United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment, and Health

09/06/2026

During World Water Week in Stockholm, UNU-INWEH was featured in a “Behavioural Perspectives for Inclusive Water Security for People and Progress" session that explored how the application of behavioural and psychological sciences can strengthen inclusive water policy and practice by improving understanding of how people and institutions make decisions, what constrains action, and what enables change.

Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Officer Dr. Rohit Ramchandani presented UNU-INWEH’s forthcoming Water and Behavioural Sciences Program, a three-course, open-access, UNU-certificate-granting curriculum designed to embed behavioural insights and behaviour-centred design in everyday water-sector practice.

Huge thanks to our participants that brought their expertise to this discussion.

09/05/2026

In an already fractured world where the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence is changing how we view the world around us and our understanding of each other, AI is also reshaping knowledge production and decision-making processes. These issues were explored at the 11th International Conference on Global Citizenship Education conference in Seoul, Republic of Korea.

Dr. Mir Matin, Head of Research and Training at UNU-INWEH was featured in a "Wars, Walls, and Algorithms: Taking Stock of a World Falling Apart" session where key issues and challenges related to AI acceleration and deployment were discussed, including the fuelling of physical conflicts within and across national borders, the hardening of ideological and digital divides, and the pervasive yet invisible crisis of the environment. It will then reflect on the role of education–and GCED in particular–in re-centring humanity in an increasingly fragmented world.

The high-level panel brought together a wide range of perspectives on with two followed sessions on to examine building global citizenship from the ground up and educational policy from planetary concerns.

Thank you to the panelists and audience for pushing these conversation from ideas to discussions and leading the way to solutions.

09/04/2026

UNU-INWEH extends its condolences to the family and friends of Dr. James Bruce who passed away last week.

Dr. Bruce served as Chair of UNU-INWEH for the first two-year term of the International Advisory Committee and played an integral part in the early years of shaping the institutions path and identity. He was a Canadian environmental scientist and a leading contributor to work on climate, water resources and environmental policy.

His support and dedication to creating a profound legacy continues to guide and inspire the institution.

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

World Water Week has been held every year since 1991 to explore urgent water-related topics and this years discussion brough forth a diverse range of topics from global leaders and expert panelists.

One of the focal points during discussions centered on the UN flagship report "Global Water Bankruptcy" by Prof. Kaveh Madani کاوه مدنی who attended the week to receive the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize. Record droughts and floods have hit many parts of the world in recent months, in line with UN warnings that we have entered the era of “water bankruptcy”.

Here are five major trends that came out of this years World Water Week.

09/03/2026

On the margins of the World Water Week 2026 in Stockholm, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala, UNU Rector and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, and Prof. Kaveh Madani, UNU-INWEH Director and 2026 Stockholm Prize Laureate, held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Abdulla Ahmed Balalaa, Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Energy and Sustainability of the UAE. The discussions were focused on preparations and ambitions for the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, as well as cooperation opportunities between UNU and the United Arab Emirates.

Prof. Marwala and Prof. Kaveh Madani held bilateral meetings with H.E. Mr. Timur Butunbayev, Deputy Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan.

The discussion builds on the previous meeting held at HLPF 2026 earlier this year and growing cooperation between UNU-INWEH and the Republic of Uzbekistan on water governance, sustainable development and science-informed policymaking. H.E. Butunbayev also delivered high-level opening remarks at the UNU-INWEH’s session on the New Water Agenda, reflecting on how the Global Water Bankruptcy framework can inform policymaking in Central Asia and the world in the lead-up to the 2026 UN Water Conference.

They also held a bilateral meeting with H.E. Mr. Antti Rautavaara, Special Envoy for Water at the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland. Rector Prof. Marwala thanked H.E. Mr. Rautavaara for Finland’s support to the UN Water Conference Academic Hub and UNU-INWEH’s inclusive water governance initiatives. The discussions were focused on preparations and ambitions for the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference, including contributions to the Interactive Dialogue “Water for Cooperation”, which Finland co-chairs, and growing cooperation between UNU and the Republic of Finland.

A final bilateral meeting took place with H.E. Tanja Miškova, Ambassador-at-Large for Water Diplomacy and Circular Economy at the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia. Rector Prof. Marwala thanked Ambassador Miškova for Slovenia’s leadership in advancing science-based policymaking and international water cooperation, and the discussion highlighted opportunities to strengthen collaboration in support of sustainable water governance and the 2026 UN Water Conference.

09/02/2026

Ahead of the Stockholm Water Prize award ceremony, Prof. Kaveh Madani کاوه مدنی was featured in a “Meet the Laureate,” discussion panel exploring his groundbreaking concept on “water bankruptcy” concept, which has shifted global water debates toward the critical role of governance in addressing systemic water challenges.

The programme was followed by a Royal Coffee with His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf, Prof. Tshilidzi Marwala UNU Rector and Under-Secretary-General of the UN, as well as Ms. Jessika Roswall, European Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy.

A memorable moment ahead of the formal presentation of the Stockholm Water Prize — often described as the “Nobel Prize of Water", for outstanding contributions to the sustainable use and protection of water resources.

09/02/2026

Science Talk | 9 September, 2026, 10:00-11:00 (EST)

In our next , Dr. Mohsen Mesgaran, Ecological Modeling and Food Security Lead, will explore how w**ds and invasive plants can reduce crop yields, displace native species and negatively affect human health while w**d management remains heavily reliant on herbicides.

The talk will examine how digital tools can improve the identification, prediction and detection of w**ds and invasive plants, as well as access to knowledge for more effective management.

Dr. Mesgaran will also showcase a computer-vision tool that uses Google Street View imagery to detect and map invasive plants along roadsides, alongside a comprehensive database of regulated plants covering 104 jurisdictions worldwide.

Register now: https://go.unu.edu/lt6lG

09/01/2026

A warm welcome back to the office, Prof. Kaveh Madani کاوه مدنی

Following his recognition as the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate, Prof. Madani returns to UNU-INWEH office after a memorable World Water Week in Stockholm.

Often described as the “Nobel Prize of Water,” the Stockholm Water Prize is the world’s most prestigious award for outstanding contributions to the sustainable use and protection of water resources.

At 44, Prof. Madani is the youngest laureate in the prize’s history, as well as the first UN official to receive the award, formally presented by H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

We’re proud to welcome our Director back home.

08/31/2026

UNU-INWEH Director Prof. Kaveh Madani, 2026 Stockholm Prize Laureate, delivered closing remarks at the “Shaping a Just Water Future” Session, convened by Water Witness International, The Government of South Africa, Sanitation and Water for All, and Water Integrity Network. Moderated by H.E. Ms. Tanja Miškova, Ambassador-at-Large for Water Diplomacy, Republic of Slovenia, this session presented shared frameworks to guide efforts toward dismantling systemic water-related inequalities.