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2/23/2026

WT Staff

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Monday, February 23, 2026 333 pm EST

The US White House has departed UN Oceans, UN Water and 64 other international organizations while repealing environmental protections at home. What impact could the increased individual economic freedoms have on international, shared drinking water resources?

One hundred years ago, rapidly expanding cities and industrial development had so polluted the waterways, it was said the Mahoning River was 80% sewage. By the late 1960's, chemical contaminants in the Cuyahoga River caught fire, the public cried out for regulation of toxic discharges to water. The Clean Water Act (CWA) was passed in 1972, followed by the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) in 1974, providing all US waterways the protection of the law. As violations of CWA continued, US Congress saw the need to take a stronger position to secure public safety. Illegal dumping became a felony offense in 1988. The US Environmental Protection Agency was granted authority to investigate and lay criminal charges for violation of the CWA and SDWA. The majority of waterways have since recovered to support their intended uses. Discharges have been sustainably managed where compliance has been enforced. The first CWA criminal cases came to trial in 1989, with 867 convictions recorded to date.

Thirty-seven years of historic prosecutions tell a cautionary tale, demonstrating what can happen when corporations and individuals choose convenience over compliance. See the latest WT CrimeBox brief, A Cleveland metal plater deliberately bypassed wastewater pre-treatment for months, contaminating drinking water source for millions, here.

 Over the last year, the US White House has methodically advanced the policy playbook of the Heritage Foundation, clearing regulatory obstacles for rapid industrial expansion. American businesses have been relieved of expense and liability for certain environmental compliance measures, including the recent repeal of industrial air quality regulations and vehicle exhaust regulations. Public drinking water facilities have been relieved of federal legal requirements concerning "forever chemicals", persistent toxins that build up in the environment and in human bodies. See WT article, EPA renounces Safe Drinking Water Act regulation on four PFAS, defers implementation on PFOA and PFOS to 2031, here.

 In January 2026, the most powerful nation in the world announced departure from dozens of international management bodies. Handing out regrets to 66 agencies, the US will no longer participate in a long list of international human rights, justice, security and environmental conservation tables.

A little more than a year ago, the White House issued Executive Order 14199, Withdrawing the United States from and Ending Funding to Certain United Nations Organizations and Reviewing United States Support to All International Organizations. On Jan 7, 2026 came the notice, Withdrawing the United States from International Organizations, Conventions, and Treaties that Are Contrary to the Interests of the United States. The conclusion of EO 14199 notifies the global community of the end of US investment, participation or collaboration in high-level strategic coordination of national policies supporting universal human rights, including access to clean water and sanitation. Whether successful or not, these agencies work at vital subject matter running the gamut from justice and global security, arms proliferation to international law and trade, climate research and environmental conservation.

The withdrawal from international organizations, including UN Oceans, came just weeks ahead of the announcement of Project Vault, with USD $12 billion investment to source and stockpile critical minerals across the USA. The US Export-Import Bank released a statement Feb 6, 2026 committing a loan of USD $10 billion to launch the initiative. As the land-based supply of critical minerals is distributed across jurisdictions unpopular with the US, some analysts speculate the new supply may come from unregulated territory. Given the US has not ratified the High Seas Treaty, or the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, the US withdrawal from UN Oceans and UN University may indicate an opening for deep seabed exploration. The US is not among 169 nations with membership in the International Seabed Authority, which has so far, not issued regulations for mining of the deep seabed. Forty nations of the international community support a moratorium on deep seabed mining until the environmental impact is better understood.

Dr. David Obura is the Chair of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, one of the international research bodies deemed wasteful, ineffective or contrary to US interests. In a press statement released on Jan. 8, Dr. Obura said,

 While it is clearly the prerogative of Governments to withdraw from global processes, like those of IPBES, it is important to remember that this does not change the science or the relevance of that science to the lives and livelihoods of people in every community, in every part of the world. Unfortunately, we cannot withdraw from the fact that more than 1 million species of plants and animals face extinction (IPBES Global Assessment, 2019). Nor can we change the fact that the global economy is losing as much as $25 trillion per year in environmental impacts (IPBES Nexus Assessment, 2024) or restore the missed opportunities of not acting now to generate more than $10 trillion in business opportunity value and 395 million jobs by 2030 (IPBES Transformative Change Assessment, 2024).
In his response, Dr. Obura makes a clear case for the importance of the continued work of IPBES, which remains unwavering in the commitment "to provide the most credible science and evidence about biodiversity to all decision makers and actors, for better informed decisions, policy and action."

The United Nations coordinates global governance on behalf of 193 Member States, based on the principals of equality and autonomy, by the consent of each Member, agreeing to be legally bound by the international treaties and covenants. In this way, the United Nations "can take action on a wide variety of issues due to its unique international character and the powers vested in its Charter, which is considered an international treaty. As such, the UN Charter is an instrument of international law, and UN Member States are bound by it. The UN Charter codifies the major principles of international relations, from sovereign equality of States to the prohibition of the use of force in international relations."

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are achieved as Members participate in global governance, contributing to the development of mutually beneficial and protective treaties. Acceptance of new treaties is indicated by the official signing, followed by ratification, after which the commitment becomes legally binding. Member States genuinely committed to a particular treaty or covenant will enact the appropriate domestic policy, such as the Paris Accord, with enforceable climate mitigation commitments as made by the Members. Member States agree to open dialogue, accountable to host UN committees of independent subject matter experts as they may wish to review human rights violations and assist with conflict resolution.

While the UN is far from perfect, like any human venture, those engaged in global governance are committed to its value in maintaining peace and security. The vital work takes place when Members come to the table to share knowledge, resources and technology. When a Member State decides to withdraw participation from a given forum, the dialogue and influence of that Member is curtailed. Thirty-one UN bodies are included in the US withdrawal order. Both the UN and other affected international bodies are listed below, grouped by primary subject matter and purpose.

Coordination of Global Governance
  • UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs - think tank of the UN analyses and compiles a wide range of economic, social and environmental data and statistics to inform and advise Member States as they take stock of trends and policy options to tackle common problems.
  • UN System Chief Executives Board for Coordination - high level, system wide strategic guidance of UN activities
  • UN System Staff College - trusted learning partner of the UN System, working to strengthen a shared organizational structure
  • UN University - center for research and education to resolve pressing global problems of human survival, development and welfare
  • UN Alliance of Civilizations - forum for private sector, youth, civil society and the media to exchange views, explore the roots of polarization and recommend action to resolve conflicts
  • UN Democracy Fund - strengthen the voice of civil society, promote human rights and encourage participation by all groups in the democratic process
Water and Environmental Conservation
  • UN Water - informing policies, monitoring and reporting, and inspiring action "as one" body
  • UN Oceans - the inter-agency mechanism to promote coordination, coherence and effectiveness of the UN system and International Seabed Authority (ISA)
  • Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and EcoSystem Services - providing credible evidence in science supporting effective and appropriate policy for people and nature.
  • International Union for Conservation of Nature - governments and civil society united on sustainable development goals
  • UN Collaborative Programme on Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation in Developing Countries
  • Commission for Environmental Cooperation - supports cooperation among the NAFTA partners to address environmental issues of the day
Climate Research and Monitoring:
  • Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - providing regular scientific assessments on climate change with implications and future risks.
  • UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - legal framework and principles for international climate change cooperation to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases
  • InterAmerican Institute for Global Change Research - transdisciplinary science forum, meets annually
Affordable, Sustainable, Clean Energy for All
  • UN Energy - the United Nations' mechanism for inter-agency collaboration in the transition to clean energy.
  • 24/7 Carbon-free Energy Compact - an ambitious effort to decarbonize electrical grids globally.
  • International Energy Forum - the global home of energy dialogue.
  • International Renewable Energy Agency - IRENA - research, energy policy development and clean energy capacity building around the world.
  • International Solar Alliance - 100+ member states collaborating to adopt more solar in the energy mix.
  • Renewable Energy Policy Network for the 21st Century - REN21 - participation from the field of science, governments, NGOs and industry, REN21 provides timely, peer-reviewed facts, figures, and analysis of global developments in technology, policies and markets to enable a rapid shift to renewable energy.
Regional Development and Management
  • UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) — Economic Commission for Africa
  • UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa
  • UN Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
  • UN ECOSOC — Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
  • UN ECOSOC — Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific
  • UN ECOSOC — Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia
  • Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation
  • Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme
  • Regional Cooperation Council
  • Colombo Plan Council
  • Forum of European National Highway Research Laboratories
Human Rights, Social Justice
  • Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
  • UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women
  • UN Human Settlements Programme
  • Global Forum on Migration and Development
  • International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property
  • International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies
  • Education Cannot Wait
  • Freedom Online Coalition
  • Pan American Institute of Geography and History
  • UN Population Fund
Justice and Security
  • UN Register of Conventional Arms
  • UN International Law Commission
  • UN International Residual Mechanism for Criminal Tribunals
  • UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General for Children in Armed Conflict
  • UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict
  • UN Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Violence Against Children
  • UN Peacebuilding Commission
  • UN Peacebuilding Fund
  • International Development Law Organization
  • International Institute for Justice and Rule of Law
  • Regional Cooperation Agreement on Combatting Piracy and Armed Robbery Against Ships in Asia
  • European Centre of Excellence for Countering Hybrid Threats
  • Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund
  • Global Counterterrorism Forum
Industry and Global Trade
  • UN International Trade Centre
  • UN Conference on Trade and Development
  • UN Institute for Training and Research
  • Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development
  • International Cotton Advisory Committee
  • International Lead and Zinc Study Group
  • Global Forum on Cyber Expertise
  • International Tropical Timber Organization
WaterToday reached out to impacted organizations to find out how the US departure may be felt. Freedom Online Coalition "Members share information on opportunities and challenges to promote and protect human rights, coordinate their diplomatic efforts, and work together to voice concern over measures related to the Internet and digital technologies that aim to curtail human rights." Members agree to implement measures in their domestic policies, supporting the international community human rights values and goals.

