TRENDS Research & Advisory participated in the launch of the United Nations policy paper, Water as a Tool for Peace: Reassessing Progress and Shaping the 2026 Agenda (Flowing Towards Peace), during a high-level event organized by the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations in New York. The event was held as part of the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2026) and was attended by UN officials, diplomats, government representatives, research institutions, and international organizations.
The TRENDS delegation included Mr. Nasser Mohamed Al Ali, Executive Director of TRENDS Group, and Professor Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi, Senior Researcher and Deputy General Manager of TRENDS Research & Advisory. They participated in the launch of the policy paper, which represents one of the most significant international research initiatives supporting preparations for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
The policy paper is the result of a collaborative international research effort involving TRENDS Research & Advisory, the Geneva Water Hub, and PED-Senegal. It was developed in partnership with UN-Water and the UN Water Convention to support global efforts to strengthen water security and build international consensus ahead of the 2026 UN Water Conference, which will be co-hosted by the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Senegal in Abu Dhabi this December.
The project also received support from the governments of the Swiss Confederation and the Republic of Slovenia, reflecting the importance of multilateral cooperation in addressing global water challenges.
A Tool for Peace
During the launch session, Professor Abdulaziz Al-Shehhi presented the paper’s key findings and recommendations. He emphasized that threats to global water security extend beyond climate change and natural disasters to include armed conflicts, attacks on water resources and infrastructure, and the mismanagement and unsustainable exploitation of water resources. Together, these factors are significantly intensifying the global water crisis.
He explained that the paper calls for fostering sustained international attention to the concept of “water as a tool for peace” by strengthening global cooperation to protect water resources, prevent their use as instruments of conflict or political pressure, and instead harness them to promote dialogue, build trust, and enhance stability and peace among nations and communities.
Prof. Al-Shehhi noted that TRENDS’ participation in this international initiative reflects its ongoing commitment to producing strategic knowledge, supporting evidence-based policymaking, and developing practical solutions to global challenges. This contribution further reinforces TRENDS’ position as an active research partner addressing issues of international priority.
Strengthening International Cooperation
The policy paper highlights that water is no longer merely a natural resource or a development issue; it has become a cornerstone of international peace and security. It calls for enhanced international cooperation, the development of practical, science-based policies, and greater efforts to transform water into a catalyst for dialogue, confidence-building, and peaceful cooperation among countries and societies.
The paper aims to strengthen international political momentum and offers a set of policy recommendations and practical measures designed to support dialogue among governments, international organizations, and relevant stakeholders. These recommendations seek to contribute to ambitious outcomes at the 2026 United Nations Water Conference while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6, which focuses on ensuring access to clean water and sanitation for all.
On the sidelines of the launch of the policy paper, the TRENDS delegation met with His Excellency Ambassador Mohamed Abushahab, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations in New York, at the United Nations Headquarters.
The meeting discussed the pivotal and vital role that think tanks and research institutions play in generating innovative ideas, forward-looking insights, and rigorous research-based policy recommendations that support decision-makers and contribute to the formulation of effective international policies to address current and future global challenges.
During the meeting, the delegation presented His Excellency with a copy of the United Nations Water Policy Paper, highlighting TRENDS’ ongoing research efforts and its active contributions to this vital field.
His Excellency the Ambassador commended the center’s distinguished efforts and high-quality publications, stressing the importance of such scholarly outputs in supporting the UAE’s diplomatic efforts and reinforcing the country’s leadership as it prepares to host the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
Water Security
Following the launch, the TRENDS delegation participated in a closed session at United Nations Headquarters, bringing together representatives of UN Member States, senior UN officials, and international experts in water and sustainable development.
The discussions focused on strengthening water security in conflict-affected regions, promoting water diplomacy as a tool for conflict prevention, and identifying practical mechanisms to translate the policy paper’s recommendations into concrete initiatives and programs in preparation for the 2026 United Nations Water Conference.
TRENDS’ participation reflects its expanding role in supporting international efforts to generate impactful knowledge, strengthen global research partnerships, and help shape forward-looking policies that advance sustainable development and human security. This engagement is rooted in TRENDS’ conviction that scientific research is a fundamental pillar of informed decision-making and an essential driver of a more sustainable, secure, and peaceful future.
