In a significant achievement for Indonesia’s environmental diplomacy, the United Nations General Assembly adopted the World Lake Day resolution on December 12, 2024, during its 79th Plenary Session in New York. The resolution, proposed by Indonesia, was approved by consensus and received widespread support from 73 co-sponsoring countries from various regions across the globe.
Countries from ASEAN, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa, including the Netherlands, Chile, Russia, China, Germany, Senegal, Kenya, Qatar, and the UAE, joined in backing the resolution. This broad coalition of nations underscores Indonesia’s role as a bridge-builder in international environmental diplomacy.
Ambassador Hari Prabowo, Indonesia’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN, voiced concern over the often-overlooked role of lakes in global environmental discussions. “Currently, many large lakes are shrinking, despite the fact that lakes provide 90% of the world’s freshwater and are crucial for agriculture, energy, and tourism,” he noted in his remarks.
Ambassador Prabowo stressed that the degradation of lakes poses a significant threat to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in areas like food security, biodiversity, and ecosystem health. He emphasized that the sustainable management of lakes is essential to protecting the world’s freshwater resources and ensuring global well-being.
As part of the resolution, August 27 will now be officially recognized as World Lake Day each year. This day is intended to serve as a global reminder of the importance of lakes in maintaining environmental health and the need for sustainable lake management practices.
“The adoption of World Lake Day is a reaffirmation of the international community’s commitment to protecting our lakes and the ecosystems they support,” said Ambassador Prabowo. He added that the resolution highlights the necessity of a collective effort to safeguard freshwater resources for future generations.
The resolution builds on discussions held during the 10th World Water Forum, which took place in Bali, Indonesia, in May 2024. The forum underscored the importance of international cooperation in managing water resources and tackling environmental challenges on a global scale.
Indonesia’s successful push for the adoption of World Lake Day represents a major milestone in the country’s ongoing leadership on environmental issues. The resolution is seen as a testament to Indonesia’s diplomatic efforts to elevate the global conversation on sustainable water management and the protection of vital ecosystems.
The creation of World Lake Day offers a new platform for raising awareness about the critical role that lakes play in our planet’s health and well-being, and it is expected to inspire action toward preserving these valuable resources.
Indonesia’s environmental diplomacy continues to gain momentum, with the country taking a proactive role in shaping global environmental policy and advocating for the sustainable management of natural resources. The success of World Lake Day is just one of many steps in Indonesia’s broader efforts to lead global action on environmental issues.