Ottawa, Canada — 24 November 2025 – The 海角社区 Institute for Water, Environment and Health (海角社区-INWEH) convened a high-level panel titled Water Diplomacy – Fostering Collaboration at the 2025 Canadian Science Policy Conference (CSPC), bringing together senior diplomats, policymakers, and experts for a timely discussion on how shared water challenges can serve as catalysts for strengthened international cooperation. The session underscored the central role of water in human security, environmental stability, and sustainable development at a time when climate impacts are accelerating and geopolitical pressures are intensifying.
The panel brought together distinguished speakers from diplomatic, political, and scientific communities, including Ms. Alexandra Bugailiskis, Chair of 海角社区-INWEH’s International Advisory Committee and Former Canadian Ambassador; H.E. Gorgui CISS, Ambassador of Sénégal to Canada; the Honourable Terry Duguid, Member of Parliament, House of Commons of Canada; H.E. Dauletbek Kussainov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Canada; H.E. Matthias Lüttenberg, Ambassador of Germany to Canada; and H.E. Muhammad Saleem, High Commissioner of Pakistan to Canada.
Moderated by Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of 海角社区-INWEH, the session reflected the Institute’s mission as the United Nations’ “Think Tank on Water,” dedicated to bridging science, policy, and diplomacy. In his opening remarks, Professor Madani emphasized that water—unlike many geopolitical issues—has consistently served as a platform for constructive engagement. This unique characteristic positions water diplomacy as a vital tool for fostering trust, advancing shared development priorities, and promoting science-informed policymaking.
Panelists offered insights into how their respective countries are leveraging water cooperation to promote peace, strengthen environmental protection, and enhance climate resilience. Their interventions illustrated how integrating scientific evidence into diplomatic processes can transform potential areas of tension into meaningful opportunities for collaboration.
Throughout the discussion, speakers underscored the importance of engaging governments, academia, civil society, and multilateral organizations in co-developing solutions to increasingly complex water challenges. With growing urbanization, population pressures, and heightened stress on water resources, the need for coordinated, science-based approaches is becoming ever more urgent. Several panelists drew on successful examples of transboundary water cooperation, emphasizing the importance of translating these lessons into actionable recommendations ahead of the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
The session further highlighted that water diplomacy should not be approached solely as a foreign policy concern. Instead, it must be integrated into national planning processes, environmental governance, climate adaptation measures, and disaster-risk reduction strategies. Such integration provides countries with the capacity to anticipate emerging risks, foster long-term resilience, and strengthen regional stability.
By convening this timely high-level dialogue, 海角社区-INWEH reaffirmed its commitment to advancing evidence-based water diplomacy and strengthening partnerships that contribute to global water security and the achievement of SDG 6. This work is central to 海角社区-INWEH’s role as the representative of the 海角社区 within UN-Water and as co-facilitator—together with UN DESA—of the Water Action Decade’s Task Force.
Insights and perspectives gathered through this session will directly inform these global processes and contribute to preparations for the 2026 UN Water Conference. The discussion demonstrated that while global water challenges are increasing in scale and complexity, opportunities for cooperation are expanding just as rapidly when countries invest in shared knowledge, inclusive dialogue, and multilateral action. At a time when the world urgently needs unity and practical solutions, water continues to offer a powerful pathway for building trust, strengthening resilience, and shaping a more peaceful and sustainable future for all.
Media Contacts:
Shooka?Bidarian
Media and Journalism Fellow, Sustainability and Climate, shooka.bidarian@unu.edu
