The UN's Nuclear Agency and Food and Agriculture Organization make significant pledges to address the worldwide water crisis

 


During the United Nations Water Conference, two UN agencies made significant commitments aimed at helping countries gather data on their water resources and promoting more sustainable agriculture practices. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) announced commitments such as a worldwide network of water analysis laboratories and a tool to improve coordination on water management at the national level. These commitments align with the Water Action Agenda and the global push to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030. The announcements were made at the SDG Media Zone, which has been a platform for important discussions and major commitments during the UN Conference.

Water analysis labs

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has announced a global water analysis laboratory network, called GloWAL, which aims to use nuclear techniques to help countries identify and understand their water resources. By establishing this network of labs, countries will be able to identify the nature and characteristics of water sources, including content, degradation, and renewability. This information will enable countries to develop or adapt policy solutions to address water-related challenges.

Aside from tackling the global water crisis, GloWAL will help address the technology gap and lagging access to data collection in developing countries. Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi emphasized that GloWAL is about giving countries the ability to collect their own data by providing necessary training and equipment. This concrete initiative will help countries be better prepared to face the effects of the water crisis.

As an example, Tajikistan, which is home to massive glaciers that provide much of the region's freshwater, will host a GloWAL laboratory to monitor the health of those vital water sources. Glacier degradation is a significant issue in Tajikistan, and this laboratory will give them the ability to see how fast the glaciers and snowcaps can be regenerated and how to better manage runoff water.

Agriculture is a ‘dealmaker’

Lifeng Li, Director of the Land and Water Division at FAO, believes that agriculture could be a dealmaker in addressing the water crisis, as water accounts for 70% of global freshwater withdrawals. He emphasized that it is possible to improve efficiency and reduce the amount of water used for agriculture through sustainable water and land management practices, which have led to increased crop yields in countries like China and the United States.

FAO has submitted seven commitments to the UN Water Conference, including National Water Roadmaps towards the 2030 Agenda and a Global Dialogue on Water Tenure to engage with stakeholders and define principles for responsible governance of water tenure. Mr. Li emphasized the importance of looking at efficiency and recycling and reusing water, such as by treating wastewater for agricultural use.

The IAEA and FAO have a long-standing partnership in addressing the nexus between energy and food, with a joint working center for Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture. The IAEA focuses on drought-resistant crops while FAO works on enhancing irrigation and agricultural techniques, with the aim of ensuring no negative environmental impacts. Together, they bring solutions to concrete problems.

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