HSF at Water Conference in Tajikistan
HSF Korea Participates in International Water Conference in Tajikistan
The 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action took place in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, from 25–28 May 2026, bringing together governments, international organizations, experts, and stakeholders to discuss global water challenges and sustainable water management. Hanns Seidel Foundation (HSF) actively participated in the conference, with Dr. Hyun-Ah Choi, Senior Researcher at HSF Korea, leading the HSF delegation.
During the conference, the HSF delegation also held side talks with the RO Korea national delegation, i-WSSM, CAIAG and IUCN Water and Wetland team the CAIAG to discuss major water-related challenges across Asia and explore opportunities for regional cooperation. The discussions also highlighted the upcoming Korea–Central Asia Summit, scheduled for Seoul this September, as an important platform to strengthen collaboration on shared water issues and sustainable water management between Korea and Central Asian countries. It also noted that such cooperation frameworks could help address shared water- and river-related issues on the Korean Peninsula.
Participants noted that global water consumption has increased by approximately 1% annually over the past 40 years, and this trend is expected to continue in the coming decades, further emphasizing the importance of SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation). In response to these growing challenges, participants stressed the need to strengthen regional and international cooperation frameworks that effectively integrate economic, social, and environmental considerations. Expanding access to water conservation technologies, water reuse systems, and efficient water resource management solutions was also identified as a key priority. The discussions further highlighted the importance of improving international and regional water governance systems to protect water resources, reduce and prevent pollution, and promote sustainable water management technologies. In their opening remarks, National Representatives and UN organizations emphasized that increasing water stress and rising water demand pose direct threats to humanity, ecosystems, and sustainable development. They also underlined the importance of solidarity and collective action in responding to the growing global water crisis.
Throughout the conference, participants repeatedly stressed the urgent need to move beyond declarations and commitments by transforming shared goals and international agreements into concrete actions and practical solutions for a more sustainable and water-secure future.
