IHP-IX 4.5. Improved understanding of pollutant sources and transport in freshwater systems to prevent water pollution and support management strategies.

Understanding and knowledge on pollutants sources, fate and transport in freshwater systems, including surface waters (rivers, lakes, wetlands) and groundwater improved by the scientific community and UNESCO Water Family to prevent and reduce water pollution and underpin water resources management strategies. 1. Research, knowledge generation, and dissemination, including sessions in international fora and dedicated events, on emerging pollutants, their fate and transport in surface and groundwater systems, including the unsaturated zone, linked to human health, considering among others antibiotics and antibiotic resistance and pharmaceuticals in freshwater systems and their impacts on ecosystems, as well as on solutions for pollution prevention, control and mitigation. 2. Knowledge generation and research on global change impacts on water quality (e.g. linking to relevant projects). 3. Dissemination of the state of the art and experience sharing in SARS-CoV-2 in water and wastewater systems with case studies, best management practices, and policy guidance. 4. Knowledge and evidence generation and dissemination on microplastics in freshwater, raising stakeholder engagement and scientific awareness, including projects, roundtables and meetings, such as the International Conference on Microplastics in Freshwater at UNESCO. 5. Identification and promotion of best practices and appropriate solutions Including ecohydrological nature-based solutions to reduce surface and groundwater pollution, a compendium of such solutions and technologies.

Contributing Action Number

CA4.25

Primary Entry Point

4: Accelerate progress and transformational change

Additional Entry Point(s)

2: Engage better for countries

Output(s)

Output 1.2: Action is inspired by compelling and unified UN system communications and messaging on water

Output 4.2: High-quality, disaggregated water and sanitation data and information are available and shared transparently through strengthened national and sub-national monitoring systems and regional and global platforms with support from the UN system

Output 4.4: Enabling environments for water and sanitation innovation are supported by the UN system, including policies, partnerships, and transfer of technology to remove barriers, with emphasis on technology transfer needs of developing countries

SDG 6 Target(s)

Cross-cutting work on SDG 6

SDG target 6.1: Achieve safe and affordable drinking water

SDG target 6.2: Achieve access to sanitation and hygiene and end open defecation

SDG target 6.3: Improve water quality, wastewater and safe reuse

SDG target 6.4: Increase water-use efficiency and ensure freshwater supplies

SDG target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management (IWRM)

SDG target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems

Water-related work on other SDGs

Type of Engagement

Normative support (e.g. development of normative guidance, guidelines and standards)

Data collection and analysis

Capacity development and technical assistance

Convening of stakeholders

Policy advice and thought leadership

Geographical Scope

Global level

More information

https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000384615

Leading Entity

United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)

United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation

The Contributing Actions are key initiatives supporting the United Nations System-wide Strategy for Water and Sanitation, aligning individual and joint efforts across UN entities and partnering organizations to advance global water and sanitation goals. These actions are integrated into the Collaborative Implementation Plan (CIP) Results Framework 2025-2028, which provides a structured approach to achieving system-wide impact through coordinated UN efforts.
The Priority Collaborative Actions outlined in the framework focus on enhancing water security, improving governance, strengthening climate resilience, and accelerating progress on sanitation and hygiene. By fostering system-wide collaboration among UN agencies, these actions help drive policy coherence, knowledge sharing, and innovative solutions to address the world’s most pressing water challenges.