Resident Coordinator's speech: Sustainability Environment Asia Conference 2024

Good afternoon

I would like to start by extending my sincere thanks to the Malaysia Water Association for inviting me to Sustainability Environment Asia Conference 2024.

It is a privilege to be here today to discuss one of the most urgent challenges we face in our pursuit of a sustainable future. 

In my intervention, I will emphasize the urgent need to address the global water crisis through transformative water management, highlighting water’s central role in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and securing a sustainable future. 

I will start with some key facts highlighting the complex interplay of water-related challenges, from scarcity and pollution to climate impacts and social inequality, all serious threats to both human well-being and economic stability. 

I will then outline five pathways to prioritizing water as an enabler for sustainable development, and making water security a shared responsibility.

Let me begin by sharing some numbers and projections

• Globally, nearly 2.3 billion people live in water-stressed countries, with around 733 million living in high and critically water-stressed areas.
• Four billion people — almost two thirds of the world’s population — experience severe water scarcity for at least one month each year.
• Four out of five people living in rural areas were lacking at least basic drinking water services in 2022.
• By 2050, global water demand is expected to increase by 20-30% (population growth, urbanization).
• Continued global warming is projected to intensify the global water cycle, and to further increase the frequency and severity of droughts and floods, impacting water availability, quality, and accessibility across various regions.
• The incidence of climate-related water- and vector-borne diseases is expected to rise across all regions.
• In low-income countries, an estimated 80% of jobs are water-dependent, primarily due to the dominance of agriculture as the main employment sector.
• Agriculture accounts for about 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. Unsustainable water use in agriculture results in loss of water for domestic and industrial purposes.
• The Asia-Pacific region is home to 60% of the world’s population but has less than 36% of the world’s water resources. This creates high pressure on existing water supplies, especially in rapidly urbanizing areas like India, China, and Southeast Asia.
• The Asia-Pacific region experiences 40% of the world’s natural disasters, many of which are water-related, such as floods and typhoons. 
• Wastewater Management is a major issue as approximately 80% of wastewater is released untreated into water bodies, impacting both human health and ecosystems. 
• Over-extraction of groundwater is another unsustainable practice impacting water availability for both agriculture and drinking purposes in the long term.

Today, we confront a reality in which water scarcity, over-extraction, pollution, and climate impacts have intensified to dangerous levels. 

The world is facing a serious crisis of water availability, accessibility, and quality and our current water trajectory, if left unaltered, points toward a future where nearly half of the global population will live in areas of severe water stress by 2030. 

This is an unimaginable scenario with catastrophic consequences.

Recalling the state of progress on SDGs, as per the UN Secretary General’s Report for 2024, only 16% of the targets are on track. Progress is too slow on all 17 SDGs with some goals seeing reversal compared to 2015 baselines. This also applies to SDG 6, ensuring water and sanitation for all, both globally and in the Asia-Pacific region.

Without a stable water supply, achieving the other Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) becomes more difficult. Clean water is essential for eradicating poverty, improving health outcomes, ensuring food security, and promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth. 

Water scarcity, aggravated by climate change, increasingly severe droughts, and changing weather patterns, poses a complex challenge. When coupled with pollution from industrial activities and mismanaged agricultural practices, the situation becomes even more dire.

The global water crisis is not just an environmental issue but a human one. 

Lack of access to clean water and sanitation services results in over 800,000 deaths annually, primarily affecting vulnerable populations in low-income regions. 

Women and girls, in particular, bear the brunt of water insecurity, as they are often responsible for water collection, which takes up precious time that could otherwise be spent on education, work, or community engagement. 

In addition, children and the elderly face heightened health risks from waterborne diseases due to poor sanitation and hygiene.

Water scarcity also fuels tensions within and between groups and communities, increasing the likelihood of conflict over shared water resources. 

Addressing water security is therefore an issue of human security, essential for the peaceful coexistence and stability of nations.

So how do we address this global crisis as part of the global commitment to a sustainable future?

First, if we are to reverse the current trends, transformative water management is the only way forward. 

This requires a radical rethinking of our approach to water—one that shifts from reactive measures to proactive, integrated strategies. Our solutions must be holistic, incorporating the entire water cycle and recognizing the interdependencies between water, food, energy, and ecosystems.

In the face of rapid urbanization, industrialization, and population growth, we must prioritize investments in resilient water infrastructure. 

Early warning systems, improved irrigation techniques, sustainable watershed management, and community-based water conservation practices are some of the methods that can mitigate the impacts of climate-induced water crises. 

Technologies such as remote sensing, desalination, and water recycling must be scaled up alongside traditional water management practices to ensure they reach vulnerable populations.

We also need collaborative governance models. Water knows no borders, and transboundary cooperation is crucial to address shared watersheds, rivers, and lakes. 

Through collaborative governance, we can create frameworks that equitably allocate resources, reduce inefficiencies, and promote responsible water use across sectors and regions.

Second, we need to invest in people

Addressing the water crisis is not solely about infrastructure or technology; it is also about building human capital. 

We need professionals who are equipped to manage water resources, policymakers who understand the complexities of water governance, and local leaders who can mobilize communities for water conservation efforts.

Education, training, and capacity building at all levels are vital to fostering a new generation of water champions capable of driving sustainable practices. 

We have seen various promising instances where communities, younger and older generations, were empowered to make informed decisions about water usage.

Third, broaden the partnership base for Water Sustainability financing

Financing remains a formidable barrier to water security, particularly in low-income countries and regions where necessary investments in water infrastructure and innovation are costly and compete with other priorities. 

A staggering USD6.7 trillion will be needed globally by 2030 for the water sector alone. We need a reformed global financial architecture to deliver new levels of concessional finance to this sector, and additionally, we are seeking a better enabling environment in order to lever private capital.

The private sector has a critical role to play in closing this gap. Through sustainable financing mechanisms, corporate water stewardship programs, and partnerships, businesses can support the SDG agenda while reducing their own risks associated with water scarcity.

The UN’s Pact for the Future, adopted in September this year, emphasizes the private sector’s role in financing SDG initiatives, including water-related investments. 

By committing to sustainable practices and supporting green technologies, businesses can not only contribute to water security but also gain competitive advantages. 

The shift toward environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards underscores this imperative, with more investors and consumers now prioritizing companies that demonstrate a commitment to sustainability.

Fourth, promote innovation. Despite the significant advancements in technology, the water sector has yet to fully harness the potential of these innovations. The UN, in collaboration with its partners, is working to bridge this gap by promoting the transfer and application of cutting-edge technologies. 

Efforts of the UN Environment Programme, UNESCO and other agencies focus on enabling the development of innovative solutions tailored to local needs, particularly in water-scarce regions.

Fifth/Finally, enhance coordination for policy coherence. Water security must be addressed in an integrated manner. For the water sector to drive development outcomes and advance the sustainability agenda, policy thinking must not be siloized. 

Joined-up policymaking and greater collaboration across within and across sectors are critical to ensure efficiency and impact.

Let me close by reminding us all that water is a human right and we all share a collective responsibility to protect this right. 

Water binds humanity together across borders, cultures, and generations. It is the foundation of life but it is also finite, vulnerable, and at risk. 

Our shared goal must be to transform how we manage, protect, and distribute this invaluable resource for current and future generations.

The United Nations is committed to this mission. The UN Water Action Agenda, launched at the 2023 UN Water Conference, seeks to address urgent global water challenges by mobilizing commitments from various stakeholders to come together and act with urgency and purpose.

Thank you