Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
With fewer than five years remaining until 2030, the world is off track to achieve universal access to safe drinking water and sanitation. To close this gap, 2026 must deliver renewed political commitment, increased and better-targeted financing, and clearer mechanisms to track progress, strengthen monitoring and reporting, and enhance accountability for SDG 6.
Building momentum
In December 2026, the UN Water Conference will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE. It will mark the first comprehensive global SDG 6 stocktake since the 2023 UN Water Conference and represents a vital opportunity to strengthen coherence and accountability in international cooperation.
Recent developments have opened new opportunities for change. The outcomes of the 2023 conference, the appointment of a UN Special Envoy for Water, the UN system-wide strategy on water and sanitation, and ongoing preparations for 2026 have created new space for more integrated, cross-sector action. Within this context, several key moments in 2026 offer opportunities to anchor water more firmly within global policy debates.
