xvi world water congress opening ceremony patrick lavarde
TRANSCRIPT
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XVI World Water Congress Opening Ceremony
Patrick Lavarde - IWRA President
Excellences, Ladies and Gentlemen, Dear water friends, Following more than 40 years of successful World Water Congresses held around the world, and here in front of several past Presidents of IWRA, I am very pleased on behalf of the International Water Resources Association to open the XVIth edition of this flagship international water event. I thank all of you for making the effort to join us here. We have people coming from more than one hundred countries to attend the Congress. Now that you are here, I would like to remind those of you who are new to the IWRA, that by attending the Congress you have gained a one year membership to our organisation. So, all of you sitting here are now part of the IWRA family, and I invite you all to attend our General Assembly on Friday afternoon. Since its creation in 1971 by visionary people (such Professor Asit Biswas who is present among us), IWRA has always strived to lead global thinking on water resources management.
In 2017, the main theme of the Congress is “Bridging Science and Policy”. This comes at a critical moment for water resources management around the world. The importance of the role of water for development and human well-being was formally recognized in 2015 when the UN General Assembly adopted Sustainable Development Goal number 6 to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”, while recognizing the critical role of water in addressing many of the other 17 goals.
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In 2015 and 2016, the Paris Agreement on climate change, the Sendai Framework on disaster risk reduction and the Habitat III new urban agenda, to name a few, also focused on the critical role of water as part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. All the major water challenges are now addressed by the post-2015 Agenda. T Therefore, within the dynamic context of the global water agenda, the XVIth World Water Congress takes place at a decisive time in the early stages of the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. In the context of a fast growing global population and climate change, around the world the water outlook paints a dire picture: users increasingly fight over water quantity allocation, water quality is worsening, access to safe water and sanitation remains a challenge for millions of people, and the capacity to provide ecosystem services is being compromised. Time is now short before the High Level Forum of the UN conducts its first review of Goal 6 of the SDGs in the summer of 2018. This Congress has a responsibility to say clearly that in many countries and sectors we are not yet on track to achieve the goals and targets concerning the water sector. In many cases, indicators point to an ongoing degradation of the situation, demonstrating that existing policies are not sufficient to meet the 2030 targets. We are also not adapting sufficiently to the pressures of climate change or doing enough to reduce the impacts of this change. General political declarations and goodwill are not enough to change these realities. Urgent mobilization on water management issues is needed across all sectors! Science, in a very broad meaning including natural, social and economic sciences, is clearly relevant to help find solutions and contribute to their implementation at different scales and by various stakeholders. Science can promote a type of systems based thinking that integrates water issues with those of food, energy, health, and education to better manage our water resources. Science can also bring a relevant contribution to public debate and can help mobilize forces to face the challenges of sustainable development and address the impacts of climate change.
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As you know, the World Water Congress is a meeting place to share experiences, promote discussion, and present new knowledge, research results and developments in the fields of water sciences and policy around the world. You … natural and social scientists, engineers, technological innovators, policy and decision makers, financial stakeholders and investors, legal and regulatory specialists, and groups involved in capacity building, … you will discuss and present initiatives that bridge together science and policy. You will propose possible solutions and pathways for the sustainable governance and management of water, through examples of best practices and recommendations for global, regional and local policies, by connecting scientific knowledge and policy development and implementation. Contributions to the XVI Congress will highlight knowledge and solutions, good practices and local initiatives. I do hope this Congress will make an outstanding contribution to improving the science-policy-practitioner dialogue; to identify the emerging demands for scientific input to policy-making and the work of practitioners to implement the 2030 Agenda. As the World Water Congress is one of the few high-level world meetings that addresses explicitly water issues from the point of view of “bridging science and policy”, it is a unique opportunity for water policy making and management to build closer ties across multidisciplinary water sciences in order to improve decision making. As water is not only a technical issue, but also increasingly a political challenge, we are looking in this XVIth edition of the Congress to move science further and to move policy making further. I do hope we can build, by this coming Friday, a Cancun Declaration based on the outcomes of your sessions, which will promote ever more evidence-based decision making. It is hoped that the Cancun Declaration will make a key contribution to the 8th World Water Forum, planned to take place early next year in Brasilia. I thank the World Water Council and the 8th World Water Forum team for their support to this XVI World Water Congress, which is considered a key milestone to the next Forum.
