Riyadh,
His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, opened the One Water Summit here today.
The summit is held under the joint chairmanship of HRH the Crown Prince, alongside President Emmanuel Macron of the French Republic, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, and President of the World Bank Ajay Banga.
HRH the Crown Prince and the leaders and heads of the participating delegations posed for a group photo before the summit.
HRH the Crown Prince delivered the opening speech, the text of which reads as follows:
“Your Excellencies,
esteemed guests,
Peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.
It is with great pleasure that we welcome you to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and convey to you the greetings of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. We wish for the utmost success of the One Water Summit, which reflects our unwavering determination to collaboratively address the environmental challenges posed by water scarcity and drought.
Your Excellencies,
This summit coincides with the Kingdom’s hosting of the 16th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16), aimed at reducing land degradation and drought, as the lands are a significant source of fresh water.
The world today faces increasing challenges in the water sector, among which growing drought that threatens the availability of usable water, exacerbates desertification, and poses risks to human life and society. This situation calls for collective efforts to devise plans that ensure the sustainability of water resources.
In light of this, the Kingdom has taken the initiative to include water issues in the G20 work plan for the first time during its presidency in 2020. Additionally, it committed over $6 billion to support more than 200 development projects in the water sector across over 60 developing countries worldwide.
Looking ahead, the Kingdom is preparing to host the 11th World Water Forum in 2027 in partnership with the World Water Council.
The Kingdom has also announced the establishment of a global water organization based in Riyadh, which aims to unify and enhance the efforts of nations and organizations in addressing water challenges comprehensively. This organization will focus on tackling water-related issues worldwide by harmonizing international efforts, fostering comprehensive solutions, and promoting the exchange of expertise and innovative technologies in this sector.
In conclusion, the Kingdom calls upon member states of the United Nations, international organizations, and the private sector to join this organization. We hope that the international community’s collective efforts in addressing water challenges will help us achieve our aspirations in this vital field.
May peace, mercy, and blessings of Allah be upon you.”
The One Water Summit convenes countries, international organizations, financial institutions, and the private sector to engage in international discussions aimed at identifying potential solutions to the challenges facing the water sector and its financing within environmental contexts.
This initiative comes in response to the escalating global water crisis driven by climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution. Additionally, the summit aspires to serve as an incubator for actionable solutions to tackle water challenges in preparation for the United Nations Water Conference in 2026.
–SPA
