Extraordinary academic lecture at the Ludovika-UPS MA in International Water Governance and Water Diplomacy
Csaba Kőrösi, 77th President of the UN General Assembly and Strategic Director of the Blue Planet Foundation, drew the audience's attention to the escalation of geopolitical crises and the need for a significant metamorphosis of action for sustainability.
The Honorary Doctor of Ludovika University of Public Service gave a lecture in English on "Sustainability Transition - Goals, Challenges, Opportunities" on 29 February 2024.
The students of the Master of International Water Policy and Water Diplomacy of the Faculty of Water Sciences, who were joined by Master of Public Administration students and interested guests, were invited to participate in a panel discussion following the thought-provoking speech of the former UN dignitary, who gave a factual presentation of our times in the light of the climate crisis. The event, moderated by two master programme lecturers, János Zlinszky and Zsófia Tomaj, naturally focused on the most pressing issues and challenges facing water policy and water diplomacy.
By outlining the geopolitical flashpoints that are unfolding globally today and by highlighting the 17 pillars of the UN Global Compact, adopted by all UN member states in 2015, which cover the entire social and economic functioning of the world. By presenting the lack of achievements of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which aim to achieve the goals of all UN member states, the honorary doctoral candidate presented a realistic vision of the future world, leading to crises. He pointed out, however, that many promising trends have been set in motion in the world. To safeguard global public goods, it is essential to strengthen cooperation within, between and across countries, to build public trust, to integrate human, social, financial, environmental and built capital, and to measure outcomes in a complex way that goes beyond economic development.
The second half of the presentation focused on the UN Sustainable Development Goal 6, which sets out the global framework for ensuring sustainable water management and basic sanitation for all. In this context, the Hungarian diplomat reported on the results of the UN Conference on Water held under his presidency from 22 to 24 March 2023, presenting the nine cornerstones, the agenda of which is of particular importance in the prevention and management of the increasing frequency and scale of water crises that are likely to occur in the future. These cornerstones are the linking of water and climate policies, the development of global water indicators, the development of early warning systems, the decoupling of food and energy from water, the development of new water economics, the development of education, the conclusion of transboundary agreements and a new UN institutional framework for water.
Csaba Kőrösi stressed that since most of the world's conflicts are water-related, strengthening water security is a global existential issue. "If we were to consider climate change as a shark, water crises would be its teeth," he said, using the analogy of the interdependence of climate and water issues. Therefore, maximum preparation and commitment of future water policy professionals is essential to achieve sustainability goals.
During the roundtable discussion that concluded the presentation, the audience was introduced to the deeper professional aspects of the climate and water policy issues outlined in the presentation and the more personal background of the former UN General Assembly President. Naturally, the Honorary Doctor also answered questions from the audience, stressing the importance of the ability of future water policy professionals to act quickly.
The event was organized by the Faculty of Water Sciences of the LUPS in cooperation with the University's Institute for Environmental Sustainability.