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More generally, I would like to thank all the institutions who have supported the preparation of the Congress. I thank also the members of the International Scientific Committee for their involvement, and I want to give special recognition for the truly excellent work done by its Chair, Gabriel Eckstein. Last but certainly not least, my final words are for our incredible hosts. This XVI Congress, being held here in Cancun, is the second time this conference is being held in Mexico, following the third World Water Congress in 1979 which was hosted in Mexico City. Mexico is a country which has broad experience in water management and the Mexican Government has made water a major development priority. As part of its vision for water, Mexico is playing a leading role at the international level. This makes the hosting of the XVI World Water Congress here in Mexico all the more timely. I would like to warmly thank the Mexican authorities for hosting this XVIth World Water Congress which is jointly organized by the International Water Resources Association and the National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA) with the National Association of Water and Sanitation Utilities (ANEAS) of Mexico. This congress would not have been possible without all of their tireless work and support to ensure that this congress runs smoothly and that you all have the best experience possible while you are here. In order to express our gratitude to our hosts for their tremendous contribution, it is my great pleasure and honour to conclude this opening address by presenting the XVI Congress special Award to Mr. Roberto Ramirez de la Parra, director general of CONAGUA and to Mr Ramon Aguirre Diaz, president of ANEAS. I wish you all a fruitful and productive World Water Congress. Let’s all do what we can to bridge the gap between science and policy.
Thank you for your kind attention.
Ing. Ramón Aguirre Díaz
Director General del Sistema de Aguas de la Ciudad de México
Inauguración del XVI Congreso Mundial del Agua
Señor Secretario del Medio Ambiente y Recursos Naturales del Gobierno de
la República, Ing. Rafael Pacchiano Alamán.
Señor Gobernador Constitucional del Estado de Quintana Roo, Lic. Carlos
Joaquín Gonzalez.
Señor Presidente de la Asociación Internacional de Recursos Hídricos, Sr.
Patrick Lavarde.
Señor Director General de la Comisión Nacional del Agua, Mtro. Roberto
Ramírez de la Parra.
Compañeros de presídium, autoridades que desde diferentes partes del mundo
han venido a visitarnos y en general a todos los que hoy nos acompañan. Sean
ustedes bienvenidos.
En 1979, México fue anfitrión por primera vez del Congreso Mundial del
Agua de la Asociación Internacional de Recursos Hídricos (IWRA), una de las
organizaciones pioneras en llevar las discusiones en torno al agua a un nivel
mundial, con gran calidad técnica y profesionalismo.
Treinta y ocho años después, nos resulta muy grato que se vuelvan a reunir en
en México los profesionales de la IWRA, con el fin de dialogar y trabajar en
pro de la causa del agua.
Uno de los temas centrales de este décimo sexto Congreso es analizar como
lograr alcanzar las “Metas del Desarrollo Sustentable” establecidas en el año
2015 por la Asamblea General de la ONU dentro de su Agenda 2030, que en
su objetivo número 6 establece el compromiso de garantizar la disponibilidad
y gestión sostenible del agua y saneamiento para toda la población en el año
2030, así como reducir a la mitad las descargas de agua residual sin
tratamiento.
En estos renglones, nuestro país tiene grandes retos por resolver: falta
incorporar a millones de personas a los servicios de agua potable,
alcantarillado y saneamiento, y mucho nos falta trabajar para mejorar la
calidad de los servicios de quienes ya cuentan con ellos. Tenemos enormes
retos y un elemento que se incorpora cada vez con más fuerza para
complicarnos las soluciones es el Cambio Climático.
Necesitamos caminar más rápido y resolver en mejor foma los desafíos
hídricos de nuestro tiempo y es por ello que nos resulta muy satisfactorio y
conveniente la celebración este Congreso. Hoy se encuentran aquí
representantes de instituciones y organizaciones de más de 90 países, todos
con retos comunes y un objetivo claro: compartir experiencias, promover la
discusión y presentar nuevos conocimientos, resultados de investigación y
nuevos desarrollos en el campo de la política del agua y de la ciencia a nivel
global.
En ése espíritu, y en consistencia con el fuerte compromiso del Gobierno de
México en desarrollar una esfera internacional responsable, donde se
preserven los recursos hídricos y se alcance un futuro sostenible, la ANEAS –
que como organización agrupa a los organismos operadores de los sistemas
que atienden al 80% de los mexicanos-, se ha sumado a este compromiso
nacional y global, fungiendo como un facilitador de procesos, coadyuvante de
la autoridad del agua y de los actores que participan en la gestión integrada del
recurso, a fin de articular las coyunturas que nos encaminen a garantizar la
“seguridad hídrica” para los habitantes del país.
En este esfuerzo compartimos objetivos y metas con nuestro aliado federal, la
Comisión Nacional del Agua.
Con nuestra intervención en este Congreso buscaremos celebrar una reunión
fructífera, que cree un verdadero impacto en la gestión de los recursos hídricos
tanto en México como alrededor del mundo y continúe avanzando en la
ciencia y en la formulación de políticas y de conocimiento.
