The G7 group has pushed the issue of water higher up the global agenda with the declaration of a commitment to establish a G7 Water Coalition.

The Group of Seven (G&) consists of Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The European Union also participates in the Group.

The announcement comes in a joint Communiqué issued yesterday following a three day meeting of G7 Climate, Energy and Environment Ministers in Italy.

The G7 said the Water Coalition will aim to identify common goals and strategies, to catalyze shared ambitions and priorities to tackle the global water crisis, and to mainstream water and its cross-sectoral relevance in an impactful and coherent way into the existing fora and processes, including by raising the political focus on water at the global level, increasing the impact of the G7 and complementing other global initiatives.

The Coalition will first build a preliminary inventory of the processes and opportunities where the G7 can help shape the global water agenda.

The Communiqué states:

"Recognizing the importance of water for sustainable development, prosperity and peace and the need for concrete action, we commit to establish a G7 Water Coalition as annexed in order to:

• identify common goals and strategies to catalyze shared ambitions and priorities to tackle the global water crisis and emphasize the role of multi-sectoral approaches;
• mainstream water and its cross-sectoral relevance in an impactful and coherent way into the existing fora and processes, including by raising the political focus on water at the global level, increasing the impact of the G7 and complementing other global initiatives;
• promote effective, efficient, inclusive, and just policies to achieve SDG 6 and other international waterrelated goals and targets and to coordinate inputs and positions in preparation of major water events or other events where water issue might be discussed and/or negotiated;
• engage with the relevant experts as appropriate and report back to the relevant G7 working groups on its activities in 2025."

The Ministers have also committed to strengthen policy cooperation and research on water to promote the importance of integrated water resource management and adopt coherent responses to the water crisis across sectors, regions and actors, taking into account the interlinkages of water, ecosystems, energy, food security and nutrition.

In addition, they will also scale-up investment in sustainable, disaster-proof and climate-resilient water and sanitation infrastructure and nature-based solutions, including closing the investment gap in water and sanitation.

G7 to lead shift to circular economies - cross-cutting actions include textile and apparel sectors 

The G7 also plans to take a number of cross-cutting actions to promote circular and sustainable bioeconomy solutions, with textiles and clothing production one of the sectors specifically identified where action is needed.

The Communiqué says:

“We also recognize that reducing the social, environmental and climate pressures and impacts from textiles and apparel production and consumption, while maintaining economic benefits, will need a systemic change towards circular economies and that the G7 should lead this shift. Textile and apparel production from primary resources causes significant environmental impacts including on water and biodiversity and increasing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and textile production quadrupled over the past half century. Throughout the lifecycle, garments shed fibres that are micropollutants including microplastics and clothing is not often recycled in the downstream stage. Moreover, many used garments are exported to low-income countries, including in Africa and in Asia, which can overwhelm local waste management.”

At least one yearly meeting of the Water Coalition  will be organized by the G7 Presidency and can be implemented through an ad hoc workshop back-to-back to or on the margins of G7 meetings or other relevant events or at specific occasions. The Coalition may also meet at other times around major relevant events,  The outcome documents of the G7 Water Coalition meetings may also include concise and future-oriented summary reports and suggested next steps.

Click here to download the Communiqué in  full.