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JWF News ❘ 10 January 2024
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◇ Contents ◇
・Season’s Greetings
・Report from the Japan Water Forum
- “Fostering Nexus approaches to increase climate resilience”: Discussion Outcomes of UNFCCC COP 28 Official Side Event
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・Season’s Greetings
By Dr. Kotaro Takemura, Secretary General of the Japan Water Forum
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Happy New Year 2024
As 2024 starts, I wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.
I’m pleased that people can at last get together and celebrate the New Year after the three-year-long COVID-19 pandemic.
In the run-up to the 10th World Water Forum, to be held in Bali, Indonesia
The 10th World Water Forum will take place from May 18 to 24 this year in Bali, Indonesia. The staff of the JWF is busy preparing for the Forum.
The 10th Forum is closely connected with our progress so far. In April 2022, the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (Secretariat: Japan Water Forum) and the City of Kumamoto co-hosted the 4th Asia-Pacific Water Summit, at which the Kumamoto Declaration was announced. We also took advantage of this opportunity to establish the Youth Water Forum. In March 2023, we conveyed the Kumamoto Declaration to the UN 2023 Water Conference, and Japanese high school students actively participated in a series of event. Since April, we’ve taken part in various international conferences, and have made efforts to achieve a substantial result at the 10th World Water Forum. In November, youths from South Korea, Indonesia and the Kyushu region got together to exchange opinions, and confirmed that they would facilitate further exchanges and collaboration in the future.
We’ll tackle a big challenge, though we are small
Since the dawn of civilization, humanity has faced numerous challenges regarding energy, food, and conflicts. Throughout our history, we have been forced to face the challenge of water issues both old and new, in response to changes in social conditions and climate. Eventually, civilization itself may depend on our tireless and ceaseless efforts to address water issues. This means that the JWF is tackling a big challenge that humanity is confronting, even though it is a small entity. We once again feel the importance and responsibility of our activities.
In Japan, an important new challenge is coming this year.
Administrative reform to transfer water supply management
This year will see a major change regarding Japan’s water administration. Thus far, water supply administration has been under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, but it is to be transferred to that of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (MLIT). This is the biggest change in water administration I have ever experienced. All water supply facilities in villages and cities across Japan will be transferred to control of the MLIT. The MLIT, which is responsible for river management, will take over responsibility for water supply services. Until now, the MLIT has been involved in management of all domestic, agricultural and industrial water. From now on, it will take responsibility for providing affordable and clean water to the public.
The JWF has always insisted that we must overcome the negative effects of sectionalism in water administration. These changes will facilitate cross-sectional cooperation. Marking this occasion, a meeting of the Water Security Council of Japan, of which the JWF serves as secretariat, was held. It was chaired by Professor Yasumoto Magara. I took an active part in the discussions. A proposal was formulated, which included not only water supply issues but specific items to be studied in order to realize a sustainable water cycle in the future,
In April, the JWF will begin its 20th year since establishment. The JWF will continue its efforts to share Japan’s wisdom with the rest of the world at various events, including the 10th World Water Forum. We will also devote great efforts to a range of activities: presenting policy recommendations, supporting grass-roots activities, and human resources development and awareness-raising activities centered around the Youth Water Forum.
We look forward to your continued support and cooperation.
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・Report from the Japan Water Forum
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– “Fostering Nexus approaches to increase climate resilience”: Discussion Outcomes of UNFCCC COP 28 Official Side Event
Japan Water Forum organized the UNFCCC COP 28 (Dubai, UAE) official side event entitled “Fostering Nexus approaches to increase climate resilience” on 11th December 2023 with Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and the Secretariat of Ramsar Convention on Wetlands.
The Global Goal on Adaptation recognizes interdependencies between water, ecosystems, food, and energy systems. However, the stock-taking exercise during the Bon Climate Change Meeting of UNFCCC in Bonn in June 2023 showed the missing role of water in climate ambitions and the lack of policy coherence.
▼Please visit the following website for details▼
https://www.waterforum.jp/en/news/21396/
(Reporter: Yumiko Asayama, Chief Manager)
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JWF News Vol. 236 / 10 January 2024
Japan Water Forum
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