Estamos convencidos que en espacios como este podremos dar soluciones y
respuestas a los retos que tenemos de frente y prepararemos las condiciones
para:
escalar el tema del agua en la agenda política;
brindar los elementos necesarios para lograr proyectos de ley
consensados que actualicen los ordenamientos jurídicos del sector;
sensibilizar sobre el rol que desempeña el agua como eje de desarrollo;
promover la suficiencia presupuestal donde el esquema de gestión y la
realidad social no han transitado para favorecer la sostenibilidad del
sector hídrico, y
proporcionar herramientas para alcanzar la sostenibilidad y eficiencia de
los sistemas de agua.
Señores integrantes del presídium, estimados congresistas:
Que las sesiones a realizar a lo largo de estos días tengan resultados positivos
gracias a la labor decidida de todos sus participantes. El trabajo será intenso,
pero estoy convencido que habremos de lograr avanzar mucho más de un paso
en los objetivos que nos hemos propuesto.
Muchas gracias.
OPENING PLENARY ADDRESS BY MR TONY SLATYER
(Advance copy for translator)
Excellencies, honourable Ministers, distinguished delegates, our hosts and all
the wonderful volunteers in the room.
As an Australian, it is especially good that this Congress is being held in Mexico.
Why is this? There are many reasons it is good to come to Cancun but there
are three in particular I will share with you.
First, Mexico and Australia share a common water history. 130 years ago a
Minister in the colonial Parliament of Victoria, now a State of Australia, came
to Mexico to learn about the development of water resources for irrigation. He
came back from this trip to make policies which have since become key
features of the Australian water law framework. The man was Mr Alfred
Deakin. He went on to become Australia’s second Prime Minister.
The second reason it is good to be here is that the landscape here feels quite
like home. We are in different hemispheres, and very different time-zones, but
we both have climatic zones that range from the from deep tropics to the most
arid deserts, and everything in between, a highly variable climate and
hydrological conditions which make us both highly vulnerable to droughts and
floods.
The third reason is we now also share an important responsibility.
Their Excellencies Mr Enrique Pena Nieto, the President of Mexico, and Mr
Malcolm Turnbull, the Prime Minister of Australia, are both members of the
High Level Panel on Water. So are nine other heads of state and government,
of Bangladesh, Hungary, Jordan, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Peru, Senegal,
South Africa, and Tajikistan, and one Special Advisor.
Mexico and Mauritius have the great responsibility of chairing this Panel. I
acknowledge the work of the Mexico and Mauritius officials who chair the
senior officials process (known as Sherpas) that supports the work of the
Panel, and also the work of the Joint World Bank and United Nations
Secretariat.
I am honoured to be a part of that process, as part of the Australian
Government team supporting Prime Minister Turnbull’s involvement in the
High Level Panel.
Australia greatly values being able to work closely with Mexico and other Panel
member countries in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6,
our great global challenge to achieve safe water and sanitation for all the
world’s people by 2030.
After the adoption by the United Nations General Assembly of the Sustainable
Development Goals in 2015, the High Level Panel on Water was set up by the
former United Nations Secretary-General Mr Ban Ki-Moon and the World Bank
Group President Jim Yong Kim to provide leadership in the implementation of
Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Such leadership was seen to be required to champion a comprehensive,
inclusive and collaborative way of developing and managing water resources,
and improving water and sanitation related services.
At the United Nations General Assembly in September 2016, the High Level
Panel on Water called for a fundamental shift in the way the world looks at
water.
The Panel issued an Action Plan setting out how it would seek to accelerate the
needed transformation of how water is used and managed by motivating
effective actions by governments, civil society and the private sector and by
advocacy on financing and implementation.
The Action Plan sets out a wide range of key challenges and possible priority
actions for implementing Sustainable Development Goal 6.
Each member of the Panel has undertaken to champion particular actions.
For example, Australia is leading the Panel’s initiatives on water data, water
use efficiency and water innovation.
We believe progress in these areas is essential to attain all the elements of the
Sustainable Development Goal 6.
The Panel’s proposals in these areas are ambitious, and we will need all the
help we can get from the global water community to deliver good outcomes.
At a Special Session this Friday, we are presenting the Panel’s World Water
Data Initiative to this Congress. The stated objective of the Initiative is to
improve cost effective access to water data through policy, harmonisation and
innovation.
In essence, the Panel wants to enhance the capacity of all governments,
communities and businesses to make evidence based decisions about water,
by reducing the costs of the data required to support such decisions.
