From 1-5 June 2026 the 27th Council Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) took place at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. The 36 Council Members and many observers, hydrology experts and representatives of the UNESCO Water Family participated in the event, intended to update on the implementation of IHP’s ninth phase (2022-2029), launch new initiatives,…
During the 27th Council Session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), Youth4Water was approved as one of its Flagship Initiatives. Building on the outcomes of the 1st UNESCO Water Youth Dialogue in 2025, Youth4Water will empower young people as key actors in shaping inclusive, resilient and sustainable water governance at local, national, regional and global…
On 11 and 12 May representatives of national IHP committees met in Istanbul to discuss on-going activities of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP). IHP is the only UN intergovernmental initiative dedicated to water. The programme has a scientific objective: advancing hydrological science. But key decisions are taken by the IHP Intergovernmental Council; its highest decision-making…
The first meeting of the Netherlands UNESCO WMO Water Committee of 2026 was hosted at Deltares, Delft, on 22 April. The meeting brought together 18 representatives of the scientific, policy and implementation communities working on international hydrology. The agenda included the following points: Presentations on behalf of the National Hydrological Advisor on highlights of the…
In the coming months, several important meetings will take place in the context of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme. On 16 April: Special meeting of the Netherlands UNESCO WMO Water Committee, the Netherlands Permanent Delegation to UNESCO, and the IHP Secretariat On 22 April: National meeting of the Netherlands UNESCO WMO Water Committee On 11 and…
A long-read article, developed by members of the Netherlands UNESCO WMO Water Committee, has been published on the website www.dutchwatersector.com. After introducing the committee, its goals and past achievements, examples are provided about how the Netherlands contributes to the international water research and implementation programmes of UNESCO and WMO. The publication stresses the importance of…
Following resignation of the previous Dutch Cabinet, the NUWWC decided to formulate a policy advice to the Informateur, who is leading explorative discussions with leaders of political parties about the next Cabinet’s composition. Many other organizations have done this as well. The committee’s advice focuses on the role of water knowledge in international water policy…
After publishing the new committee’s brochure, two inlays have been produced as well. The inlays highlight key achievements and contributions of Dutch organizations and experts to the water programmes of UNESCO and WMO over the past decade. They also contain some historical background and facts & figures regarding the long-standing collaboration. Call to other national…
During the 43rd session of UNESCO’s General Conference, the Netherlands was elected a Member of the Intergovernmental Council of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme of UNESCO for the period 2026-2029. In additition of being Council member, the Netherlands will also be represented in the subsidiary Resolutions Drafting Committee. Several member states stepped down, and others became…
On 18 November, the 2nd meeting in 2025 of the NUWWC took place. About 20 representatives of the scientific, policy and implementation communities working on international hydrology convened at Fort Vechten, Bunnik. Discussions during and results of the meeting included the following: Presentations by representatives of the Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute and the National Hydrological…
An Anniversary Webinar Series is being held by UNESCO IHP, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the programme and 60 years of water sciences at UNESCO. The series, titled “Frontiers of Global Water Science,” features distinguished experts from the UNESCO Water Family, discussing critical water challenges and innovations. The upcoming ninth webinar in the series will…
In 2025, the term of office of Belgium, Türkiye and the United Kingdom of Great Brittain and Northern Ireland as Council Members of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme will end. The Netherlands is amongst several countries in Group 1 (region Western Europe and North America) which expressed interest to become a new Member of the Council.…
On the website you can find more information about the composition and objectives of the committee, and details about the water research and implementation programmes of UNESCO (the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme) and WMO (as part of their Vision and Strategy on Hydrology). The site also presents some highlights of Dutch contributions to those programmes over…
WMO launches State of Global Water Resources Report 2024 On 18 September, WMO published its State of Global Water Resources Report 2024. The 2024 edition of the State of Global Water Resources report documents an extraordinary year shaped by record heat, climate extremes, and widespread water-related impacts. With global surface temperatures reaching 1.55 °C above…
Inaugural address Michelle van Vliet, NUWWC co-chair On 4 September, Michelle van Vliet, co-chair of the Netherlands UNESCO WMO Water Committee, delivered her inaugural address as Professor of ‘Water Quality and Sustainable Water Systems.’ She highlighted the challenges of safeguarding future water security. Even in water-rich countries such as the Netherlands, we see that water…
UNESCO, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Cap-Net and the Netherlands UNESCO WMO Water Committee (NUWWC) held a workshop on 1 July 2025, with the objective of advancing the development of a water education indicator, including a Roadmap and in connection with post-2030 Agenda political processes. This workshop brought together leading experts and stakeholders related…
UN Special Envoy on Water receives new committee brochure The UN Special Envoy on Water, ms Retno Marsudi, attended the 7th Interational Sympsosium on Knowledge and Capacity for the Water Sector, held at IHE Delft from 2-4 July 2025. After her keynote address, Rector Eddy Moors discussed the composition and collective objectives of the committee…
Results national committee meeting The Netherlands UNESCO WMO Water Committee met on the 3rd of July for the first committee meeting in 2025. Special guest on this occasion was ms Rahmah Elfithri, Chief of the Capacity Development and Water Family coordination Section at the UNESCO Water Sciences Division. She presented the governance structure of UNESCO’s…