World Water Forum and World Footprint to Prevent Water Crisis

The water crisis increasingly threatens the basic needs of Earth's population. What has the world done to prevent a water crisis?

KOMPAS/RENY SRI AYU

Three residents were seen swimming in Mandar River, Polewali Mandar, West Sulawesi, on Friday (15/9/2023) while carrying a series of jerry cans filled with clean water. This water will be sold for household needs.

Water is one of the basic needs of humans. The publication "The United Nations World Water Development Report 2024" provides an illustration of how water is needed for various life necessities, ranging from agriculture, industries, to domestic needs such as drinking, cooking, washing, and bathing.

Throughout the world, The United Nations World Water (UN Water) records show that an average of 72 percent of water usage is contributed to the agricultural or irrigation sector. The rest, around 16 percent, is used for industrial purposes and 12 percent for human domestic needs. However, in detail, the proportion of water usage varies depending on the economic development level of a country.

Countries with high income levels use more water for industry (39 percent) compared to low-income countries (4 percent). In low-income countries, the need for water is still predominantly used for the agricultural sector (90 percent).

The need for water becomes increasingly important as the world's population continues to grow. In 2023, data from Worldometers shows that the world's population will reach 8.04 billion people. This number has tripled compared to 1952, when the world's population was recorded at 2.54 billion people.

The increasing population means that global water demand also continues to increase. According to UN Water, a UN agency formed to coordinate water issues, to live a decent life, a person needs at least 50 liters of clean water per day. This clean water is needed to fulfill personal and environmental hygiene needs, including drinking and cooking food.

AP/BRIAN INGANGA

A Maasai man in Kenya walks with his livestock in search of grasslands in Ilangeruani Village, near Lake Magadi in Kenya (11/9/2022). Several parts of Kenya routinely experience very long dry seasons and clean water crises.

However, not all clean water needs are evenly distributed among everyone. Limited water resources and the climate crisis factor have made a number of people around the world still experiencing a water crisis. Until 2022, UN Water mentions that there are still 2.2 billion people in the world who have not yet gained access to healthy water.

On the other hand, the climate crisis exacerbates the threat to the availability of clean water. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay warns that floods and droughts caused by the climate crisis will make half of the global population suffer. From 2002-2021, droughts resulting in water crises have affected more than 1.4 billion people and caused the death of 21,000 global citizens.

Similarly, research results from the World Resource Institute (WRI) in 2021 stated that there are at least 25 countries facing high levels of water scarcity every year. Nearly one-fourth of the Earth's population reside in these 25 countries. Looking at the distribution, the regions that experience the most shortage of clean water are the Middle East and North Africa.

The five countries experiencing the most water difficulties, according to the World Resource Institute, are Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, and Qatar. The water shortage in these five countries is caused by the lack of water supply.

World forum on water

Given the urgency of basic human needs and the increasingly concerning threat of a water crisis, countries around the world are collaborating to prevent the deterioration of water supply and quality. At the United Nations forum (UN), the UN Secretariat Inter Agency Group on Water Resources was established in 1977. The task of this group is to coordinate UN activities in the field of water resources.

In its development, in 1992, the group's role was elevated to the Subcommittee on Water Resources. The United Nations also initiated World Water Day since 1993. Furthermore, in 2003, the UN strengthened the role of the Subcommittee on Water Resources by establishing UN Water.

UN Water has taken various actions, including launching a joint campaign with the International Decade for Action ''Water for Life'' during the period 2005-2015. This effort continued for another decade under the name ''Water Action Decade 2018-2028'', which was launched at the United Nations General Assembly in 2018. Prior to that, UN Water also supported the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to water, which have been a global commitment since 2015.

In addition to the UN, a number of international institutions and countries are also continuing their efforts to prevent the threat of a water crisis from spreading. For instance, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) has been initiating the World Water Week forum since 1991. This forum is a global conference attended by experts from countries around the world. Original Article: PKS dan PPP bersama-sama mengusulkan agar pihak pemerintah mematok harga BBM yang lebih murah. Namun, hal tersebut menimbulkan kontroversi dan berbagai pro kontra. Ada yang setuju dengan usulan tersebut karena dianggap efektif dalam menekan biaya transportasi dan mempertahankan daya beli masyarakat. Namun, ada pula yang menentang karena dinilai dapat menimbulkan malapraktik dan mendegradasi kualitas BBM. English Translation: A coalition of PKS and PPP proposed that the government set a cheaper price for fuel. However, this has sparked controversy and various pros and cons. Some agree with the proposal because it is deemed effective in reducing transportation costs and maintaining the purchasing power of the society. However, there are also those who oppose it because it is considered capable of causing malpractice and degrading the quality of fuel.

