Here are Highlights from the 10th World Water Forum Event
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26 May 2024 23:41 WIB
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Indonesia hosted the 10th World Water Forum in Bali from May 18–25, 2024. Here are some highlights from the event:
Call for collaboration for tackling water crises
At the opening of the 10th World Water Forum Summit at Bali International Convention Center (BICC) in Bali on Monday (May 20), President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) said that collaboration is vital to successfully handle the global challenges related to water.
“By gathering together in Bali today, of course, Indonesia hopes that the world can join hands continuously to strengthen the commitment of collaboration to overcome global challenges related to water,” he stated.
He then drew attention to the dwindling availability of clean water as a current global challenge. While 72 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered by water, only one percent of water can be accessed and used for drinking and meeting sanitation needs.
According to the President, by 2050, at least 500 million small farmers, who account for 80 percent of the world’s food production, are predicted to be most vulnerable to drought.
“No water, no life, no growth. Therefore, the water must be managed well because every drop of water is very valuable,” he said.
Declaration on 'Water for Shared Prosperity'
A declaration on “Water for Shared Prosperity” was adopted at a ministerial meeting co-chaired by Public Works and Public Housing Minister Basuki Hadimuljono at the World Water Forum in Bali on Tuesday (May 21).
“The declaration covers the issue of the right to access safe drinking water and sanitation, the importance of inclusive coordination and collaboration, as well as strengthening integrated water resource management policies,” Hadimuljono said.
Several proposals for water development put forward by Indonesia, such as the establishment of a center of excellence on water and climate security, the designation of World Lakes Day through a United Nations resolution, and mainstreaming water management issues for developing countries on small islands were also adopted in the declaration.
In addition, the 10th World Water Forum concrete action compendium – an inseparable part of the declaration – was also adopted at the meeting.
According to Hadimuljono, the compendium includes 113 projects in the water and sanitation sector with a total value of US$9.4 billion.
He informed that the declaration was adopted following its approval by all participating countries and after accommodating inputs on the implementation of the results of the forum in the future, which were submitted during the ministerial meeting led by the Republic of the Congo.
The proposal from Congo highlighted the important role of water as the basis of the “Blue Economy” that unlocks potential human development through the benefits derived from marine and water resources and prevents vulnerable populations from being marginalized.
International Tropical Seaweed Research Center launched
The Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment launched the International Tropical Seaweed Research Center (ITSRC) in Badung, Bali, on Wednesday (May 22).
The research center was opened in collaboration with the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, and the Ministry of National Development Planning.
Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Binsar Pandjaitan said that the ITSRC marks an important step in global collaboration for research, development, and upstream-to-downstream integration of the seaweed industry.
“The ITSRC will serve as a center for studies, scientific research, technology transfer, and capacity building in the seaweed industry,” he affirmed.
The research center was built through collaboration between the government, global seaweed experts, national seaweed practitioners and associations, local and foreign universities, and development partners, including the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), and UN Global Compact.
