"Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative" It concludes its participation in COP16 in Riyadh

RIYADH, December 11, 2017 – The Mohamed Bin Zayed Water Initiative concluded its participation in the sixteenth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (COP16) in Riyadh, stressing the importance of confronting the challenge of water scarcity globally, and accelerating the pace of innovation to develop new solutions. It is effective to address this growing problem, enhance awareness of its serious repercussions, mobilize efforts and enable the participation of all concerned parties to ensure the availability of sustainable water resources.
The initiative hosted a number of sessions. On December 4, it organized a session entitled “Utilizing Innovative Solutions to Enhance Water Management” at the UAE pavilion, with the participation of experts from the XPRIZE Foundation, the United Arab Emirates University, the Nature Conservancy, and the International Water Management Institute. . The session discussed the role of technology and modern techniques in reformulating water management methodology and enabling innovative and sustainable solutions to address the challenges of scarcity of its vital resources.
The initiative also hosted a session entitled “Storytelling to Awareness of the Importance of Water,” with the participation of a number of experts and specialists to explore effective communication methods and strategies to highlight the importance of addressing the growing problem of water scarcity, and enhance public awareness of its serious repercussions, in addition to stimulating joint action and mobilizing efforts to address its global challenges. During the session, Henk Ovink, Executive Director of the World Commission on the Water Economy, stressed and said: “There is a gap between half of the world’s population who take the existence of water for granted, and the other half who face difficulties in accessing it.” He highlighted the important role of the arts, effective means of communication, and storytelling in reducing this gap, and motivating decision-makers to take the necessary steps to address this challenge.
Aisha Al Ateeqi, Executive Director of the Mohammed bin Zayed Water Initiative, said: “Water scarcity today is a growing problem that affects communities around the world, and its serious repercussions are rapidly increasing as a result of climate change, population growth and many other factors. This issue must be given the global attention it requires and provide The necessary investments and effective action to address its urgent challenges. International events such as the COP16 Conference of the Parties are important and vital platforms for the various parties concerned to meet to discuss the pressing and urgent need to mobilize efforts, enhance cooperation, and develop innovative solutions to address this. Global threat.
As part of its ongoing efforts to enhance the role of youth in addressing these challenges, the initiative organized a discussion session with the participation of young leaders active in climate action and calling for sustainable practices to manage and protect water resources, with the aim of exploring their visions and ideas on how to activate their contributions in addressing the challenges of water scarcity.

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