From 9 to 11 November 2023, the conference "Realizing Sustainable Development post-2030: The International Politics, Economics and Law of Clean Water & Sanitation (SDG6)" took place at TU Dresden. The focus was on SDG 6 "Clean Water and Sanitation" and its implementation by 2030. Prof. Dr Lena Partzsch gave a presentation and then took part in a panel discussion alongside Prof. Dr Manuel Fischer (University of Bern) and Larika Waldmann (German Water Partnership). The discussion focused on access to clean water as an issue at the interface of environmental, security and health policy. Contemporary governance and policy solutions for the realization of SDG 6 were discussed, focusing on global policy solutions that involve public (international and national) institutions and private actors from a wide range of policy areas. Furthermore, accountability and responsibility issues were discussed in the context of existing policies and partnerships to realize SDG 6. The participants also examinded SDG 6 in the context of the future of the United Nations and the geopolitical, financial and institutional challenges for any future development agenda.

Background to the conference:

The conference was organised on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the Centre for International Studies (ZIS) and the 25th anniversary of the International Relations programme at TU Dresden. The focus was on SDG 6 and its implementation by 2030, taking stock of the legal, economic, social and political determinants of access to clean water and sanitation as it is halfway to the 2030 Agenda, as well as the challenges and promises that arise from the further development of the SDGs for the post-2030 period. In view of the current transformation and political differences within the United Nations, the conference assessed to which extent international institutions are able to effectively tackle and resolve water problems and conflicts.