At the Special Session, we will be explaining the policy, harmony and
innovation content of the Initiative, and how we propose these be
implemented. We will be inviting all international water agencies to identify as
Friends of the World Water Data Initiative and to support its ambition.
Many of you will have distinguished track record of achievement in your home
country. After all, the water management challenges we each face are some of
the most complex in our society. These challenges are rarely amenable to
simple one-dimensional solutions. They typically require bringing together the
skills of engineers, scientists of many disciplines, hydrologists, economists,
administrators and politicians to figure out the best outcomes in the long term
interests of our societies, and how best to engage the society as a whole on
these questions.
What I most value in these pre-eminent water conferences is the spirit of
common purpose and vision that generally emerges when water professionals
come together.
I expect in this room we have the capacity to work out how indeed to achieve
safe water and sanitation for all the world’s people by 2030.
In closing, I wish to introduce to you the Chief Executive-designate of the
Australian Water Partnership, Professor Nicholas Schofield. The Australian
Water Partnership is our primary mechanism for linking Australian water
knowhow internationally.
Professor Schofield is attending the Congress in his capacity as Director of the
University of New South Wales Global Water Institute, which is hosting the
Oceania Chapter of the International Water Resources Association to be
launched this week. I am sure that while he is here, Professor Schofield will be
endeavouring to meet with as many delegates as possible.
I thank you for the opportunity to speak to you this morning, and look forward
to meeting and working with many of you over the course of this conference. I
particularly hope to see you at the Special Session on Friday morning, so we
can work out how best to implement this important project of the High Level
Panel on Water. ENDS
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République du Sénégal Un Peuple - Un But - Une Foi
MINISTRE DE L’HYDRAULIQUE ET DE L’ASSAINISSEMENT
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Discours de Monsieur Diéne FAYE, Secrétaire d’Etat
à l’Hydraulique rurale au XVIème Congrès mondial
de l’Eau à Cancun
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Monsieur le Ministre de l’Environnement et des ressources
naturelles
Monsieur le Gouverneur de Quintana Roo
Monsieur le Maire de la Ville de Cancun
Monsieur le Président de l’Association Internationale des
Ressources en Eau
Monsieur le Directeur général de la Commission nationale de l’eau
du Mexique
Monsieur le Président de l’Association nationale des Entreprises
d’eau et d’assainissement
Distingués orateurs, chers conférenciers
Mesdames, Messieurs,
Chers participants
Je suis très heureux d’être parmi vous à ce 16eme Congrès mondial de
l’eau dans cette belle ville de Cancun, en terre mexicaine. Je voudrais
remercier les organisateurs et le Gouvernement du Mexique pour toutes
les dispositions prises et de l’accueil chaleureux.
Je vous transmets également les messages d’amitié et de fraternité du
Gouvernement du Sénégal, mais aussi les vives salutations et les
félicitations de Monsieur Mansour FAYE, Ministre de l’Hydraulique et de
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l’Assainissement, par ailleurs Président de la Facilité Africaine de l’Eau,
qui n’a pu être des nôtres ce matin.
Mesdames et Messieurs
Je suis particulièrement heureux que ce Congrès vise à concilier la
science et la politique au profit du développement du secteur de l’eau
et de l’assainissement.
Il est vrai que la science doit guider et éclairer les choix et les décisions
politiques dans tous les domaines, particulièrement dans celui de l’eau.
La complexité des rapports Eau et Société impose de recourir à des
approches scientifiques rigoureuses et éprouvées, à des options
stratégiques sans cesse renouvelées, mais surtout à des innovations
technologiques adaptées à chaque contexte.
Permettez moi d’axer mon intervention sur les enjeux de la gestion
de l'eau en Afrique en lien avec la mise en œuvre des objectifs de
développement durable et de l'adaptation au changement
climatique
L’Afrique souffre encore du manque d’eau et d’assainissement. Les
prévisions faites par l’ONU et le PNUD pour 2025 indiquent, en effet, que
le secteur de l’eau de notre continent fera face, si rien n’est fait, à une
situation critique par manque d’investissement avec une insuffisance
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notoire d’aménagements hydrauliques et de systèmes d’assainissement
adéquat pour faire face à une demande croissante et un potentiel hydro-
conflictuel.
Le grand défi réside donc, dans la manière de réaliser une gestion
effective de nos ressources en eau afin qu’elles puissent jouer le rôle
stratégique d’accroissement de nos économies et nous permettre de
répondre aux demandes en eau potable et d’assainissement.
Il est désormais clair que, la façon dont nous gérons ces défis liés à
l’eau, a une incidence significative sur la paix et la croissance de nos
économies nationales.
