Toespraak van minister Schultz van Haegen bij de UN General Assembly Special Thematic Session on Water and Disasters

Toespraak | 20-11-2015

Mr Secretary-General,

Your Excellencies,

ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank you – Mr Secretary-General - for convening this important session. Over the past days we have witnessed the dangers and uncertainties of our time. The horrors of the recent attacks on Paris, Beirut and Baghdad remind us that a threat to one is a threat to all. We have a shared responsibility to build a more secure world - by promoting peace, justice and development. And water is a crucial means to this end.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Imagine water streaming into your home, turning your life upside down in a matter of seconds. Your house ruined, your personal memories destroyed, your future unsure.

Every day, we see the effects of water-related disasters on TV. Like the recent flooding in Egypt and Iraq, In Israel and Palestine, In Somalia and Australia.

It’s happening right now – and no part of our globe is being spared.

Water-related disasters account for 90 per cent of all natural disasters on our planet. Worldwide, flood damage is estimated at 120 billion US dollars a year.
And that’s only in urban areas. Here, in this city, Hurricane Sandy alone left 40 billion dollars’ worth of damage in its wake. And in my country, 70 per cent of our GDP is generated in flood-prone areas.

And then we have droughts. Less sudden than flooding, but every bit as devastating. People are driven to despair by droughts that never seem to end. We’ve all seen the images on TV in recent days: drought in Ethiopia and South Africa, In Papua New Guinea and Australia In California and Brazil.

Droughts are silent killers. They can cause social structures to collapse. They trigger an exodus of refugees, which in turn can upset the social balance in the region
But there’s still a lot to be gained: in more vulnerable economies, reducing the effects of drought by 50 per cent could boost GDP per capita by 20 per cent in 30 years.

All of this shows our increasing vulnerability to water-related risks. Water risks – as the World Economic Forum declared – are priority number 1. Water is a crucial factor in ending global conflict and working towards peace, justice and prosperity.

Water is at the frontline of all major worldwide challenges. Population growth, poverty, land shortage and urbanization – all these challenges are interwoven because they all relate to water. Quality of water infrastructure – for flood defence, drainage and water storage – becomes increasingly important – especially in developing countries. Recent history has taught us that every place on earth can be affected. And climate change will only make things worse. But is it possible to end all the suffering that water inflicts on us? The answer is yes and no. Real natural disasters like tsunamis cannot be prevented. And despite strong mitigation efforts we will still feel the effects of climate change for decades.

But we can reduce the risks by taking an adaptive approach. We know the solutions, but there’s still not enough action.

This year the international community has delivered important results:

1.  a new global framework for disaster risk reduction and
2.  the new sustainable development goals.

Both pay full attention to water and disasters. Both the Sendai Framework and the SDGs give us a clear way forward. I'm pleased with that.

But the problems are still there on our TV screens – coming at us from all corners of the world. They make today’s discussion on water-related disasters both relevant and timely. It’s a theme that deserves all the attention it can get.

We need to ask ourselves some serious questions:

Where do we go from here?

How can we best implement the SDGs and Sendai Framework?

How can we reduce the impact of water-related disasters on a daily basis?

How can we contribute to development and resilience-building?

I would like to propose three ways forward: advocacy, implementation and cooperation.

First, we need more advocacy. We must demand constant attention to the issue of water-related disasters. An issue that needs to be on the agenda at all levels: UN, regional, national and local.

And we must advocate a worldwide shift from response-based action to preparedness. My country, the Netherlands, has a long tradition of managing risks and uncertainties. We built our country on a river delta – making it both prosperous and vulnerable. Nowadays we manage these risks and uncertainties with an approach that includes all levels of government - and the private sector.

I have learned that our approach is unique – but I hope it proves contagious. Because it makes sense to invest in risk reduction and prevention.

The dividends are invaluable: less loss of life, less damage and more long-term economic growth and stability. Ladies and gentlemen, prevention pays!
But prevention always needs to be part of long-term planning, allowing communities and decision-makers to align investments, including plans for climate change adaption.

Yes, this brings uncertainties.
But hey are no excuse for inaction:
uncertainty is inherent to all long-term planning and should be factored into a comprehensive, flexible and adaptive approach.

My second way forward is greater focus on implementation.
We need to follow through on our plans and learn from them.
Based on our own history, the Netherlands is now implementing the Dutch Delta Programme − created and executed with the commitment of multiple stakeholders.
It includes long-term financing for water safety and water security.

Reducing flood risks is linked to safeguarding future supplies of drinking water for our people.
And fresh water for industry, agriculture and recreation.
This approach helps us make water a solid foundation for economic activity, for local urban development and for health.

We’re currently sharing this approach with countries that face situations like our own.
Like Bangladesh – and Vietnam, which is now implementing its own plan for the Mekong delta.

We’re combining this delta approach with a new approach to our rivers:
we have learned to give rivers more space when they need it.

We do this in an approach that enhances spatial quality, supports urban and rural development and conserves nature.
For us, making room for our rivers is another practical way forward.

The third way forward is greater cooperation.
For The Netherlands, bilateral cooperation on water related-issues is crucial if we’re to deepen our own understanding of the challenges ahead.
Besides Vietnam and Bangladesh, we’re working with Burma and Indonesia on long-term plans for coastal defence and integrated water management.

We are working with Mexico and Colombia,
with the United States and the United Kingdom.
I want to make our collaboration truly global – combining long-term, integrated approaches with short-term practical help.

Teams of Dutch experts on surge support and risk reduction are ready to assist worldwide.

My country has also taken steps to establish an International Delta Coalition.
Our aim is to address the challenges of urban deltas, to develop and exchange knowledge, and to implement practical measures together.
Twelve countries have already joined.

And next spring the coalition’s first high-level meeting will be held in the Netherlands.

Another way to strengthen ties is multilateral cooperation.
We’re working with the World Economic Forum and the World Bank’s Water Global Practice on innovative approaches and practical facilities to help implement and finance projects worldwide.

And of course, the work done at UN level – by UNSGAB and HELP – has proven invaluable too.
That brings me to a point I’d like to underline today:

implementing the SDGs requires a solid and workable water structure at UN level.
There are many ideas and initiatives out there. We need to use today’s opportunity to bring those ideas together in an effective and results-focused way.
After all, it is results that count.
In our view, the work done on water and disasters should be an integral part of this architecture.
And it should include independent voices with working groups focused on implementation.
Like the HELP working group already in place.

The Netherlands is keen to help build this structure, making use of existing groups and experience to bring together ideas that work.

Ladies and gentlemen,

If the images of floods and droughts teach us one thing, it is that we need action - to create a safer world.
We need to do this despite the many dangers and uncertainties.
Despite global unrest, terror and war.

Governments should act, on all levels - local, regional, national and global.
We need action by civil society and business.
Action to reduce risks and prevent disasters

I am ready to help.
And my country is too: finding solutions to water-related challenges is of the main themes of our bid for a seat in the UN Security Council for the 2017-2018 term.
Action is the only way to invest in global safety and resiliency and in sustainable development.
It is the only way to invest in our future.

Thank you very much.