Sixth Arab Water Conference highlights sustainable water governance

The Sixth Arab Water Conference began Wednesday in the Dead Sea region under the theme "Governance towards Achieving Sustainable Development in Water". The event aims to facilitate the exchange of expertise and innovations in water management, Petra reports. 

The two-day conference brings together Arab water ministers, representatives from various ministries, decision-makers, and specialists from across the Arab region and beyond. Participants are set to discuss critical challenges related to water resources in the region and review modern solutions and technologies to achieve sustainability.

Minister of Water and Irrigation Raed Abu Saud , representing Prime Minister Jafar Hassan, opened the conference and highlighted Jordan's significant achievements in water management. He noted the country's pioneering initiatives developed through partnerships with local communities and the private sector, which have improved water management, reduced water loss, and expanded the use of treated water as a sustainable resource.

Abu Saud stressed that Jordan is accelerating efforts to complete the National Carrier Project, a national initiative to desalinate Red Sea water. This project aims to meet water demands, enhance irrigation efficiency, and promote water awareness at various societal levels.

Discussing the broader regional context, Abu Saud pointed to challenges such as the heavy reliance of Arab countries on water resources originating from outside their borders, with 60% of water resources sourced externally. He highlighted global warming, worsening water scarcity, resource depletion, and the impact of regional conflicts and refugee flows as pressing issues.

Citing United Nations studies, he noted that 12 Arab countries fall below the acute water poverty threshold of 500 cubic meters per capita annually, as classified by the World Health Organization.

The minister emphasized the need for pan-Arab efforts to address these challenges by enhancing water conservation and governance, advancing renewable energy applications in desalination projects, strengthening Arab scientific research institutions, expanding the use of non-traditional water resources, and improving integration between food, water, and environmental security.

He called for adopting practical policies to ensure integrated water resource management, better coordination of efforts to manage shared water basins, and digitizing water institutions. Abu Saud also underlined the importance of citizen involvement in protecting water resources, curbing illegal water use, and supporting national water policies.

Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs at the Arab League, Ambassador Ali bin Ibrahim Al-Maliki, underscored the importance of enhancing cooperation among Arab countries to ensure water security, preserve water rights, and promote adaptation policies to address water-related disasters. He highlighted the need for collective efforts in light of developments in Gaza, Palestine, and Lebanon.

Al-Maliki stressed the growing recognition of the link between water, food, and energy security and praised the role of Arab water ministers in fostering innovation and cross-sectoral solutions to address these challenges.

The conference features general sessions, panel discussions, scientific presentations, official meetings, and the Arab Water Exhibition, providing a platform for attendees to collaborate and exchange ideas.