Dr Kovács represented Hungary’s Water Sector at the Seventh Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health.
Dr Kovács, founder and CEO of Pureco, participated in the Seventh Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol on Water and Health, held in Budapest. Representing the Hungarian Water Association (HWA, president), while also carrying the colours of the Hungarian Water Partnership (HWP, chairman), the European Water Association (EWA, past-president) - where he serves as an Honorary Member - and the African Water and Sanitation Association (AfWASA) as a Member of its Strategic and Technical Council, Dr Kovács demonstrated his dedication to international water cooperation.
The Meeting of the Parties, a United Nations event jointly organised by the WHO and UNECE, brings together government representatives, experts, and stakeholders to advance the implementation of the Protocol on Water and Health, aiming to ensure universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation, and hygiene across the pan-European region.
During the session focused on the 2026 United Nations Water Conference on Vision and Outcomes (to be held on 2–4 December 2026 in the United Arab Emirates), he raised critical questions to the panellists introducing the event’s program. Drawing on his extensive experience from the 2023 UN Water Conference in New York and on nearly three years of continued engagement since, Dr Kovács emphasised the urgent need to address the financial gap between growing global water infrastructure demands and the limited funding available.
He proposed that the 2026 UN Water Conference include this issue prominently on its agenda and called for a stronger focus on ensuring that allocated funds primarily support UN-accredited SDG Accelerator Solutions, particularly those advancing SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.
Through the Hungarian Water Partnership’s network, numerous Hungarian-developed technologies are already contributing to achieving these goals by offering affordable, efficient, and sustainable water management solutions recognised by the United Nations. These innovations demonstrate how collaborative national expertise can generate global impact in solving pressing water challenges.
Following the session, Dr Kovács held productive discussions with panellists and event organisers, who invited him to take an active role in shaping this topic within the broader agenda of the upcoming UN Water Conference 2026. He expressed his commitment to continuing this dialogue and working together toward tangible progress and bankable solutions that can accelerate global water security.
