From 22 to 24 March, the United Nations Heads of State and Government met in New York for the three-day Water Conference. Ministers Demir and Peeters participated in the UN Water Conference together with a delegation from Flanders including representatives of the Flanders Environment Agency, De Vlaamse Waterweg nv (Flemish Waterways plc.), the Department of Mobility and Public Works and the Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO). Minister Demir addressed the plenary on behalf of Belgium and presented the Blue Deal, Resilient Waterland (Weerbaar Waterland) and the Coastal Vision (Kustvisie) as leading water plans. Minister Demir also called on the UN leaders to work together on a global Blue Deal.

The Delegation of Flanders to the USA organized two side events: the key focus was on the Blue Deal and the Resilient Waterland plan, which contains a set of measures designed to ensure that water is better absorbed and retained in the soil and to provide solutions against flooding. Flemish Ministers Demir and Peeters and the representatives of the delegation from Flanders demonstrated how the Flemish authorities tackle water challenges through innovation, participation and international cooperation, enabling Flanders to accelerate its adaptation to drought. In a very wide range of side events, the Flemish delegation always managed to fill Flanders House with international experts, civil society organisations and companies to exchange expertise and knowledge.

Source: https://www.fdfa.be/en/un-water-conference-calls-for-strong-commitments