As governments move towards the finalisation and adoption of the United Nations’ (UN’s) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), Water and Sanitation Affairs Minister Nomvula Mokoyane has described the global water and sanitation dialogue as “more urgent and candid” and the general mood more solution-oriented, pointing to an acceleration of water and sanitation issues up the international agenda.

Addressing the Water Research Commission’s (WRC’s) Research Development and Innovation symposium, in Johannesburg, via videolink on Wednesday, she said awareness of water both as the primary risk to the global economy – as assessed by the World Economic Forum – as well as the route to green growth and sustainable development now had universal acknowledgement across all geographical regions, stakeholder sectors and political ideologies.