Abu Dhabi: The UAE will showcase several of its projects at the seventh World Water Forum in South Korea on April 12-17.
The UAE’s 70 desalination plants, its cost-effective wastewater collection and conveyance systems, advanced hydroponics techniques and a pioneering renewable energy powered desalination pilot project spearheaded by Masdar will be the highlights of the projects.
A high-level delegation representing government, business, and energy and water experts will attend the event led by Shaikh Hamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi. The delegation includes Dr Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State, and Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of Environment and Water.
Under the theme ‘Water for Our Future,’ the 7th World Water Forum convenes at a time when the UN Millennium Development Goals, set in 2000, are due to expire and sustainable development goals are to be established.
Speaking ahead of the forum, Dr Al Jaber said: “Water scarcity has been identified as one of the most pressing issues facing our generation, particularly in the arid Gulf region where water production is a costly and an energy-intensive process. In the UAE, the leadership has fostered a culture of sustainability and innovation as fundamental pillars of our country’s development. We have, therefore, taken one of our greatest challenges and turned it into an opportunity through the development and adoption of innovative technology to counter water scarcity. The World Water Forum is an opportunity for us to share our knowledge and best practices in an effort to counter our collective global challenge of water scarcity.”
According to the United Nations World Water Development Report, the world will face a 40 per cent shortfall in water supplies by 2030 due to increased urbanisation, rapid population growth and a growing demand for water for food production, energy and industry. The report forecasts global water demand will increase 55 per cent by 2050 if current usage trends continue.
Dr Fahd said: “With the UAE’s growing economy and rising population, it is vital that we develop and deploy sustainable policies and solutions that address the water challenge through water’s inherent linkage with energy.”
Managed by the World Water Council, the World Water Forum is the largest international conference on water. The forum, held every three years since its inception in 1997, brings together decision makers, scientific experts spanning public and private sectors, academia and industry to drive international discussions on global water challenges.
