The Executive Board of UNESCO issues a decision to support the organization’s member states for the AWARe initiative
Professor Dr. Hani Sweilem, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, stated that the Executive Council of UNESCO issued a decision that included the support of the organization’s member states for the international initiative to support adaptation and resilience in the water sector in the face of climate change (AWARe), explaining that the Executive Council of UNESCO had issued its decision unanimously among its members and with the support of the states. The organization’s members number 194 countries.
His Excellency pointed out that the AWARe initiative was launched during the Sharm El-Sheikh Conference of States Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Convention (COP27), which was held in November 2022, which It aims to emphasize the importance of water as one of the pivotal issues in the context of addressing the effects of climate change, enhancing resilience, adopting effective adaptation policies in the field of water, and providing the necessary funds to implement projects to adapt to climate change in African countries. The international initiative enjoys great support, as 30 countries have joined it so far.
Dr. Sweilem praised the efforts of the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the directives of Sameh Shoukry, Minister of Foreign Affairs, who had the greatest impact in achieving this great progress through the efforts of the Egyptian delegation to UNESCO, headed by Ambassador Alaa Youssef, Egypt’s Ambassador to France and Egypt’s Permanent Representative to UNESCO, Ambassador Mohamed Negm, Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Specialized International Agencies Affairs, Ambassador Mohamed El-Shahed, Egypt’s Alternate Representative to UNESCO, and Ambassador Ahmed Taye, Director of the Regional and Multilateral Water Issues Unit at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The decision issued by the Executive Council aims to confirm UNESCO’s commitment to supporting the implementation of the AWARe initiative, mobilizing support for the initiative from the organization’s member states, and providing technical assistance to the countries most affected by water scarcity conditions. And climate change, especially among African countries and other developing and least developed countries.
The main work from which the expected projects will emerge is (taking into account the lack of impact of economic growth on the use of fresh water and its degradation – Accounting for green water in developing national water use plans and adaptation strategies – Collaborating across international river basins on climate change adaptation – Promoting sustainable, low-emission, low-cost management of drinking water and sanitation – Developing early warning systems for extreme climate events – Linking national water policies Climate action to reflect the long-term impacts of climate change on water resources and demand).