There is also the World Water Forum (WWF) or World Water Forum. This forum was held by the World Water Council (WWC). The World Water Forum is the largest global meeting held regularly every three years to discuss strategic issues related to water. The aim of this forum is to increase international cooperation and encourage effective policies in water management.

KOMPAS/BAHANA PATRIA GUPTA

Masdeni transfers rainwater from a bucket to a smaller container in front of a resident's house in Kampung Baru Tengah, Balikpapan Barat District, Balikpapan City on November 4th, 2023. Amidst a limited water supply, residents collect rainwater to fulfill their daily water needs.

History of the World Water Forum (WWF)

Referring to Kompaspedia, the first World Water Forum was held in Morocco in 1997. This forum resulted in the Marrakesh Declaration, which mandated the World Water Council (WWC) to develop a "World Water Vision" for the 21st century.

In their second meeting in 2000, the World Water Forum (WWF) produced the Hague Declaration on Water Security. Three years later, WWF was held in Japan and initiated the "World Water Action" as a global effort to address water challenges. The forum emphasizes the involvement of all stakeholders through initiatives, such as the "Virtual Water Forum" and the collection of testimonies in the Water Action Portfolio "Voice of Water."

Next, the World Water Forum was held in 2006 with an emphasis on the issue of increasing access to water and sanitation. The next World Water Forum in 2009 produced the Istanbul Water Consensus (IWC), which committed to improving water infrastructure and services. Sanitation and water issues are still main points of discussion for WWF 2012.

Also read: Emergency Threat of World Water Crisis

The world's orientation was then sharpened at the World Water Forum in 2015 with a focus on sustainable development agendas and water politics that threaten world peace. The limitations of water and the scheme of sharing water will still be the next topic in the World Water Forum in Brazil in 2018.

The increasing water crisis has become the main agenda of WWF 2021 with the theme of "Water Security for Peace and Development". This forum opens the way for the need to secure global water supplies through financial investment and discussions on the impact of climate change, such as increasing droughts and floods. WWF 2024 will be held in Bali, Indonesia, with the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity".

KOMPAS/COKORDA YUDISTIRA

The Indonesian government, together with the World Water Council, held the 2nd Stakeholders Consultation Meeting as part of the preparations for the 10th World Water Forum meeting in Bali in 2024.

Various programs to preserve water

Outside various global forums, several countries and institutions have initiated efforts to preserve water sustainability. In Germany, a non-governmental organization called Global Nature Fund (GNF) created the "Living Lakes" program in Lake Constance, Germany, in 1998.

The real purpose of this project is to preserve the ecosystem of the lake and wetlands while also improving the quality of life for residents living around the lake. This lake conservation program has then spread to several countries, including efforts to restore Lake Jempang in East Kalimantan. In 2006, the "Living Lakes" program received an award from the United Nations.

A similar program that received recognition from the UN is the Lake Bangalore Protection Project in India. The program, initiated by the Environment Support Group (ESG), developed a network of lakes to form a larger river basin. Thanks to this program, semi-arid areas that depend on seasonal rivers can remain productive due to the supply of lake water.

Also read: The Long Road to Providing Clean Water Access

Another program is the NEWater Project in Singapore. Started in the 1970s, this program generally recycles used water to be treated into clean and safe reclaimed water. With five processing plants in operation, Singapore has been able to secure water supplies during dry seasons while also promoting water consumption efficiency with a sustainable water scheme.

Various efforts have become tangible steps for the world in preventing a global water crisis. The world is waiting for more real and innovative steps to save the increasingly critical water resources that threaten the basic needs of the Earth's population. (KOMPAS Research and Development)

Also read: Managing Water for Life Sustainability