Sports as a driver for global solutions π
The 2026 UN Water Conference hosted an intimate roundtable at Goals House in New York, where leaders across professional sports, cultural institutions, policymakers, and development, were eager to explore how sports and culture can help shape the future of water.
Moderated by CNBCβs Tania Bryer, the discussion featured Shaima Gargash, Director of Energy & Sustainability at the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside Alice Ashpitel, Head of Sustainability at the Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula 1 Team, and Pops Mensah-Bonsu, former NBA player and Adapt2Win Champion.
The conversation focused on how storytelling, public platforms, fan bases, and cultural institutions can bring the importance of water to wider public audiences, creating opportunities to collaborate on solutions and new ideas. Participants explored how storytellers, athletes, and artists can build understanding, inspire engagement and forge partnerships to advance water resilience and SDG6.
βWe want to break silos and think out of the box about innovative solutions, and we need everyone to help us design the future.β β Shaima Gargash, Director of Energy & Sustainability at UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
