WATER PAGES
Each chapter of this anthology is a mosaic of the Youth Fellows’ projects, carefully chosen to reflect their unique contributions toward achieving the SDGs, with a focus on SDG 6. The publication’s five chapters focus on how we can activate, develop, and yield the contributions from young water professionals around the globe effectively.
The publication is a testimony to the diverse understanding of the representatives of the Fellowship and offers both inspiration and concrete suggestions for actors in the water industry and policy makers.
The Youth Action for SDG6 - IWA & Grundfos Fellowship Outcomes aims to highlight the important role young people play in the UN 2030 Agenda, focusing on how the water sector can be transformed by their energy and excellence. It is a culmination of the exciting journey the 13 YWP have been on.
Inês Breda, outgoing IWA-Grundfos Fellow & Senior Manager of Global Partnerships and Alliances, Grundfos, says “Participating in the fellowship feels like getting a sneak peek of the water crisis at a global scale, while at the same time it gives me hope because I experienced how water professionals from all around the globe spend vast amount of their time and energy into developing solutions. I am thankful for the experience and I cannot wait to continue to support the current young leaders of the water sector.”
The ten challenges of water management in Southeast Asia
Water management in Southeast Asia poses multiple challenges which are related to its geography, climate, population growth and economic development. For example, the significant increase in greenhouse gas emissions and the consequent rise in temperatures in recent decades means that the region is highly vulnerable to climate change.
Moreover, Southeast Asia plays host to 60% of the world population, primarily located in cities which release more heat and spread by building new constructions on flood plains, thus obstructing the natural course of waterways and increasing the risk of flooding. Urban growth also increases
water stress. In fact, in 2015, the Asian Development Bank estimated that by 2030 there will be a 40% shortfall between water supply and demand in the region.
According to Victor Lorente, Client Solution Architect at Idrica, "it is essential to understand and tackle water management challenges in Southeast Asia so as to safeguard the region's sustainability and growth from a social, economic and industrial point of view".
It is precisely this situation that is driving an urgent need to address water management issues in the region. In this regard, Martin Shaw, NRW Solution Architect at Xylem, based in Malaysia, points to technology as a key player in this area. "In an area with a burgeoning economy, technology becomes a lever for change to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation services for all."
Some of the region's major water management challenges are listed below:
1. Water scarcity. The availability of freshwater in Southeast Asia is limited and unevenly distributed. According to the Asian Development Bank, urban centers are the main areas affected by this scarcity, although they are not the only ones. Many countries in the region face water shortages, especially in periods of drought, which affects the population, agriculture and industry. In the opinion of Idrica's specialist, Víctor Lorente, one of the main challenges lies in "how to optimize the management of this scarce resource throughout the entire water cycle, from catchment to
38 | February 2024 |
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