Present At UN 2023 Water Conference, Minister Of PUPR Basuki Conveys Indonesia's Commitment To Water Action Agenda

PUPR Minister Basuki Hadimuljono. (Photo: Doc. Ministry of PUPR)

JAKARTA - Minister of Public Works and Public Housing (PUPR) Basuki Hadimuljono as well as Chairman of the Delegation of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (Dellri) continue to be committed to fulfilling water needs for sustainable development.

According to him, Indonesia's commitment to the 2023 Water Action Agenda is important to do to overcome the problem of poverty and food crises.

"The Indonesian government has placed water as a top priority in the national development agenda to ensure equal access to water and sanitation that is feasible for 275 million Indonesians," Basuki said in a written statement received by VOI, Friday, March 24.

This was revealed by Minister Basuki while attending the Plenary Session United Nations (UN) 2023 Water Conference in New York, United States (US), on Thursday.

Indonesia is known to have received 54th place from nearly 200 United Nations (UN) member countries who took turns reading out Country Statement officially.

Minister Basuki said climate change had caused extreme weather, unpredictable water availability, exacerbated water scarcity, and polluted water supplies.

These challenges have increased pressure on the sustainability of water resources and ecosystems, including the risk of drought and flooding that has become a global concern.

"Therefore, Indonesia is committed to achieving sustainable water security by implementing climate adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction (DR) in national development planning," said Basuki.

Basuki said, there are five cross-sectoral factors that need to be overcome in order to accelerate the target of sustainable water security.

First, the need for financing through additional funding to increase water conservation investment and water ecosystem services.

"We have to find an unconventional funding mechanism to accelerate the achievement of 100 percent water sanitation access. This is done to add more water storage and to ensure disaster prevention measures," he said.

Second, said Basuki, it is also necessary to strengthen data and information through research and knowledge sharing.

"Then third, the development of capability through increased training and education. Fourth, innovation in the development of adequate clean water supply for all," he said.

Finally or fifth, Basuki explained, increasing the role of government governance in formulating and implementing clean water policies at the national and international levels.

"This WATER Conference must be able to strengthen global commitments to accelerate water-related agendas. In addition, this commitment must also be reflected in the Summit for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in 2023 and UN Summit of the Future in 2024," said Basuki.

"The most important thing is how we can translate this commitment into concrete steps and follow-up. This is done for mutual progress," he added.

As the host of the 10th World Water Forum in 2024, Basuki said, Indonesia is committed to continuing all the results of the discussion at the UN 2023 Water Conference.

Carrying the theme Water for Shared Prosperity, the World Water Forum 2024 aims to strengthen the partnership and synergy of the water sector multi-stakeholders globally.

"Indonesia is pushing for the active participation of all member countries and water sector partners in the 10th World Water Forum next year in Bali. Let's work together to increase our actions-oriented commitment to achieving the water fulfillment target for the future of humanity," he concluded.