News

24 August 2017

Call for cities to shape Urban Water Agenda strategy extended to 9 October

In response to concerns about water quality issues and delays in the implementation of EU water policy, the European Commission has turned its attention to cities and their potential for innovation and improvement in managing water more effectively. With the new Urban Water Agenda 2030 initiative, the Commission hopes to mobilise local governments – including their water utilities – to better share effective policies and practices between themselves, increasing ambition in realising sustainable water management.

Relevant for all stakeholders in the urban water sector, local governments are set to play a central role in the Urban Water Agenda 2030 process. The European Commission is urging public water professionals and policy-makers to devote 15 minutes of their time to participate in the currently running consultation on the draft strategy of this initiative. The feedback will be taken into account in the future design of the Urban Water Agenda, ensuring that it is relevant to cities’ local circumstances, needs and interests.

Coordinated by city-networks ICLEI and EUROCITIES, the first version of the strategy has been compiled with a core group of cities closely involved in the development of the initiative. The current version suggests that cities can voluntarily commit themselves to actions in five strategic directions: local level, river basin, European Union, and global level, with the fifth direction highlighting direct exchanges between local governments as an essential mechanism for making an impact on the ground.

The public consultation is open until 9 October 2017.

For more information, visit www.urbanwateragenda2030.eu or contact water@iclei.org