Mesdames et Messieurs
L’eau pose de sérieux problèmes à la sécurité humaine. L’Afrique
demeure particulièrement vulnérable, d’où la nécessité de créer des
synergies pour partager les connaissances et les expériences pour
minimiser le risque climatique et aider à une meilleure planification.
D’après la Banque mondiale, si l’on veut atteindre les Objectifs de
développement durable (ODD), il faut impérativement lutter en même
temps contre le changement climatique. À l’horizon 2050, il faudra
nourrir 9 milliards de personnes tout en réduisant les émissions.
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En Afrique, des institutions financières telle que la Banque Africaine de
Développement œuvre de son mieux pour aider les pays à lutter contre
les répercussions du changement climatique à travers la mise en œuvre
d’une stratégie décennale 2013-2022 qui promeut une transition vers
une croissance "verte".
A l’échelle du Sénégal, au sortir de la Conférence de Paris sur le climat,
les contributions déterminées au niveau sectoriel ont été élaborées afin
de mieux prendre en charge les effets du changement climatique et
accompagner le secteur de l’eau et de l’assainissement dans sa
stratégie d’adaptation, de mitigation et d’atténuation en vue d’assoir une
résilience sectorielle.
Il apparaît que notre plus grand défi réside dans la manière de réaliser
une gestion efficace de nos ressources en eau afin qu’elles puissent
jouer le rôle stratégique d’accroissement de nos économies et nous
permettre de répondre aux demandes en eau potable et
d’assainissement.
Par ailleurs, il me plait de vous rappeler que face à cette problématique,
l’Afrique, à travers le Conseil des Ministres Africains de l’Eau (AMCOW),
a pris des mesures idoines pour assurer le leadership politique
nécessaire, l’utilisation et la gestion des ressources en eau pour le
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développement socio-économique durable et la préservation de nos
ressources.
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Cette plateforme africaine de l’eau, unique du genre, est le cadre de
mise en œuvre opérationnelle des engagements de nos chefs d’états en
la matière en allant de la Vision Africaine de l’Eau à l’horizon 2025
jusqu’à la Déclaration de N'gor sur la Sécurité de l’eau et
l’assainissement en tant qu’instrument pour la réalisation de l’Objectif 6
de Développement Durable.
L’accord pour un Objectif de Développement Durable, cible de l’accès
universel à l’eau et à l’assainissement d’ici 2030, nécessite un
changement fondamental de notre façon de travailler.
Donc apporter un changement positif dans la performance du secteur,
nécessite une approche holistique dans notre rapport avec l’eau. Ceci
nécessitera des réformes basées sur une bonne prise en compte des
enjeux et des nouveaux défis, mais également à travers une mise à
profit de la science au service de nos politiques de l’eau.
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Il est important de souligner le rôle majeur que mon pays est entrain de
mener à travers plusieurs initiatives auxquelles il prend part : il s’agit du
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Groupe de Haut Niveau sur l’Eau et le Panel de Haut niveau sur l’Eau et
la Paix.
En identifiant la Coopération comme paradigme fondamentale pour
promouvoir l’hydro-diplomatie et l’hydro-sécurité, le Sénégal a choisi le
thème « Eau, Paix et Sécurité » comme sujet prioritaire lors de sa
présidence du Conseil de sécurité. Cette approche nous paraît
essentielle pour faire face aux menaces nouvelles.
Mesdames et Messieurs,
Pour conclure, je voudrais, également, vous informer que le Sénégal a
été élu pour organiser le 9éme Forum Mondial de l'Eau. Ainsi après
Brasilia en 2018, Dakar abritera cette rencontre de la famille mondiale de
l’eau en 2021.
Le 69ème Conseil des Gouverneurs du Conseil Mondial de l’Eau a, en
effet, approuvé, à l’unanimité et par acclamation, la candidature du
Sénégal. Les Gouverneurs et Membres du Conseil Mondial de l’Eau ont
perçu cette candidature, comme étant celle de l’Afrique. Mais elle est
aussi la vôtre.
Le choix du Sénégal comme pays hôte du Forum sous le thème de : « la
sécurité de l’eau pour la paix et le développement » témoigne, si
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besoin en était, de la volonté de mon pays à contribuer à la promotion et
à la garantie d’une sécurité mondiale de l’eau.
C’est dire que la participation de tous les membres de la communauté de
l’eau à la préparation du Forum à Dakar en 2021, aux cotés du Sénégal
est vivement souhaitée afin d’en faire un succès éclatant.
Pour finir, je remercie le gouvernement et le peuple Mexicain pour
l’hospitalité chaleureuse que vous nous avez réservée depuis notre
arrivée à Cancun.
Je vous remercie de votre aimable attention.
