Kuwait City: Experts and specialists in the field of water emphasized the need for intensified work and international cooperation to find solutions to the global water scarcity crisis, which affects 2.2 billion people worldwide. They stressed that water scarcity should be a top priority among global challenges, as it poses a significant threat to human security and prosperity.
According to Qatar News Agency, during a seminar organized by Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS) on water scarcity and its associated consequences, various statistics and proposed solutions were presented to mitigate the severity of the issue in countries around the world. Acting UN Resident Coordinator and WHO Representative in Kuwait, Dr. Asad Hafeez, stated that water scarcity is one of the most urgent and complex global challenges of our time, emphasizing the importance of this dialogue, especially in Kuwait, which is located in one of the world’s most water-stressed regions.
He highlighted several points regarding the UN’s response to this hidden global threat, including the appointment of the first Special Envoy for Water Affairs in September of last year to enhance coordination and advocacy to address this crisis. He also noted that water scarcity was a priority at COP16 on Desertification and COP29 on Climate Change, both held last year. Despite these efforts, Dr. Hafeez pointed out that we are still far from achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 by 2030, as 2.2 billion people still lack access to safely managed drinking water, and 5.3 billion people lack safely managed sanitation services.
He emphasized that to bridge these gaps, it is necessary to expand efforts across five critical areas identified within the framework of global acceleration of SDG 6. These areas include increasing investments focused on improving water financing, enhancing data systems to guide policies, investing in skills and capacity-building to create job opportunities, improving water service delivery, expanding innovative technologies and smart practices for water management and conservation, and fostering intersectoral collaboration and cross-border coordination to ensure good water governance.
The UN official also called for a collective effort to secure a water-sustainable future for all, including current and future generations, reiterating the UN’s full commitment in Kuwait to work alongside partners and stakeholders for a more sustainable and resilient future in the face of water scarcity challenges.
Following the seminar, several discussion sessions were held, with participation from diplomats and water researchers from various organizations, including the United Nations, Kuwait University, the World Bank, and the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS).