A session on Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) was held during the ninth meeting of the Forum of the Countries of Latin America and the Caribbean on Sustainable Development, organized by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean. The discussion focused on accelerating sustainable, efficient and inclusive water resource management across agriculture, food systems and broader development priorities, with emphasis on sharing regional good practices and lessons learned.
Rene Orellana Halkyer, Assistant Director-General and FAO Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighted that water governance must move beyond sector-based approaches and instead reflect the interdependence between water, agrifood systems, energy, ecosystems and territorial development. He warned that progress on SDG 6 remains insufficient, with deep inequalities persisting, where poorer households spend a significantly higher share of income on water and sanitation than wealthier groups, and vulnerable communities such as Indigenous and Afro-descendant populations being disproportionately affected.
He further noted that current progress is far off track, with only a small share of SDG 6 targets expected to be achieved on time. He stressed that agriculture, which accounts for about 72 percent of global freshwater use, is central to the challenge, making transformation of agrifood systems essential. He outlined priorities such as improving water efficiency in agriculture, strengthening basin-based governance, expanding investment in water resilience, improving monitoring systems, and mobilizing larger-scale financing to bridge implementation gaps.
Speakers from across the region shared national and technical perspectives on water governance and innovation. Colombia emphasized reforms aimed at universal access and sustainable wastewater management, while also noting that a large share of regional conflicts is linked to water, particularly where agricultural use intensifies competition for resources. Paraguay highlighted rising pressure on groundwater and the need for real-time monitoring systems for shared aquifers, along with stronger transboundary cooperation and national planning frameworks.
Technical innovations were also presented, including water-saving agricultural practices such as alternate irrigation methods in rice cultivation that significantly reduce both water use and emissions, as well as low-cost soil and water conservation systems that enable efficient food production with minimal water inputs. These examples demonstrated how practical innovations can directly improve water efficiency while supporting climate goals.
Academic contributions emphasized the role of science and technology in improving water management, including the use of satellite-based Earth observation systems, improved climate forecasting and stronger data access for decision-making. The importance of translating scientific knowledge into usable tools for policymakers and practitioners was highlighted as a key priority.
The session concluded that Latin America and the Caribbean already possess many of the technical solutions needed to achieve SDG 6, but the main barriers lie in scaling proven approaches, accelerating implementation and strengthening institutional coordination across sectors and borders.