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XVIth World Water Congress "Bridging Science and Policy"
Cancun, Mexico
Opening Ceremony 29 May 2017 - 9:30am
Water Security in a Changing Climate
Mr. Benedito Braga President of the World Water Council
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Your Excellencies
Distinguished Delegates
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for inviting me to address the XVIth World Water
Congress. As President of the World Water Council, I am very
honored to attend this important event organized, on the way
leading to the 8th World Water Forum, by three of our valued
members, IWRA, CONAGUA and ANEAS.
I would also like to express the recognition of the World Water
Council of the theme of this Congress: Bridging Science and
Policy. This is a fundamental tenement for development and
human well-being.
Dear Friends,
Today, I would like to focus my message on the absolute
necessity of building water security for the common welfare in a
period of unpredictable weather patterns. Indeed, I was in
Cancun some years ago and I am pleased to see that this
beautiful city has not lost its touristic assets to the potential
negative effects of climate change in coastal regions, such as
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sea level and temperature rise and consequently, loss of coral
reefs and marine biodiversity.
The bottom line is that events such as floods or accelerated
erosion, could happen with much greater frequency and
intensity in the future, as a result of climate change.
Science is showing that climate change impacts could
decrease water availability, decrease crop productivity in many
parts of the world, increase frequency and intensity of storms,
and loss of biodiversity. It also has strong impacts on
livelihoods and economies, and could be a driving force to
unprecedented migration and lead to precarious security
situations. In October 2015, Hurricane Patricia which struck
Western Mexico was the second-most intense tropical cyclone
on record worldwide.
This announced water crisis is not just a threat per se, but a
threat multiplier. In this perspective, the implications in terms of
food, health and energy security, as well as political and social
stability, are increased manifold.
Of course, one cannot say with absolute scientific certainty that
these events are direct climate change impacts, although they
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fall squarely into scientific projections of possible impacts. The
bottom line is that these events illustrate what could come with
much greater frequency and intensity in the future. As such,
they are a call with the urgent message that governments
should be promoting public policies to adapt to hydrologic
variabilities and build resilience to risk.
At the same time, too little effort is spent on investing in
measures to deal directly with such events; fact that is well
known to the water community. This raises a significant ethical
public policy issue.
We should be asking ourselves the following question: are we
raising fears and anxieties over impacts of projected changes in
climate while inadvertently denying means to cope with these
impacts?
For developing countries, adaptation measures are critical to
prevent the worsening of poverty levels due to climate impacts.
But that does not mean that adaptation is only necessary in
developing countries. In fact, in the US, military experts are
already planning for climate-related security situations.
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This observation proves us that there is a crucial need to
increase the adaptation and resilience of our societies and
economic sectors.
I would like to illustrate this point by highlighting three sectors:
health, agriculture and water.
Health systems need to be adapted to deal with climate-
sensitive diseases. The World Health Organization has
demonstrated that the malaria epidemic risk increases around
five-fold in the year after an El Niño event.
A second sector where adaptation is also urgently needed is
agriculture. This can involve a range of possibilities depending
on local conditions, including greater water efficiency or
switching crops. In the US, research on adaptation in
agriculture is expanding to ensure that production can meet
growing demand under changed circumstances.
The water sector is the last example that I would like to mention
here. Climate change will affect all aspects of water , including
agricultural and urban water supplyand sanitation. This has the
potential to strangle economic growth and agricultural
production across the world.
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According to UN estimates, at present, some 800 million people
already lack access to safe drinking water and this figure is set
to rise as the world’s population grows and precipitation
patterns change. To make matters worse, water is already
being badly managed in most countries. Improved water
management and adaptation measures such as increased
water efficiency are urgently needed across the globe.
These examples show that many adaptation options exist, but
also, that many more need to be explored and accelerated.
They also show that adapting to climate change impacts needs
to be based on detailed assessments and research with robust
planning for each sector. No sector will be immune to climate
change impacts and all forces need to be mobilized to ensure
comprehensive risk reduction and resilience.
Drawing on this, massive investments will be needed if
governments are to deliver the aspirational Sustainable
Development Goals adopted by the United Nations. For
example, according to the High-Level Panel on Water, it is
estimated that 650 billion US dollars of annual investment is
required from now to 2030 to ensure infrastructure for water
supply, sanitation, irrigation, flood control, and hydropower.
Page 8 of 9
Adapting to these hydrologic variabilities and building resilience
to risk for water security, involves implementing “the three ‘I’s”:
Institutions, Infrastructure and Investment.
Institutions both public and non-governmental are
essential to achieve good governance to allow the
involvement of all stakeholders in the decision-making
process
Infrastructure must enable us to dramatically increase our
development potential as well as providing a buffer
against variability.
