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May 20, 2024. BALI, Indonesia
The Bandung Spirit Water Summit: Collaborative Efforts to Find Solutions to Water Issues in Small and Outer Islands
PRESS RELEASE
COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA TEAM OF THE 10TH WORLD WATER FORUM
NO.92/SP/TKM-WORLDWATERFORUM2024/05/2024
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The Bandung Spirit Water Summit: Collaborative Efforts to Find Solutions to Water Issues in Small and Outer Islands
The Bandung Spirit Water Summit, which takes place on 21 May, will focus on global collaborative efforts to find solutions for water issues in small and outer islands. The summit is part of the 10th World Water Forum held in Nusa Dua, Bali from 18 to 25 May 2024.
Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) and Chairman of the National Organizing Committee for the 10th World Water Forum, Basuki Hadimuljono, and Han Seung-soo, Chairman of the High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel (HELP) and former Prime Minister of Korea, will officially open the Bandung Spirit Water Summit.
Minister Basuki emphasized the importance of integrated water resource management in the smallest and outermost islands in order to address climate change and sea-level rise.
Water resource management faces challenges such as disaster management regulations, data collection, analysis, capacity building, and coordination among stakeholders.
"To achieve this, cooperation is needed in the development of strategic planning focused on enhancing the awareness of integrated water resource management in small and outer islands when facing climate change and sea-level rise," said Basuki at the 23rd High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel (HELP) on Water and Disasters in Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre on Sunday, 19 May.
The Indonesian government also initiated the establishment of the Centre of Excellence for Water and Climate Resilience, which aims to integrate environmental and socio-economic aspects in addressing climate change.
"Thus, networking and collaboration between stakeholders consisting of the government, private sector, and academia are needed to become a centre for technology development, capacity building, implementation of effective solutions for climate change, and sustainable and inclusive natural resources challenges," Basuki added.
Professor Kenzo Hiroki from the National Graduate Institute for Policy Studies (GRIPS) and HELP Coordinator mentioned that the high-level panel has a special meaning as it elevates and promotes water issues to a platform of political solidarity and shared prosperity.
The Bandung Spirit Water Summit will serve as a new political corridor to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through water. "In this forum, world leaders, international organizations, experts, and stakeholders will engage in dialogue and produce The Spirit of Bandung: a call to action," said Kenzo.
By gathering heads of state, stakeholders, and experts, The Bandung Spirit Water Summit will formulate proposals and real actions. The summit has five main focuses: water and peace, climate change and disaster risk reduction, sanitation and water for all, finance and governance, and youth.
The term "Bandung Spirit" refers to the collaborating and mutually beneficial efforts of participating countries in the 1955 Asia-Africa Conference.
Minister Basuki had previously echoed the Bandung Spirit on various occasions, including the 21st HELP on Water and Disasters in Madrid in 2023.
"The spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference in Bandung will serve as the foundation for the organization of the 10th World Water Forum in Bali in 2024, not only as a philosophical basis but also as a fundamental concept for the forum," Basuki said.
Basuki believes that the spirit of the Asia-Africa Conference remains relevant in addressing shared problems that require global consensus as solutions, including through the World Water Forum. This meeting transforms all policies, spirit, and passion to collectively embrace the future, making water a source of life and peace.(Yandi/Elvira Inda Sari/TR/SW/MB)
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For further information, please contact:
Director General of Public Information and Communications of the Ministry of Communications and Informatics – Usman Kansong (0816785320).
PCO of the 10th World Water Forum - Dede Ariwibowo (08111830020)
