9th PWWM Forum calls for collective action to ensure Pacific Islands progress together
BY LORETTA B MANELE
The 9th Pacific Water and Waste Water Ministers (PWWM) Forum calls for collective action to ensure that no Pacific Island is left behind in achieving sustainable water and wastewater services.
The Forum held from August 25-26 in Honiara have released a statement titled “Water Resource Security for Resilience”, in which ministers and ministerial representatives stressed on components such as;
-The varying nature of challenges across Pacific Islands
-How disproportionately affected the Pacific is by water and wastewater related impacts of climate extremes
-The critical importance of national hydrological services
-The fundamental role of water in peace and security
-Urgency for resilient and inclusive solutions
On how the nature of challenges vary across Pacific Islands, ministers stressed that this includes the unique and significant challenges faced by atoll and low-lying communities that are reliant on rainwater and shallow aquifers.
They also stressed on the value of sharing locally developed solutions through sustained communities of practice such as the Pacific Partnership for Atoll Water Security.
Another point raised during the meeting was how disproportionately affected the Pacific is by water and wastewater related impacts of climate extremes.
The ministers stressed that this comes with the expectancy of climate change to significantly increase the likelihood of hydro-meteorological disasters like flooding and droughts which as mentioned, already accounts for over 75% of reported natural disaster events in the region.
Critical importance of national hydrological services was also highlighted.
The ministers noted that this is essential to enable evidence-based decision making for sustainable water resource management, disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation.
On this note, they welcome the development of a regional hydrology strategy to identify and address urgent national capacity needs.
Ministers also emphasised the fundamental role of water in peace and security and building Pacific resilience.
Henceforth, they call for prioritization and deeper integration of water and sanitation into national development plans, climate change strategies and disaster preparedness frameworks namely; the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent Implementation Plan and the Boe Declaration on Regional Security and its Action Plan.
Further on is the emphasis on the urgency of resilient and inclusive solutions.
On this front, ministers reaffirmed their commitment to regional cooperation, capacity building and innovation.
They call for collection action to ensure that no Pacific Island is left behind in achieving sustainable water and wastewater services.
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