Carlos Cosín, CEO, Almar Water Solutions and Former President, International Desalination Association (IDA) has successfully moderated the United Nations General Assembly Water Conference Side Event: Incorporating Non-Conventional Water Resources into Integrated Water Resources Management.  The event was organized by the IDA and the Spanish Minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge and took place at the Instituto Cervantes in New York, USA.

The discussion included key messages for stepping up the role of non-conventional resources as crucial assets for achieving water security and to impulse research, capacity building, and implementation initiatives.

In his opening remarks, Carlos said:

“Water scarcity, amplified by climate change, is recognized as a critical challenge to sustainable development and a cause of social unrest.  It was only in June 2020 that the United Nations recognized using non-conventional water resources as an opportunity and solution to address the global water crisis, stating that “considering the water-related sustainable development challenges in arid regions, utilizing nonconventional water resources is an emerging opportunity to narrow the water demand-supply gap.”

This event was co-convened by multiple partners including Hon. Teresa Ribera, Third Vice-President and Minister for the Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge of the Government of Spain, while the panel of distinguished speakers included: Mr. Hugo Moran, Secretary of State for the Environment, Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, Spain; Prof. Rasha Elkholy,, Chair of the National Water Research Center, Egypt; H.E. Jessica Lopez, Minister of Public Works, Republic of Chile; Mr. Gustavo Saltiel, Water and Sanitation Lead, World Bank Group, Global Water Practice, USA; Mr. Éric Tardieu, Vice-President of the World Water Council, France; and Mrs. Barbara Pompili, Chair of the Water Governance Initiative, OECD, France.

Carlos added:

“Creating new water sources through desalination and reuse is a natural and viable alternative for conserving scarce water resources and thus protecting our environment. Many multilateral organizations agree that non-conventional water sources can provide high-quality drinking water and water for industrial and agricultural needs, thus enabling economic and social development and avoiding water scarcity.”

 

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