Speaking at the opening ceremony of the 7th World Water Forum in the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar called on nations to unite and commit to tangible actions aimed at addressing water scarcity challenges and ensuring global water security.

In his keynote speech, Dr Al Jaber urged delegates to align efforts and harness their collective knowledge to devise innovative solutions and transform the way water is produced, preserved and consumed. The opening ceremony, attended by HH Sheikh Hamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan Chairman of the Crown Prince Court of Abu Dhabi, included 500 government dignitaries and business leaders from 170 international delegations. Also speaking at the opening ceremony was HRH Prince Albert II of Monaco, HE Park Geun-hye, President of the Republic of Korea, HE Dr Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, President of Turkmenistan, HE Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, HE Dr Janos Ader, President of Hungary, HE Abdelilah Benkirane, Prime Minister of Morocco, HE Mulatu Teshome, President of Ethiopia, HE Jan Eliasson, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Angel Gurria, Secretary General of the OECD.

In his opening remarks, Dr Al Jaber said: “Tackling water security is a global challenge that will require a global response. The UAE is ready to work with you in our shared responsibility to exchange ideas, drive commercial solutions and forge a pathway toward global water security.

“As a rapidly growing nation in an arid desert climate, the UAE is determined to move from water scarcity to water security. As such, our leadership has set an ambitious target to reduce our water footprint by 20 per cent, by 2030. A calculated and strategic goal we are committed to achieve through a mix of conservation practices, innovative technology solutions, policies, and partnerships with the global community.”

Dr Al Jaber emphasised innovation’s role as a catalyst for multi-industry solutions to the water scarcity challenges faced by arid regions across the world.

“We are determined to transform energy intensive desalination technology and make it more sustainable,” he said. “Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted sustainability and renewable energy company, has taken a visionary approach to addressing the water-energy nexus and has launched an ambitious program to improve desalination efficiency and develop advanced desalination technology capable of being powered with sustainable, clean energy.”

Held under the theme of ‘Water for our Future,’ the 7th World Water forum is being held in Daegu and Gyenongbuk, South Korea and over the next five days it is expected to attract over 30,000 attendees from government leaders to scientific experts, spanning public and private sectors, academia and industry. It will serve as a key platform to drive international discussions on global water challenges and explore conclusive outcomes for tackling water security issues.

During the forum, the United Arab Emirates will showcase its adoption of innovative technologies as a means to ensure a water secure future and to address the inter-connected challenges of the energy-water nexus.

A high-level UAE delegation, organised by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, is addressing how the UAE is innovating to advance water security.  In addition to the pioneering renewable energy powered desalination pilot project, spearheaded by Masdar, the UAE is highlighting its efficient wastewater collection and conveyance systems and its advanced hydroponics techniques.

The UAE delegation to the 7th World Water Forum includes representatives from the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Environment and Water, Federal Electricity and Water Authority, Executive Affairs Authority, National Centre of Meteorology and Seismology, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Environment Agency of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Regulation and Supervision Bureau, Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority and the United Arab Emirates University.