Egypt’s Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sweilam participated in a promotional session held to present the axes and objectives of the International Initiative for Adaptation in the Water Sector, which Egypt will launch during the upcoming COP27.
The session was held on the side-lines of the fifth edition of Cairo Water Week (CWW).
Sweilam pointed out that Egypt — in cooperation with many international partners — prepared an international initiative to adapt the water sector to climate change that will be launched during the UN Conference of Parties on Climate Change (COP27) that will be held in Sharm El-Sheikh this November.
He also stressed the importance of supporting this initiative that deals with water and climate challenges at the global level, especially since the negative effects of climate change affect all countries — whether developed or developing — pointing out at the same time the importance of giving priority to developing countries, which are the least resilient in the face of climate change.
The minister explained that the initiative aims to work on improving water management, enhance cooperation in the field of adaptation, and enhance the link between water and climate action, noting that this initiative depends on the outcomes of many international meetings held over the past months under the umbrella of a number of international coalitions, such as the Coalition of Water and Climate Leaders, the Adaptation Action Alliance, and the Marrakech Water Partnership Work Stream.
Sweilam also reviewed the axes of the initiative, which include taking into account the lack of impact of economic growth on the use and deterioration of freshwater, calculating green water when developing national plans for water use and strategies for adaptation, mitigation and protection of freshwater ecosystems, and cooperation across transboundary river basins with regard to adaptation to climate changes.
It also includes promoting sustainable, low-emission, low-cost management of drinking water and wastewater; establishing early warning systems for extreme weather events; in addition to linking national water policies to climate action to reflect the long-term impacts of climate change on water resources and demand.
He further stressed the need to mobilise the necessary funding for projects to adapt to the effects of climate change on water resources in a way that contributes to achieving water and food security and facilitating livelihoods in the areas most in need and most exposed to the risks of climate change.
The minister also pointed to the importance of supporting the training programmes offered to the technical cadres of young engineers and researchers in the ministry in all areas related to the optimal management of water resources.
