Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Minister of Climate Change and Environment–Statement on World Water Day
Saturday, March 22, 2025
On this World Water Day, let us reflect on the profound significance of water – the very essence of life and the lifeblood of our planet.
Today, a staggering 2.2 billion people – 1 in 4 – are denied access to safe, clean water. This stark reality demands that we urgently reaffirm our commitment to sustainable water management and work to secure a water-resilient future for all.
Her Excellency Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak- Minister of Climate Change and Environment -Statement on World Water Day
This year’s theme, Glacier Preservation, serves as a powerful reminder that even seemingly distant ecosystems like glaciers are intrinsically linked to our local water security and overall well-being.Driven by rising global temperatures and a changing climate, glaciers have lost more than 6,500 billion tonnes – or 5% – of their icesince the turn of the century. This unsustainable rate of glacier melt poses a significant threat.
Despite the geographical distance, the UAE recognises the global consequences of their disappearance – impacting food security, economic stability, and accelerating sea-level rise. We embrace our shared responsibility through sustainable water management. Our ambitious Net Zero 2050 Strategyis spearheading the transition to net-zero emissions, while the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036is guiding our efforts to implement integrated water resources management, aiming to reduce total demand for water resources by 21% and substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors.Further strengthening this commitment, and under the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, the country is tackling global water scarcity through the Mohamed bin Zayed Water Initiative. The initiative aims to rive awareness, accelerating innovation, and fostering collaboration for a water-resilient future.
A key element of our national strategy is our commitment to decarbonised desalination, prioritising Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology. As home to the Al Taweelah RO plant – part of the Al Taweelah Power and Desalination Complex and set to be the world’s largest reverse osmosis facility when fully operational, Abu Dhabi is exemplifying this commitment with the goal of producing 90% of its desalinated water through RO technology by 2030. Complementing this ambition, DEWA aims to produce 100% of desalinated water using clean energy and waste heat by 2030 as well.
The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) is also leading Agri-Tech projects to strategically reduce water consumption, ensuring a holistic approach to water security.
As we observe World Water Day during the blessed month of Ramadan, let us renew our dedication to responsible water consumption in our community and amplify our contributions to global initiatives aimed at safeguarding our invaluable water resources. Every small step counts, and together, these steps can significantly contribute to our planet’s water security.
Let us not forget that a water crisis is inherently a climate crisis. By working together with solid resolve, we can avert this crisis, protect our precious water resources, and secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
ENDS