World Water Forum
Istanbul 2009
Introduction
From 16 to 22 March 2009, the international water community gathered in Istanbul, Türkiye, for the 5th World Water Forum, under the overarching theme “Bridging Divides for Water”. The event brought together approximately 16,000 engaged participants and more than 30,000 attendees overall, including national governments, local authorities, UN agencies, civil society, academia, indigenous groups, youth, business leaders, and media. A total of 182 countries were represented, making it one of the most globally diverse Forums to date.
The Forum took place during a moment of profound global transformation, marked by the global financial crisis, growing climate instability, rapid urbanisation and widening water insecurity. Participants highlighted that despite political and cultural divides, “there is more that unites us than divides us”, emphasising a shared commitment to accelerating progress for those most in need.
With over 106 sessions prepared by more than 400 organisations, 5 High-Level Panels, 7 Regional Processes and 1,000 press representatives, the 5th Forum created a unique platform to explore solutions, build partnerships, and strengthen political will for water at the global level.
5th World Water Forum: “Bridging Divides for Water”
The Istanbul Forum was designed to bridge gaps between sectors, regions, political levels, disciplines, and generations. Its objective was to create a more cohesive global response to water challenges by encouraging dialogue between groups that historically operated in silos.
Participants explored water as the common denominator of development, discussing linkages between water, food security, energy production, climate adaptation, public health, disaster prevention, and human rights. Overarching messages emphasised that:
- Water challenges are interconnected and require interdisciplinary approaches,
- Solutions must be adapted to regional and local contexts, not universal templates,
- Education, capacity development, and financing require significant scaling up,
- Stakeholder participation must be integrated from the earliest stages of planning.
The Forum underlined the urgent need to accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), particularly on water supply and sanitation, and to prepare for climate-induced pressures such as disasters, migration, and food insecurity.
“Cities must adapt now — to climate change, to rapid urban growth, to pollution, to ageing infrastructure. The Istanbul Water Consensus shows we are ready to act.”
Highlights of the 5th World Water Forum
Political Commitment at Multiple Levels
The Istanbul Forum featured one of the most comprehensive political processes ever seen at a World Water Forum: mobilising 90 ministers, 19 undersecretaries, over 250 parliamentarians, 300 mayors and, for the first time, several Heads of State, who issued a joint Appeal for Action.
The Ministerial Statement and Water Guide
Ministers and Heads of Delegation adopted a Ministerial Statement, supported by an accompanying Water Guide, after an extensive participatory process involving four Preparatory Committee meetings. These documents addressed global water challenges through the lens of sustainable development and global change.
The Istanbul Water Consensus (Local and Regional Authorities)
Signed by 250 local and regional authorities from 43 countries, this landmark compact called on cities and regions worldwide to adapt their water infrastructure and services to emerging pressures such as climate change, rapid demographic growth, pollution, and aging infrastructure. Signatories committed to preparing local action plans, developing performance indicators, and reporting progress at the subsequent Forum.
What can we remember from this forum?
The 5th World Water Forum in Istanbul will be remembered as a milestone edition that successfully bridged divides across sectors, regions, political levels, and generations. It gathered an unprecedented diversity of actors and emphasised that more unites the global water community than divides it. A major legacy of the Forum was the adoption of an ambitious Ministerial Statement, which committed governments to accelerating progress toward the MDG water and sanitation targets, advancing IWRM and strengthening resilience to water-related disasters. The heated debate on the Right to Water elevated international awareness and showed that momentum toward recognition was rapidly increasing.
At the legislative level, Istanbul launched the International Parliamentary Helpdesk, a global mechanism to improve lawmaking and support parliamentarians in developing effective water governance frameworks. Local leadership emerged strongly through the Istanbul Water Consensus, which mobilised hundreds of cities and regions to adapt their water management systems to climate change, rapid urbanisation, and pollution. The designation of “Champion Cities” showcased concrete models of innovation that could inspire municipal action worldwide.
High-Level Panels deepened collaboration on climate change, finance, disaster risk reduction, and the water–food–energy nexus, connecting water to global development and security agendas. The Water & Climate Panel sent clear messages into the COP-15 negotiations, insisting on the inseparability of climate and water policies. The Finance Panel argued that water infrastructure could drive economic recovery in times of crisis, while the Disaster Panel issued 40 action guidelines after a year marked by devastating global disasters. Regional processes brought forward the priorities of Africa, the Americas, Asia-Pacific, Europe, the Arab region, the Mediterranean and Türkiye, reaffirming that solutions must be adapted to local realities. Citizen and youth engagement reached new levels of visibility, amplifying water issues through widespread media coverage and youth-driven initiatives. The Forum also strengthened interdisciplinary knowledge sharing through extensive thematic sessions focused on governance, financing, capacity building, and global change adaptation.
More broadly, Istanbul helped anchor water more firmly in global diplomatic discussions by convening Heads of State and prompting a joint Appeal for Action on water security. Above all, the Forum demonstrated that lasting progress requires strong political will, coherent governance, and inclusive participation at all levels. It set the stage for future Forums by showing that bridging divides is not only possible but essential for achieving global water security.
