21 May 2024, Bali, Indonesia – UNITAR’s Global Water Academy (UGWA) proudly hosted the side event entitled ‘Enhancing Transboundary Water Management and SDGs: A Collaborative Approach’ in collaboration with CIFAL Singapore (Nanyang Technological Institute), and CIFAL Bangkok (Asian Institute of Technology) at the World Water Forum (WWF) in Bali, Indonesia.

The side event aimed to bridge two critical aspects of global water challenges: transboundary water management and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 6. This aligns with the overarching vision of UNITAR’s Global Water Academy (UGWA) to identify capacity gaps hindering the effective implementation of SDG 6 targets and co-create innovative solutions to address them.

UGWA partners, including Nanyang Technological University (CIFAL Singapore) and the Asian Institute of Technology (CIFAL Bangkok), discussed capacity gaps by leveraging data-driven strategies and interdisciplinary collaborations. The event highlighted the importance of hydro diplomacy, innovative engineering solutions, and inclusive governance mechanisms in achieving shared water prosperity, with a particular focus on Southeast Asia. The session underscored the urgency of climate change impacts on water resources and explored actionable solutions to water scarcity, pollution, and equitable access.

Q: How do you think we can get a better and enhanced understanding, a data-driven understanding, for strategies that are scalable to try and get towards sustainable water management in Southeast Asia?

A: (Prof. Chong Tzyy Haur) “So as we know, Singapore is a water-scarce country. We don't have natural resources, so we have to rely on technologies to supply our daily use water… It is important to collect all this data and use machine learning to see how resilient our technologies are under extreme conditions caused by climate change.”

A: (Dr. Thanapon Piman) “To enhance transboundary cooperation, sharing data is the first step. No sharing, no cooperation.”

A: (Dr. Dominique Berod) “Sharing data is key, and that's what WMO is doing with the unified data policy for all domains of the Earth system. However, you cannot share data if you do not collect it… Effective data collection is costly for many countries, so we need to find ways to be more efficient and leverage data for multiple purposes.”

Q: What can we do to improve cross-sectoral collaboration and partnerships?

A: (Dr. Dominique Berod) “We need to better connect data monitoring systems to the overall socio-economic and environmental challenges of a country, basin, or region. This involves building a value chain from data to decision-making and ensuring sustainable monitoring systems.”

A: (Prof. Chong Tzyy Haur) “Water is for all, so it's important to ensure equal access to water for everyone… Recognizing the purpose of forums like this, which focus on water, helps in forming collaborations and sharing data.”

Q: What is the biggest challenge to achieving SDG6 in the next 5 to 10 years?

A: (Dr. Thanapon Piman) “There is a noticeable gap between urban and rural areas, with urban areas receiving more development and investment. It's crucial to bring the voices of marginalized groups to the forefront and make them visible. SEI mainstreams gender equity and social inclusion in its projects to address these issues holistically.”

A: (Prof. Chong Tzyy Haur) “In Singapore, companies registered on the stock exchange must submit ESG reports, showing their commitment to sustainability. This holistic approach integrates social, financial, and environmental aspects.”

A: (Dr. Dominique Berod) “The challenges will grow in the next 5 to 10 years. The obvious answer is we need money, but money won't come from the sky… Building trust and ownership at the local level ensures sustainable funding and capacity, extending beyond 2030.”

Q: What can we learn from Singapore that can be scaled up or down for other cities in Southeast Asia?

A: (Prof. Chong Tzyy Haur) “Singapore's approach to sustainable cities involves looking at integrated issues rather than isolated ones. The Singapore Green Plan 2030 aims for net-zero targets through high-level planning and cross-sectoral collaboration.”

Q: Can you expand on the successes and challenges of Mekong River collaborative efforts over the past 10 years, particularly in the last 5 years?

A: (Dr. Thanapon Piman) “Local communities along borders do not see the political boundaries, but rather a shared society. It's essential to understand their needs and use different approaches for different scales to address water resource management effectively.”

Q: Enhancing transboundary water management involves discussions, but bilateral discussions can be challenging. How can we set up effective bilateral discussions? Also, in urban slum areas, people often lack the capacity to pay for water and sanitation services. Is there any experience from the panellists in providing subsidies or alternative solutions for these communities?

A: (Prof. Chong Tzyy Haur)  “In Singapore, larger users pay more based on a tax system. Industries using large amounts of water pay higher taxes, which include wastewater treatment charges. This helps build infrastructure and ensures that local communities benefit.”

A: (Dr. Thanapon Piman) “To address bilateral discussions, it's important to establish common interests and goals. For example, addressing climate change or flood and drought management can be a shared goal.”

A: (Dr. Dominique Berod) “Cooperation involves three key components: policy, technical solutions, and building trust. Building trust is essential, and showing the benefits of data sharing, such as improved flood forecasting, helps. It's important to have clear requirements and maintain dialogue among all stakeholders.”