PRESS RELEASE

COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 10TH WORLD WATER FORUM

NO.113/SP/TKM-WORLDWATERFORUM2024/05/2024  

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 UN Expresses Appreciation for Indonesia's Leadership at World Water Forum 2024

The United Nations (UN) expressed appreciation for Indonesia’s leadership in formulating a joint declaration and commitment to address water and sanitation issues at the 10th World Water Forum held in Nusa Dua, Bali, from 18-25 May 2024. United Nations' Under-Secretary-General Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana made the statement at the 10th World Water Forum’s Media Center at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Center (BNDCC) on Tuesday, 21 May.

“On behalf of the UN, I would like to express our appreciation for the leadership demonstrated by the Indonesian government in organizing this important forum,” Armida said.

Armida also said that the UN put forth two recommendations aimed at mitigating water scarcity, drought, and water and sanitation-related disasters. First, fostering cooperation for shared water resources. This requires collaborative endeavours among countries, regions, sectors, and stakeholders.

“In addition to directing new resources and stimulating innovation, collaboration can also play a role in reducing funding disparities. Public-private partnerships aimed at improving water efficiency, like those supported by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), can contribute to achieving this goal,” Armida stated, who also serves as the Executive Secretary of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP).

Armida further explained that collaborative measures that include mitigation, adaptation, and disaster risk reduction agendas can also help narrow the financing gap. The unmet funding needs for adaptation alone are estimated to average US$144.74 billion per year, solely for the Asia and Pacific region.

“Scientific assessment is also a key focus of our cooperation. Next month, we'll be hosting the 3rd Pole Climate Forum, led by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). It is a platform to bring together top scientists and leading development actors from around the world to address glacier melting,” she said.

The second approach is to invest in an early warning data system. Improved accuracy in self-warning systems could potentially reduce disaster-related losses by up to 60 percent.

In response to directives from governments in the Asia-Pacific Region, she added, the UN system has been integrated to operate a multi-disaster early warning system. ESCAP, the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR), the World Meteorological Organization, the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) are collaborating. Meanwhile, UNICEF is conducting water reserve mapping to provide input for preparedness and adaptation planning.

“On this occasion, I would also like to express my gratitude to the media for taking the time to join us in Bali,” Armida said.

Meanwhile, Celeste Saulo, Secretary-General of the WMO, an organization under the UN, underlined that robust and dependable national meteorological and hydrological services are essential for the success of early warning system for all, particularly in addressing water-related disasters.

“Therefore, in Indonesia, the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), a member of the WMO, has collaborated with disaster management authorities and civil society,” Saulo said.

She also pointed out that the UN has initiated a campaign to ensure that the Early Warning System protects everyone on Earth by 2027. "I am proud of the WMO for being one of the main drivers of this initiative. We are fully committed to achieve success," she remarked. Deputy Director General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Xing Qu also attended the press conference. (Ni Ketut Sudiani/Ayu Sulistyowati/Firda Puri/TR/Elvira Inda Sari/Rifa/MB)

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For further information, please contact:

Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).

PCO of the 10^th World Water Forum - Dede Ariwibowo (08111830020).

Get more information at https://infopublik.id/kategori/world-water-forum and https://s.id/worldwaterforumpedia.