From local and regional authorities to Heads of States, as well as Ministers, the 5th World Water Forum showcased several commitments to make water a global priority. For Ministers, key commitments included:
- Intensifying efforts to reach the MDG water and sanitation targets,
- Advancing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at the river-basin level,
- Improving early warning systems to prevent and respond to water-related disasters,
- Enhancing scientific research, education, and technology development,
- Strengthening information and best-practice sharing across regions,
- Increasing the mobilisation and efficiency of financial resources for the sector.
A central debate revolved around recognising water as a human right. While consensus was not achieved, 32 countries had already formally incorporated this right into national law. The discussion advanced global reflection on water rights, which would continue through the UN human rights mechanisms. The Ministerial process also included eight roundtable discussions covering climate, migration, agriculture, energy and finance: many of whose conclusions mirrored thematic deliberations.
Furthermore, for the first time in Forum history, several Heads of State held a dedicated meeting and launched a broad-based Appeal for Action, calling for greater international solidarity and strategic management of water resources. Their intervention highlighted water’s increasing relevance in the context of:
- the global financial crisis,
- climate change impacts,
- fluctuating food and energy prices.
The Appeal underscored water security as a foundation for economic stability, social development, and peace.
The Forum hosted 263 parliamentarians from 57 countries. It was the largest parliamentary gathering in Forum history. They examined legislative responses to decentralisation, governance, transboundary management, and global change. They formally requested the creation of a Permanent International Parliamentary Helpdesk, designed to:
- Coordinate responsibilities for enacting water and sanitation laws,
- Showcase global best practices in legislation,
- Respond rapidly to urgent legislative questions,
- Link parliamentarians in a global cooperation network.
This initiative marked a major step in strengthening the legislative foundations of global water governance.
One of the most influential outcomes of the Forum was the adoption of the Istanbul Water Consensus (IWC), signed by 250 local and regional authorities from 43 countries. This landmark compact called on cities and regions worldwide to adapt their water infrastructure and services to emerging pressures such as climate change, rapid demographic growth, pollution, and ageing infrastructure. Signatories committed to preparing local action plans, developing performance indicators, and reporting progress at the subsequent Forum.
The IWC emphasised decentralisation, innovation, and local empowerment, recognising that municipalities are often the first responders to water challenges. To accelerate implementation, ten major urban centres (including Paris, Vienna, Lausanne, Buenos Aires and Incheon) became “Champion Cities”, tasked with showcasing exemplary governance models and supporting peer learning. By elevating local leadership to the global stage, the IWC helped ensure that urban water management would become a pillar of global water diplomacy.
A political commitment shown at several levels
From local and regional authorities to Heads of States, as well as Ministers, the 5th World Water Forum showcased several commitments to make water a global priority. For Ministers, key commitments included:
- Intensifying efforts to reach the MDG water and sanitation targets,
- Advancing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at the river-basin level,
- Improving early warning systems to prevent and respond to water-related disasters,
- Enhancing scientific research, education, and technology development,
- Strengthening information and best-practice sharing across regions,
- Increasing the mobilisation and efficiency of financial resources for the sector.
A central debate revolved around recognising water as a human right. While consensus was not achieved, 32 countries had already formally incorporated this right into national law. The discussion advanced global reflection on water rights, which would continue through the UN human rights mechanisms. The Ministerial process also included eight roundtable discussions covering climate, migration, agriculture, energy and finance: many of whose conclusions mirrored thematic deliberations.
Furthermore, for the first time in Forum history, several Heads of State held a dedicated meeting and launched a broad-based Appeal for Action, calling for greater international solidarity and strategic management of water resources. Their intervention highlighted water’s increasing relevance in the context of:
- the global financial crisis,
- climate change impacts,
- fluctuating food and energy prices.
The Appeal underscored water security as a foundation for economic stability, social development, and peace.
The Forum hosted 263 parliamentarians from 57 countries. It was the largest parliamentary gathering in Forum history. They examined legislative responses to decentralisation, governance, transboundary management, and global change. They formally requested the creation of a Permanent International Parliamentary Helpdesk, designed to:
- Coordinate responsibilities for enacting water and sanitation laws,
- Showcase global best practices in legislation,
- Respond rapidly to urgent legislative questions,
- Link parliamentarians in a global cooperation network.
This initiative marked a major step in strengthening the legislative foundations of global water governance.
The Istanbul Water Consensus
One of the most influential outcomes of the Forum was the adoption of the Istanbul Water Consensus (IWC), signed by 250 local and regional authorities from 43 countries. This landmark compact called on cities and regions worldwide to adapt their water infrastructure and services to emerging pressures such as climate change, rapid demographic growth, pollution, and ageing infrastructure. Signatories committed to preparing local action plans, developing performance indicators, and reporting progress at the subsequent Forum.
The IWC emphasised decentralisation, innovation, and local empowerment, recognising that municipalities are often the first responders to water challenges. To accelerate implementation, ten major urban centres (including Paris, Vienna, Lausanne, Buenos Aires and Incheon) became “Champion Cities”, tasked with showcasing exemplary governance models and supporting peer learning. By elevating local leadership to the global stage, the IWC helped ensure that urban water management would become a pillar of global water diplomacy.
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