"In response to the publication of the Presidential Memorandum by the White House on January 7, 2026, the United States has formally notified the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) of its withdrawal in a letter addressed to Switzerland, FOC Chair 2026, on February 10, 2026, in line with the membership withdrawal process in the FOC Terms of Reference.

While the FOC regrets the withdrawal, the Coalition remains open to re-engagement with the United States in the future. The FOC is committed to its mandate of advancing human rights online through international cooperation and multistakeholder engagement, and will continue its work with its Members, Observers, and partners."

Freedom Online Coalition's 40 remaining members will continue to collaborate on ensuring human rights and fundamental freedoms are upheld in online and digital contexts. The members include Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Cabo Verde, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, The Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The Maldives, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunisia, United Kingdom.

The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) tracks the production, movement and delivery of the world's most important textile fiber, around 250 million bales of cotton, annually. The largest producers are China, India, Brazil and USA, according to Statista Research. Cotton production is like all agricultural products, highly sensitive to climate shifts. From icac.org, "Formed in 1939, the ICAC is an association of cotton producing, consuming, trading, and investing countries. It acts as a catalyst for change by helping member countries maintain a healthy world cotton economy; provides transparency to the world cotton market by serving as a clearinghouse for technical information on cotton production; and serves as a forum for discussing cotton issues of international significance."

Eric B Trachtenberg, ICAC Executive Director, said:
The International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC) understands that the United States may soon withdraw from ICAC. We note the decision and appreciate the major contributions of United States to ICAC during its membership. The United States has always been an important voice in the global cotton dialogue, and its contributions to research, policy, and innovation have greatly benefited the global cotton-textile industry. ICAC stands ready to engage with the United States in the future, should it wish to explore opportunities for renewed collaboration.

In the meantime, ICAC's work will continue uninterrupted as we advocate for our member countries and for the global cotton sector. We will continue to provide world-class data and analysis, advance sustainability and regenerative agriculture to boost yields, create new income opportunities for farmers by enabling them to sell carbon credits, support cotton-textile policy alignment between governments and industry, facilitate investment in the cotton sector, address pest and disease challenges, and strengthen all links of the cotton textile value chain — from farm to consumer.

In spite of the US departure, Trachtenberg assures stakeholders, "ICAC will continue as a leading international advocate for cotton as a Global Public Good that brings benefits to consumers and the 250 million people worldwide who are supported by cotton and its products."

WE THE PEOPLES OF THE UNITED NATIONS DETERMINED to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, which twice in our lifetime has brought untold sorrow to mankind, and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights, in the dignity and worth of the human person, in the equal rights of men and women and of nations large and small, and to establish conditions under which justice and respect for the obligations arising from treaties and other sources of international law can be maintained, and to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom.


Member States affirm through their voluntary participation for the benefit of all, "to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors, and to unite our strength to maintain international peace and security, and to ensure, by the acceptance of principles and the institution of methods, that armed force shall not be used, save in the common interest, and to employ international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples".

