Dushanbe, Tajikistan
3rd High-level International Conference on the International Decade for Action “Water for Sustainable Development” 2018-2028
Greetings esteemed leaders, colleagues, and friends.
The United States government thanks the Government of Tajikistan for keeping freshwater issues high on the global agenda and for convening the Dushanbe Water Process. I am grateful to be here alongside colleagues from across the globe, each working to fight water insecurity every single day.
Together, our nations are confronting a pivotal moment in our work to address the interlocking climate and water crises. During the 2023 UN Water Conference, U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deborah Haaland reminded us that in the 4.6 billion years that our planet Earth has endured, water has neither come in to nor left our atmosphere. It is up to us to ensure we are proper stewards of this resource.
The U.S. commitment to the 2023 Agenda and its water security components are grounded in the U.S. Government’s dedication to a peaceful, prosperous, and secure international system.
Water is essential to everything we do, from agriculture and growing the economy, to household use, and ensuring our families have clean and healthy environments. Sustainable Development Goal 6 is central to meeting global goals.
No one is exempt from the challenges of water insecurity. Historically, water challenges in high income countries — including the United States — have been more likely to affect vulnerable and disadvantaged communities.
However, as the impact of climate change intensifies, all countries are likely to face increasingly widespread water stress and will need to implement sustainable water management practices to preserve economic, energy, and human security.
The Sustainable Development Goals are shared values to expand economic opportunity, care for our planet, uphold and defend human rights, and make sure no person or community is left behind.
One in four people worldwide lacks access to safe drinking water.
Drought and other impacts of the climate crisis know no boundaries, and the most vulnerable are those impacted the hardest. This makes our collective, inclusive efforts even more important.
The U.S. goal is to achieve a water-secure world where people have sustainable supplies of water in sufficient quantity and quality to meet human, economic, and ecosystem needs while managing risks from floods and droughts.
To achieve these objectives, the United States provides technical assistance; makes targeted investments in sustainable infrastructure and services; promotes science, technology, and information; mobilizes financial resources; engages diplomatically; and strengthens partnerships and intergovernmental organizations.
In Tajikistan, our cooperation takes many forms, including multilateral partnership through the C5+1 platform for Central Asia plus the United States, transboundary programs such as USAID’s Water and Vulnerable Environment activity, and bilateral engagements in support of water management.
The United States looks forward to continuing our collaboration to work towards achieving a water-secure world, and to advance water security and improve access to sanitation, and hygiene around the globe.
Thank you for being here today.