Financing adaptation to climate change

Left to right: Mexican Ambassador to France, Carlos de Icaza; José Luis Luege, General Director of CONAGUA; José Angel Gurría, OECD’s General-Secretary; and Joaquim Oliveira Martins, Head of Division at the Public Governance and Territorial Development Directorate

Signature of the cooperation agreement. Left to right: José Luis Luege, General Director of CONAGUA, and José Angel Gurría, OECD’s General-Secretary

- Benchmarks, dissemination and activity exchanges, will strengthen all of the actions and policies Mexico is implementing as part of the 2030 Water Agenda.

- The CONAGUA Director General said that private investment is a key element to water management processes in Mexico.

The National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA) and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), signed a cooperation agreement in the framework of the 6th World Water Forum (WWF) held in Marseille, France, that will directly benefit and strengthen Mexico’s 2030 Water Agenda. The agreement consists of implementing a set of benchmarks and information and activity exchanges to improve development of the water sector in Mexico.

The emphasis of the work under this agreement is focused on governance and political reform, plus the inclusion of the private sector in financing key projects that will take the Mexican water sector to its next level of development.

CONAGUA Director General José Luis Luege, said that “everyone who lives in our country is responsible for the water challenges Mexico faces. Now more than ever, we are looking for a united Mexico based on common causes that lead to concrete solutions. Consequently, governments and the public and private sectors, must strive to create a Mexico that guarantees water security for all.”

On the other hand, José Ángel Gurría, Secretary General of the OECD, noted the work the Mexican Federal Government has done to implement the 2030 Water Agenda through the National Water Commission. This is a long-term project that extends beyond specific government administrations and becomes one of the key routes to consensus and development in Mexico.

The cooperation agreement between CONAGUA and the OECD consists of designing the regulatory framework that will serve to follow up on the implementation of the 2030 Water Agenda, while analyzing the return on public and private investment in water, strengthened with efficient management and promotion of the private sector’s involvement. The OECD will also be in charge of identifying the obstacles faced by the 2030 Water Agenda, to make recommendations to improve governance practices, implement the best investment plans and create an environment that encourages private capital investment.

This cooperation agreement also includes work the OECD will do to facilitate the Mexican Government’s contribution to multilateral talks on water policy in Latin America. Gurría said that CONAGUA has ample experience in efficient water resource management, which is why it is so important to exchange experiences that can help other nations and thus contribute to best practices. The OECD Secretary General added that “the water sector faces significant challenges that must be swiftly and responsibly met, to keep from jeopardizing economic, environmental and human health development.”

In summary, this cooperation agreement between the Mexican Water Commission and the OECD provide a clear example of the tangible solutions and agreements that have been put on the table during this 6th World Water Forum, which also showcase the collective efforts and great relationship that exists between the Mexican Government, CONAGUA and the OECD.