Bridging Freshwater and Ocean Action: From the UN Ocean Conference to the 2026 UN Water Conference

This event will explore the vital link between freshwater and marine ecosystems and the need for a unified “source-to-sea” approach. Water flows from mountain springs to rivers and deltas before reaching the ocean, carrying with it the effects of land-based activities. Coordinated management across these systems is essential for biodiversity, pollution control, and climate resilience.

The session brings together policymakers, civil society, experts, and local voices to discuss how the Ocean Conference and the 2026 United Nations Water Conference, co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and Senegal, can reinforce each other. A key question will be how to ensure that commitments made at the Ocean Conference meaningfully shape preparations for the UN 2026 Water Conference.

Speakers will also address how ocean and freshwater agendas can be better aligned, what practical mechanisms are needed for coordination, and how integrated approaches can strengthen resilience for both inland and coastal communities. Examples of successful implementation and the role of traditional and indigenous knowledge will also be discussed.

This event will highlight the connection between the Water Action Agenda and the Oceans Commitments, in the context of the UN System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation. The outcomes of this side event will inform and inspire the lead-up to the 2026 UN Water Conference and beyond.

• More information on the third UN Ocean Conference website.
• Explore the provisional side event programme.