Investment from not only a financial point of view but
commitment from a political perspective is essential to
achieve positive change.
Solutions based on these inter-linkages are plentiful and
proven. The World Water Council has co-published with
ANEAS and CONAGUA a book on ‘Increasing Resilience to
Climate Variability and Change: The Roles of Infrastructure and
Governance in the Context of Adaptation’, clearly illustrating the
connections between the “Is”.
Page 9 of 9
In closing, I would like to emphasize that business-as-usual will
not achieve water security in the current context. The
challenges we face for shared development and prosperity are
about efficient use of resources, investment for the future and
innovations especially through multi-purpose infrastructure, as
it pertains to all sectors. This is the role of science and research
in guiding policy-makers and addressing the needs of our
communities. This is why the 8th World Water Forum will
address at the highest level the importance of sharing the
responsibilities in making water a common endeavor.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As a founding member of the World Water Council, IWRA has
in its membership a vast expertise and knowledge on water
policy. This said, I would like to recognize that science plays a
critical role and that everyone here has a responsibility to
leverage knowledge to aid policy making.
Let us continue our collaboration towards mobilizing water
resources development and management as a central part of
the political agenda, and making water everybody’s business.’
Thank you.
Keynote Speech
Hak-Soo Lee
President of Asia Water Council / CEO of K-water
Title: Addressing the Water Challenges in Asia to achieve the SDGs
Good morning, ladies and gentlemen.
Honorable President of International Water Resources Association, Dr. Patrick
Lavarde; Mr. Roberto Ramirez de la Parra, Director General of CONAGUA; Mr. Ramon
Aguirre, President of ANEAS; Distinguished water professionals from all over the world;
and guests;
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all of you for taking time from your
very busy schedule to be here today.
It is my honour to give a keynote speech here at this, the 16th World Water Congress
with all of you who acknowledge the importance of water in our society.
① A proposal for the seriousness of water problems in the world
We are here to discuss the seriousness of water problems in the world and seek ways
to resolve them. I believe that there are no difficulties we can’t overcome if we
collaborate with each other and put an effort into finding solutions.
Our efforts to secure water resources, however, is threatened by global problems such
as climate change, rapid urbanization and explosive population growth.
According to a recent OECD report, more than 40% of the world population, which is
nearly 4 billion people, will live in severe water stress conditions by 2050.
The risk of flooding will also increase, and it is estimated that losses will amount to 45
trillion US dollars and will affect 1.6 billion people all over the world.
② The seriousness of water problems that are specific to Asia
Asia is home to 60% of the world population and accounts for 30% of the total land on
Earth. Therefore, chronic water disasters in Asia such as floods and droughts are
urgent issues that persistently affect Asia more than any other region in the world.
As well, Asia is one of the most water-stressed regions in the world due to the rapid
population growth. In the last decade alone, there were more than 350 water-related
disasters in Asia such as floods, droughts and tsunamis.
③ The background of establishing Asia Water Council and main activities
(examples of AWC Water Projects)
The need for a coalition to discuss water problems and implement the solutions in Asia
was raised during the preparation of the 7th World Water Forum, and therefore the
Asia Water Council was established in March, 2016.
At present, the council consists of 119 members and 26 Board Members from
governments, public and private organizations, universities and research institutes,
international organizations and NGOs. The council works as a platform to engage
governments in Asia and water professionals from around the world for discussing the
solutions to water problems in Asia and the achievement of the SDGs.
The foundation of the AWC is the establishment of a water specialized coalition based
on the power of execution. The two main pillars of our Council is the implementation
of AWC Water Projects and Priority for Implementations to resolve water problems in
Asia.
In case of the AWC Water Project in Denpasar, Indonesia, for example, we have
finished the pre-feasibility study of decreasing the ratio of non-revenue water for
improving the efficiency of water supply and are now planning to conduct feasibility
studies to initiate the real project. Moreover, we have launched another AWC Water
Project in Indonesia on Integrated Water Resource Management Project in the Jakarta
Area, and we are planning new Projects in Cambodia and Viet Nam.
To achieve more amicable settlement of water problems in Asia, active interest and
cooperation from all of you is essential.
④ A new paradigm for resolving water problems in the world (4.0 industry)
Now, I would like to mention the future of water resources management.
The Fourth Industrial Revolution is becoming a main issue worldwide. Professor Klaus
Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum,
emphasized the 4IR by saying, “We are at the beginning of a revolution that is
fundamentally changing the way we live, work and relate to one another.”
