President Jokowi: WWF is Strategic To Enhance Actions for Integrated Water Resource Management
President Jokowi inaugurates the 10th World Water Forum 2024 at Bali International Convention Center (BICC) in Bali, Monday (05/20) (PR of Cabinet Secretariat/Rahmat)
Water plays a central role in human life, according to President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo.
The statement was made by the President on Monday (05/20) at the Inauguration of the 10th World Water Forum (WWF) 2024 at Bali International Convention Center in Bali.
“The World Bank estimated that water scarcity can slow down economic growth by up to 6 percent by 2050 and can also lead to wars and become a source of disasters. Too much or too little water can be a problem for the world,” the President added.
On that occasion, the Head of State also said that Indonesia has been strengthening its water infrastructure in ten years by building 42 dams, 1.18 million hectares of irrigation channel, 2,156 infrastructures for flood control and coastal protection, and rehabilitating 4.4 million hectares of irrigation channel.
“We utilize water to build a Floating Solar Power Plant at Cirata reservoir, the biggest Floating Solar Power Plant in Southeast Asia,” he added.
President Jokowi went on to say that the 10th WWF plays a strategic role in enhancing concrete action and shared commitment to realizing integrated water resource management.
Thus, he underscored three main points as follows.
Firstly, the principle of solidarity and inclusivity must be promoted to achieve collective goals, especially for small island countries with water scarcity.
Secondly, hydro diplomacy must be empowered to carry out concrete and innovative collaboration to avoid competition in managing cross-border water resources.
Thirdly, political leadership must serve as the key to success in building sustainable water security.
For the record, this year’s WWF Indonesia proposed four new initiatives, including the designation of World Lake Day, the establishment of the Center of Excellence in Asia Pacific, the development of sustainable water management in small island countries, and the establishment of global crowdfunding for water projects.
“Water is not only a natural resource but also a product of collaboration that unites us. To that end, we need collective efforts to maintain it,” he remarked. (TGH/DNS) (AP/EP)
