Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman announced on Tuesday that Saudi Arabia has contributed $6 billion to support 200 water-related projects in more than 60 developing countries worldwide. He made the statement at the One Water Summit in Riyadh. It was attended by French President Emmanuel Macron, Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, and numerous ministers and officials.
The summit is co-chaired by Saudi Arabia, France, Kazakhstan, and the president of the World Bank, highlighting Saudi Arabia’s leading international role in tackling global water challenges and its dedication to environmental sustainability.
For decades, the Kingdom has showcased its leadership in water production, transportation, and distribution, as well as its innovative approaches to addressing related challenges.
Crown Prince Mohammed highlighted the increasing water challenges the world faces due to rising drought levels. He emphasized that water scarcity could trigger various crises, including desertification, which pose significant threats to human life and communities. Consequently, he called for collaborative efforts to develop strategies that ensure sustainable water resources.
World Water Forum in 2027
The Kingdom is gearing up to host the 11th World Water Forum in 2027 in collaboration with the World Water Council, he announced. The council has already established its global headquarters in Riyadh to foster the development of international efforts in addressing water-related challenges comprehensively.
Additionally, Crown Prince Mohammed highlighted that the One Water Summit coincides with Saudi Arabia’s hosting of the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP16) under the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD).
One Water Summit
The One Water Summit seeks to advance ongoing United Nations discussions and initiatives to strengthen global water governance, accelerate progress on SDG6 (clean water and sanitation), and build on the momentum generated by the 2023 UN Water Conference. The summit also serves as an incubator for innovative solutions, laying the groundwork for the next UN Water Conference in 2026.
The summit aspires to scale up impactful projects by fostering partnerships among states, international organizations, local authorities, development and private banks, businesses, philanthropies, scientific experts, NGOs, and civil society. This approach aligns with the collaborative spirit of previous One Planet Summits.
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