Background

Water governance is increasingly shaped by the need for intersectoral water action, as reflected in Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and water–energy–food–ecosystems nexus frameworks that aim to improve coherence across water, agriculture, energy and ecosystems.

Within this evolving policy landscape, biodiversity is a key determinant of water security, with healthy ecosystems regulating water quantity, quality and resilience. However, this interdependence, in particular between water and biodiversity agendas, is not yet adequately reflected in planning and investment systems. In practice, governance remains fragmented across sectoral institutions, resulting in weak integration between ecosystem management and water security objectives. Water continues to be governed primarily as a resource, rather than as part of interconnected socio-ecological systems.

The Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) provides a strong mandate to address this gap, particularly through Targets 2, 3, 8, 11 and 14, which call for ecosystem restoration, conservation, climate resilience, maintenance of ecosystem services, and mainstreaming across sectors. However, operational pathways to translate these targets into coherent intersectoral water action remain limited.

As a result, ecosystem functions that underpin hydrological regulation -such as infiltration, storage, flow regulation, water purification and coastal protection - are not systematically embedded in water allocation, infrastructure planning or investment decisions. This leads to underinvestment in ecosystem integrity and increases exposure to cascading risks, including droughts, land degradation and watershed degradation.

Nature-based Solutions (NbS) provide a practical entry point to address this gap. By enabling integrated action across sectors through the protection, restoration and sustainable management of ecosystems such as wetlands and river basins, NbS can enhance water security while delivering co-benefits for biodiversity, climate mitigation and adaptation, and food systems. Their effective implementation depends on coordination among multiple institutional actors, including water agencies, environment ministries, agriculture and spatial planning authorities.

This approach builds on the recognition that ecological and hydrological connectivity require integrated perspectives such as source-to-sea and water–energy–food–ecosystems nexus frameworks to address interconnected challenges including ecosystem degradation, drought and land and soil degradation. NbS operationalize intersectoral cooperation across the full water continuum, from headwaters to coastal zones.

Objectives

This side event will explore how Nature-based Solutions can opeerationalize the integration of biodiversity within water governance frameworks and support more coherent cross-sectoral planning ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference.

It will examine pathways to align global water objectives with the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, with a specific focus on reinforcing the water dimension in National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and improving coherence with national water policies.

It will further assess enabling conditions for scaling Nature-based Solutions within existing water and biodiversity governance frameworks, with a view to strengthening cooperation across sectors and supporting the delivery of co-benefits for water, biodiversity, climate and food systems.

Expected Outcomes

Key outcomes of the session will include the identification of priority policy and implementation options to support the scaling of Nature-based Solutions, and to strengthen their role in enhancing coherence across water, biodiversity, climate, food systems, and other related policy domains.

The side-event will draw on lessons and recommendations from biodiversity processes to inform the preparation of the UN 2026 Water Conference. It will in particular explore opportunities to strengthen coherence between National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) and national water policies under the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, with a focus on ecosystem-based approaches to water security.

Partners

• Barbara Pompili, French Ambassador for the Environment
• Shaima Gargash, Host country / organizing team of the 2026 UN Water Conference (UAE)
• Marie-Laure Vercambre, Director-General, French Water Partnership
• Cyrille Barnerias, Head of Europe and International Affairs team, French Office for Biodiversity
• Joakim Harlin, Chief Manager, UNEP-DHI Office - Focal point for Interactive Dialogue C. Water for the Planet within framework of the UN Water Conference 2026
• James Dalton, Water Global Director, IUCN
• Monica Kobayashi, Programme Management Officer, CBD Secretariat
• Laurent Bellet, Water and Climate Specialist, EDF Hydro