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Jokowi kicks off global water forum with call for collaboration
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A tourist walks past a World Water Forum billboard on Friday in Nusa Dua, Bali. The resort island is hosting the 10th World Water Forum from May 18-25. (Antara/Nova Wahyudi)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo has called on the international community to strengthen its commitment and formulate real actions for inclusive and sustainable water management, as Indonesia kicks off the 10th World Water Forum in Bali.
In his opening remarks on Monday morning, Jokowi highlighted the untapped potential of water resources across the globe amid the looming problems of food scarcity, saying that 500 million farmers, who contribute 80 percent of the world’s crops, will be vulnerable to drought by 2050.
“Seventy-two percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water, yet only 1 percent can be accessed and used for drinking and sanitation,” Jokowi said. “Without water, there is no food, there is no peace, there is no life, no growth. Water must be managed well because every drop is very valuable.”
Citing Bali’s subak culture, a traditional farming and irrigation system, as an example, Jokowi said water holds a special place in Indonesia, a vast archipelagic country whose territory is mostly covered by water.
He said collaboration was key to tackling water issues in Indonesia and so would be in global water problems.
“For Indonesia, collaboration has been the key to success in restoring the Citarum River [in West Java], and the development of the Cirata floating solar plant, the largest in Southeast Asia and third-largest in the world,” Jokowi said.
“With our gathering in Bali, Indonesia hopes that the world can work together continuously to address global water challenges.”
