{"id":85516,"date":"2021-03-09T10:39:48","date_gmt":"2021-03-09T10:39:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.alj.com\/?post_type=spotlight-fadyjameel&p=85516"},"modified":"2022-05-05T06:51:51","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T06:51:51","slug":"investing-in-tomorrows-potential-why-climate-and-water-demand-a-more-holistic-approach","status":"publish","type":"spotlight-fadyjameel","link":"https:\/\/alj.com\/en\/spotlight-by-fady-jameel\/investing-in-tomorrows-potential-why-climate-and-water-demand-a-more-holistic-approach\/","title":{"rendered":"Investing in Tomorrow\u2019s Potential: Why Climate and Water Demand a More Holistic Approach"},"content":{"rendered":"

An extended version of an exclusive interview with Fady Jameel Deputy President and Vice Chairman, Abdul Latif Jameel<\/a>, from the International Desalination Association<\/a> magazine \u2018Global Connections\u2019, Q1\/2021<\/h4>\n

The name Abdul Latif Jameel has become increasingly prominent in the energy and environmental services sector in recent years. What is your involvement in the water industry? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Abdul Latif Jameel<\/a>\u2019s core business was traditionally automotive<\/a>. \u00a0For over 75 years, we have enjoyed a strong relationship with Toyota Motor Corporation<\/a>, which has spread across the Middle East and North Africa to Europe and Asia Pacific. \u00a0In recent years, though, our most rapid international expansion has been our renewable energy and environmental services<\/a> business.\u00a0 This includes Almar Water Solutions<\/a>, which most recently entered the water services sector in Chile through the acquisition of Osmoflo SpA, and in Egypt with the acquisition of Ridgewood though Almar\u2019s joint venture with Hassan Allam Utilities.<\/p>\n

Almar was established in 2016 and currently operates in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Latin America.\u00a0 Our other main energy and environmental services flagship business is Fotowatio Renewable Ventures, more commonly known as FRV<\/a>, our solar and wind renewable energy<\/a> and specialist, which is particularly active in Latin America, Australia, the Middle East and Europe.\u00a0 We have ambitious and significant international growth plans for both Almar and FRV over the coming years.<\/p>\n

How engaged are you personally with the water industry?<\/strong><\/p>\n

My most obvious connection to the water industry is as an investor. \u00a0Almar Water Solutions is helping to address water scarcity and water quality challenges across the globe through its investments in water treatment, water reuse, and desalination<\/a> projects for municipal and industrial sectors.\u00a0 But from a personal perspective, my interest and involvement in the water industry goes far beyond a simply financial one.<\/p>\n

As a committed environmental and philanthropist I\u2019d like to consider myself what you might call an \u2018activist-investor\u2019 \u2013 using my rather unique and relatively privileged position to champion initiatives, whether commercial or philanthropic, that are able to make a tangible, but also meaningful, contribution to building a better world.<\/p>\n

Water is a key, if not the<\/em> key, critical issue both for the planet and mankind.\u00a0 Innovating, developing and investing in processes and technologies that enables us, as a society, to provide an adequate supply of water for our communities, industries and agriculture \u2013 in a way that doesn\u2019t harm the environment \u2013 is one of the biggest challenges we will ever face.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Water use has increased by about 1% each year for the last 30 years, with more than two billion people now living in countries experiencing high water stress. \u00a0Approximately two-thirds of the world\u2019s population – roughly four billion people – are forced to endure water stress for at least one month each year. \u00a0In my \u2018home\u2019 region of the Middle East alone, 6% of the world\u2019s population are forced to survive on just 1% of the world\u2019s freshwater.<\/p>\n

I strongly believe the issues around water scarcity are simply too big to ignore.<\/p>\n

Many of the environmental crises we have seen in recent years are manifestations of the increasing and unsustainable pressure on this most precious of our planet\u2019s resources: extreme weather, drought, famine, wildfires and pandemics. \u00a0If we concentrate only on addressing these \u2018symptoms\u2019 rather than engineering fundamental change in our relationship with water and its central role in our environmental wellbeing, these crises will not only continue, they will worsen considerably.\u00a0 Indeed, they are already spilling into the socio-economic realm and will inevitably drive issues such as migration and even conflict in the future.<\/p>\n

Many people believe the climate crisis facing our planet is fundamentally a water crisis. Do you think this is accurate?<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s impossible to talk about the climate crisis without also talking about a water crisis. \u00a0After all, climate change is about the environment we live in \u2013 and other than the air we breathe, water is probably the most important element in that environment. \u00a0If global temperatures rise, water temperatures also increase, ice caps melt, seal levels rise, food supplies are interrupted, oceans are polluted, coastal areas are inundated, habitats are destroyed, and so on. \u00a0It is a cycle of destruction with water at the very center.\u00a0 On top of this, our insatiable appetite for power means we are also grappling with unsustainable demands on our energy systems, the main elements of which \u2013 oil, coal and gas \u2013 are finite, with supplies expected to run out over the next few decades.<\/p>\n

The nexus between water, food and energy is central to the sustainable development of our society. \u00a0But a growing global population, rapid urbanization, changing diets and economic growth mean that demand for all three is rising fast. \u00a0Not least from agriculture, which is the largest consumer of the world\u2019s freshwater resources, and food production and supply, which accounts for over 25% of energy use globally.\u00a0 The relationships between these three critical domains are inseparable. \u00a0Addressing the challenges requires a holistic, cohesive and integrated approach to ensuring water and food security, sustainable energy production and viable agricultural systems worldwide.<\/p>\n

As you rightly point out, the growing demand for water puts increasing pressure on the limited resources available. How can this best be addressed? <\/strong><\/p>\n

Desalination and wastewater treatment are probably the most advanced currently available technologies that can play an important role in overcoming this challenge. \u00a0Globally, more than 300 million people already get their water from desalination plants. \u00a0These include the desalination facility being developed in Al Shuqaiq<\/a>, Saudi Arabia, by a consortium including our water solutions company, Almar Water Solutions. \u00a0It will be one of the largest reverse osmosis desalination plants in the world once complete, with a production capacity of 450,000 cubic meters per day, supplying drinking water to 1.8 million people over 25 years, and creating 700 jobs.\u00a0 Similarly, in Mombasa<\/a>, Almar is developing Kenya\u2019s first large-scale desalination plant. \u00a0Once complete, it will deliver more than 100,000 cubic meters of drinking water to more than a million people.<\/p>\n