (virtual)
6. Susan Sgorbati, Director, Center for Advancement of Public Action, Bennington College, VT
USA (in person)
7. Gender Expert, African Centre for Climate Actions and Rural Development (ACCARD)