193 Member States of the United Nations
  • Afghanistan (1946)
  • Albania (1955)
  • Algeria (1962)
  • Andorra (1993)
  • Angola (1976)
  • Antigua and Barbuda (1981)
  • Argentina (1945)
  • Armenia (1992)
  • Australia (1945)
  • Austria (1955)
  • Azerbaijan (1992)
  • Bahamas (1973)
  • Bahrain (1971)
  • Bangladesh (1974)
  • Barbados (1966)
  • Belarus (1945)
  • Belgium (1945)
  • Belize (1981)
  • Benin (1960)
  • Bhutan (1971)
  • Bolivia (1945)
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992)
  • Botswana (1966)
  • Brazil (1945)
  • Brunei Darussalam (1984)
  • Bulgaria (1955)
  • Burkina Faso (1960)
  • Burundi (1962)
  • Cabo Verde (1975)
  • Cambodia (1955)
  • Cameroon (1960)
  • Canada (1945)
  • Central African Republic (1960)
  • Chad (1960)
  • Chile (1945)
  • China (1945)
  • Colombia (1945)
  • Comoros (1975)
  • Congo (1960)
  • Costa Rica (1945)
  • Côte d'Ivoire (1960)
  • Croatia (1992)
  • Cuba (1945)
  • Cyprus (1960)
  • Czechia (1993)
  • Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (1991)
  • Democratic Republic of the Congo (1960)
  • Denmark (1945)
  • Djibouti (1977)
  • Dominica (1978)
  • Dominican Republic (1945)
  • Ecuador (1945)
  • Egypt (1945)
  • El Salvador (1945)
  • Equatorial Guinea (1968)
  • Eritrea (1993)
  • Estonia (1991)
  • Eswatini (1968)
  • Ethiopia (1945)
  • Fiji (1970)
  • Finland (1955)
  • France (1945)
  • Gabon (1960)
  • Gambia (1965)
  • Georgia (1992)
  • Germany (1973)
  • Ghana (1957)
  • Greece (1945)
  • Grenada (1974)
  • Guatemala (1945)
  • Guinea (1958)
  • Guinea-Bissau (1974)
  • Guyana (1966)
  • Haiti (1945)
  • Honduras (1945)
  • Hungary (1955)
  • Iceland (1946)
  • India (1945)
  • Indonesia (1950)
  • Iran (1945)
  • Iraq (1945)
  • Ireland (1955)
  • Israel (1949)
  • Italy (1955)
  • Jamaica (1962)
  • Japan (1956)
  • Jordan (1955)
  • Kazakhstan (1992)
  • Kenya (1963)
  • Kiribati (1999)
  • Kuwait (1963)
  • Kyrgyzstan (1992)
  • Lao People’s Democratic Republic (1955)
  • Latvia (1991)
  • Lebanon (1945)
  • Lesotho (1966)
  • Liberia (1945)
  • Libya (1955)
  • Liechtenstein (1990)
  • Lithuania (1991)
  • Luxembourg (1945)
  • Madagascar (1960)
  • Malawi (1964)
  • Malaysia (1957)
  • Maldives (1965)
  • Mali (1960)
  • Malta (1964)
  • Marshall Islands (1991)
  • Mauritania (1961)
  • Mauritius (1968)
  • Mexico (1945)
  • Micronesia (1991)
  • Monaco (1993)
  • Mongolia (1961)
  • Montenegro (2006)
  • Morocco (1956)
  • Mozambique (1975)
  • Myanmar (1948)
  • Namibia (1990)
  • Nauru (1999)
  • Nepal (1955)
  • Netherlands (1945)
  • New Zealand (1945)
  • Nicaragua (1945)
  • Niger (1960)
  • Nigeria (1960)
  • North Macedonia (1993)
  • Norway (1945)
  • Oman (1971)
  • Pakistan (1947)
  • Palau (1994)
  • Panama (1945)
  • Papua New Guinea (1975)
  • Paraguay (1945)
  • Peru (1945)
  • Philippines (1945)
  • Poland (1945)
  • Portugal (1955)
  • Qatar (1971)
  • Republic of Korea (1991)
  • Republic of Moldova (1992)
  • Romania (1955)
  • Russian Federation (1945)
  • Rwanda (1962)
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis (1983)
  • Saint Lucia (1979)
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (1980)
  • Samoa (1976)
  • San Marino (1992)
  • Sao Tome and Principe (1975)
  • Saudi Arabia (1945)
  • Senegal (1960)
  • Serbia (2000)
  • Seychelles (1976)
  • Sierra Leone (1961)
  • Singapore (1965)
  • Slovakia (1993)
  • Slovenia (1992)
  • Solomon Islands (1978)
  • Somalia (1960)
  • South Africa (1945)
  • South Sudan (2011)
  • Spain (1955)
  • Sri Lanka (1955)
  • Sudan (1956)
  • Suriname (1975)
  • Sweden (1946)
  • Switzerland (2002)
  • Syrian Arab Republic (1945)
  • Tajikistan (1992)
  • Thailand (1946)
  • Timor-Leste (2002)
  • Togo (1960)
  • Tonga (1999)
  • Trinidad and Tobago (1962)
  • Tunisia (1956)
  • Türkiye (1945)
  • Turkmenistan (1992)
  • Tuvalu (2000)
  • Uganda (1962)
  • Ukraine (1945)
  • United Arab Emirates (1971)
  • United Kingdom (1945)
  • United Republic of Tanzania (1961)
  • United States of America (1945)
  • Uruguay (1945)
  • Uzbekistan (1992)
  • Vanuatu (1981)
  • Venezuela (1945)
  • Viet Nam (1977)
  • Yemen (1947)
  • Zambia (1964)
  • Zimbabwe (1980)
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