The first Industrial Revolution in the 18th century was a revolution of mechanization
based on the steam engine, and the second Industrial Revolution in the early 19th
century was a revolution of mass production based on electric power. The third
Industrial Revolution in the late 20th century was a revolution of knowledge and
information based on computer and internet.
Many experts define the 4IR as a digital revolution based on artificial intelligence such
as the Internet of Things and Information and Communication Technology. This means
the current system will be changed based on hyper-connectivity and hyper-
intellectualization among people, things and space.
The introduction of technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Cloud and Big Data will
bring social and economic change. Consequently, the emergence of a platform
economy and knowledge industry and the grafting of state-of-the-art industries onto
the existing ones will be active amongst all the industries, and there will be a change
in the structure of human resources.
These changes will bring about a proliferation of smart and environmental friendly
management, services and platforms; people and things will be connected, and
manufacturing processes as well as products and services will be smart. Moreover,
various services in the manufacturing industry will be provided using Big Data, which
will contribute to environmental friendly management with the efficient use of energy.
Finally, it will be an opportunity to proliferate platforms through cooperation and
convergence among the industries.
It is time for the water industry to move forward and embrace 4IR.
The Korean government proposes the top priority projects in land and transportation
sectors for the 4IR, which are Smart Construction of the Territory; Innovation in
Transportation Services and Industry; Improvement in Safety and Efficiency of
Infrastructure; and Innovative Foundation Construction.
Therefore, I predict the application of the 4IR in the water sector will result in the
following.
The 4IR will enable data management, technology standardization, smart metering,
water leak detection and real-time water quality and quantity data provision for water
resources management. Also, it will enable automated hydrological data acquisition
from water facilities using IoT technology and the construction of off-site surveillance.
The operation of unmanned facilities and off-site surveillance will be popularized for
Social Overhead Capital management, and the utilization of drones in the water sector
will increase. Moreover, active maintenance and management using Big Data and AI
technology is expected to be commonplace.
The current system of divided water resources management defined as one source of
water supply, one direction and individual management will be changed as water
supply systems will be innovated through intelligent water resources management and
networks such as multiple water sources of water supply, network, multiple water
quality and integrated control.
This means a shift will occur from a provider-oriented water supply system to a
customer-centered system. Moreover, it will be an opportunity to reduce water supply
costs and establish sustainable and resilient water supply systems through the
adoption of IoT, ICT, AI and Big Data technologies for the entire water cycle and to
mitigate the effects of climate change.
The 4IR will influence change around the world as the other Industrial Revolutions did.
For example, K-water conducted a smart city pilot project in Paju, South Korea
between 2014 and 2016. This project was on managing water quality and quantity in
real-time using integrated ICT technologies to provide tap water. As a result, the rate
of drinking tap water was increased from 1% in 2014 to 36.3% in 2016, and non-
revenue water was decreased from 25% to 12%. K-water will expand this project
nationwide including Sejong and Busan, the 2nd largest city in South Korea.
Moreover, the Asian Development Bank and K-water commenced with a Smart Water
Management Technical Assistant project in South Asia in 2016. This project will
propose the improvement of waterworks efficiency through Smart Water Management
using Smart Meters and provide educational programs by 2019 in Dhaka, Bangladesh;
Colombo, Sri Lanka; Nepal and India. Based on the project, another Smart Water
Management project is expected to be conducted in South-East Asia.
As you can see, more in-depth discussion on the 4IR is needed as it will affect our
lives and the water industry, and I would like to ask for your advice and participation in
this discussion.
⑤ The Background and promotion of the 1st Asia International Water Week
and the 8th World Water Forum
This year, AWC is organizing the 1st Asia International Water Week in Gyeongju, South
Korea from September 20th to the 23rd to discuss global water issues, share the
accomplishments of solutions to water problems in Asia and further discuss the 4IR.
Asia International Water Week is scheduled to be a triennial event for resolving water
problems in Asia. With the slogan of “Asian Solutions for Water,” we are preparing to
discuss sustainability and the 4IR, and share AWC Water Projects and PFIs among
water professionals from around the world. Accordingly, the 1st AIWW will be the
platform to discuss global water issues and establish a tangible implementation plan
for the future.
Moreover, the outcomes of Asia International Water Week will continue to the 8th
World Water Forum for discussion on water problems in Asia. Consequently, we will
endeavor to realize “sustainable development in the water sector” by putting heads
together with water professionals from around the world.
Again, I would like to ask for your active participation and express my appreciation to
all who prepared this Congress. I sincerely hope all participants reap the desired fruits
of your efforts through this, the 16th World Water Congress.
Thank you.
May 29th, 2017
Hak-Soo Lee
President of Asia Water Council / CEO of K-water