European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's opening address at Venice Climate Week 2026 Venice, 8 June 2026 Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends, Welcome to the final day of Venice Climate Week. I'm sure you agree, there could hardly be a more fitting place to speak about resilience, climate, and the future of water than this beautiful city. Venice has alway...
European Commission - Speech [Check Against Delivery] Commissioner Roswall's opening address at Venice Climate Week 2026 Venice, 8 June 2026 Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, colleagues, friends, Welcome to the final day of Venice Climate Week. I'm sure you agree, there could hardly be a more fitting place to speak about resilience, climate, and the future of water than this beautiful city. Venice has always lived in dialogue with water. For centuries, Venetians understood something that the modern world is only now rediscovering: water is never simply a backdrop to human civilisation. Instead, it shapes human prosperity, security, health, trade, migration, and peace. It powers our societies, drives our industry, grows our food and feeds our ecosystems. Water is, as Leonardo da Vinci famously said, the driving force of all nature. But, today, water is also a great vulnerability. Rising seas, extreme rainfall, floods, droughts, water scarcity and changing ecosystems are all reminders that water is where climate change becomes concrete. I have seen this firsthand across Europe – with rural communities on the front line of climate change, with industry, with civil society. With farmers and landowners facing crippling drought here in the Mediterranean. And I have discussed it with leaders and stakeholders around the world – from Cairo to Osaka to New York. Every time, I come away from these discussions with the same clear takeaways: First – that water resilience must become one of the defining political and strategic agendas of our time. And second – water must unite where other issues divide. Water forces cooperation because no nation, no region, and no community can solve these challenges alone. That's why events like this one are so important – and why I'm so glad to be part of this discussion. For the European Union, water is a strategic priority for resilience, preparedness, security, prosperity, and international partnership. We know what climate extremes look like. We have seen devastating floods across Europe. We have seen historic droughts in the Mediterranean basin. And we have seen growing pressure on agriculture, inland waterways, energy production, and ecosystems. At the same time, Europe has developed important experience – in water governance, basin management, wastewater treatment, circular water use, nature restoration, and more. The Water Resilience Strategy, adopted last June, builds on this experience and provides a roadmap towards a water secure future in Europe and beyond. It has three vital objectives: One – restoring and protecting the water cycle, from source to sea. Two – building a water-smart economy. And three – ensuring access to clean and affordable water and sanitation for all. We are already taking concrete steps to reach these goals – at home and abroad. We are investing in infrastructure, water efficiency, urban planning, digital solutions and more here at home. We are supporting hydropower projects in Asia. Desalination in the Middle East. Sanitation in Africa. But also, flood prevention, smart irrigation, transboundary cooperation and other crucial areas. For example, we know that that healthy soils, forests, wetlands, and floodplains are our most effective water infrastructure. They store water during heavy rains, release it during droughts, purify it naturally, and support biodiversity. So, we are devising a Sponge Facility to better coordinate and scale up initiatives aimed at increasing natural water retention across Europe. The goal is to move these nature-based solutions from niche projects to mainstream practice – and then we can share that experience around the world. Today, water action is too fragmented across policy areas: climate, security, agriculture, urban planning and more. They are discussed separately, even though water runs through them all. That needs to change. We need to be smarter, more coherent, and more collective in our response to growing water challenges. Well, 2026 is a decisive year for building synergies across sectors. This year, the international community will gather for the COPs of the three Rio Conventions — on desertification, biodiversity and climate change. All three have key deliverables for the water agenda. If we make progress, we can unlock transformative action ahead of the UN Water Conference, in December. In each of these settings and forums, our guiding principle is simple – water resilience though cooperation. Nearly half the world's population depends on transboundary river basins. So, water cooperation must become a central pillar of diplomacy. The European Union has unique experience here. From the Rhine to the Danube, from cross-border flood management to common environmental standards, Europe has learned that cooperation over shared resources creates trust and stability. And that's why we are strengthening our support for basin-level cooperation, regional water institutions, and expanded water diplomacy. But resilience must also be inclusive. Water injustice is growing. The communities least responsible for climate change are often the most exposed to water stress, floods, and ecosystem collapse. Women and girls continue to bear the brunt of water scarcity. So, a credible water resilience agenda must be rooted in solidarity. And it must be rooted in listening -- because many local communities already possess practical solutions. And this brings me back to Venice – named a Resilience Hub by the United Nations. This city has survived for centuries because generations invested in long-term stewardship. Today, Venice is again becoming a laboratory of resilience – taking innovative approaches to disaster risk reduction and urban sustainability. The Mose system, which has been upgraded to manage flood risks, and the ongoing RESTORE project, which aims to restore the lagoon's ecological balance – are examples to us all. Just like the citizens and leaders of this city. It is a reminder that the resilience agenda cannot remain only a discussion among national governments or international institutions. Regions, cities, ports, river basin authorities, universities, businesses, and local communities all play a critical role. Cities are redesigning public spaces to absorb floods. Regions are restoring wetlands. Farmers are adopting water-efficient practices. Researchers are improving forecasting technologies. And citizens are mobilising around water stewardship. We need to increase and build on these efforts. Ladies and gentlemen, Let me finish with a vision for the future. The Mediterranean is one of the world's most climate-vulnerable regions. But it could become a flagship for climate resilience cooperation. A place where water becomes an opportunity for partnership rather than a source of competition. That means investing together in sustainable water systems. Sharing technologies and expertise. Strengthening regional preparedness. Protecting marine and coastal ecosystems. And building trust through practical cooperation. So, as we look ahead, as we tackle climate change, and as we build resilient economies, let us put water where it belongs – at the centre of everything. And let us make water cooperation a pillar of global stability. Because water reminds us of something fundamental. We are united by the global water cycle. And to create a water resilient future for all, we must act, as one, to protect this cycle – and with it, our societies, our economies, and our future. Thank you. SPEECH/26/1293
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