Saudi Arabia urges global action on water security at UN

Saudi Arabia has emphasized the importance of international collective action to enhance global water security and to translate international commitments on water into tangible outcomes that support public health, food security, economic development, and resilience to climate change and instability.

This came during a high-level ministerial session titled United for Water: A Call for Collective Action, co-chaired by Saudi Arabia and Senegal in cooperation with the World Water Organization. The event was held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly High-Level Week in New York, with the participation of ministers, government officials, representatives of international organizations, development banks, UN agencies, and water sector leaders.

Dr. Fahd Balghunaim, chair of the founding team of the World Water Organization, explained that the session addressed mounting pressures on global water resources and reviewed practical mechanisms to turn political commitment into measurable actions. The discussions also highlighted the importance of water security in strengthening resilience and stability, accelerating the shift from dialogue to implementation, and promoting collective efforts to mobilize sustainable financing and build partnerships.

Innovation and capacity building to address challenges

Dr. Balghunaim stressed the need to align financing with reliable water priorities, accelerate impactful innovation, facilitate access to accurate data, and build the institutional capacity required for implementation. These steps, he said, would enhance countries' ability to address water challenges and achieve shared goals.

He noted that water is fundamental to public health, food security, economic development, and climate adaptation, calling for international commitments to be translated into concrete results through collective action and the mobilization of available resources.

Sharing national experiences and boosting international cooperation

Participants in the session also exchanged national experiences in strengthening resilience through water security, advancing implementation through scalable partnerships, and mobilizing sustainable financing for priority water initiatives. Discussions underscored the importance of strengthening links between governments, international organizations, and development institutions to support effective large-scale implementation and identify future partnership opportunities to achieve water security and sustainable development.

The World Water Organization continues to work with governments and international partners to enhance cooperation in water security, providing a platform that connects countries with expertise, financing, and partnerships needed to achieve shared objectives. The organization also offers a permanent institutional mechanism for cooperation among member states and key stakeholders.