The Indonesian government, through the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG), is optimistic that the 10th World Water Forum, taking place in Bali from May 18-25, 2024, will be able to generate political consensus among participating heads of state to address global climate crisis challenges.
This statement was conveyed by the Head of BMKG, Dwikorita Karnawati, during an online seminar titled "Towards the 10th World Water Forum, Resilient Collaboration to Address Climate Change Challenges" held by Forum Merdeka Barat (FMB) 9, on April 1, 2024.
According to Dwikorita, based on reports of the global climate institutions, the current climate and weather conditions continue to experience uncertainty, partly due to the uncontrolled emission of greenhouse gasses or carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere.
Political consensus on the climate crisis
This uncertainty has led to the emergence of extreme weather events; both droughts and above-average rainfalls, which in turn have profound effects on social, health and financial conditions of a country.
"These are the crucial aspects of the upcoming 10th World Water Forum in Bali. Since the impacts of climate change have affected most countries in the world, we need to take immediate actions to safeguard water availability for common interests," she said.
She stated that the 10th World Water Forum will also produce political consensus among heads of state or authority representing around 30 participating countries to address the potential climate crisis mentioned earlier. Thus, it will be included in the Ministerial Declaration at the 10th World Water Forum.
Dwikorita believed that this political consensus is the most important point in the 10th World Water Forum. The agreement signifies the commitment of participating heads of state to execute all action plans that have been scientifically formulated based on ecosystem and natural events by each respective country.
Action plans to address the crisis
These real action plans involve mitigating climate change and bridging the gap between challenges and capacities of each country in terms of managing water resources, climate, food, energy, and health.
"Each country's capabilities are different. The lagging scientific knowledge and technology that create this gap make it increasingly complex and intricate. Now we can end it by collectively addressing the climate crisis," she concluded.
For information, the 10th World Water Forum will be held under the theme "Water for Shared Prosperity," which is translated into six sub-themes discussions, including water for human and nature, water security and prosperity, disaster risk reduction and management, governance cooperation and hydro diplomacy, sustainable water finance, and knowledge and innovation.
This forum serves as a platform for discussions among stakeholders from several regions, including the Mediterranean, Asia-Pacific, America, and Africa, along with member countries of the World Water Council to explore various mechanisms and approaches to resolve water-related issues.
Panel discussion among stakeholders ranging from heads of state, parliament members, ministerial-level officials, local governments, to river basin authorities will specifically address water issues closely related to politics, regional/area, and thematic concerns.