Egypt’s 6th Cairo Water Week to maintain focus on climate change in October

Ahram Online , Tuesday 4 Apr 2023

The sixth edition of of Cairo Water Week (CWW) will take place from 29 October to 2 November with a continued focus on the links between water and climate change, Egypt's Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources announced.

Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam

The event will take place under the theme “Action on Adaptation in the Water Sector for Sustainability.”

The results and recommendations of the event will be presented at the UN Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai a month later.

The CWW will be attended by delegates from several countries, as well as representatives from international and regional organisations focused on water issues.

The event demonstrates Egypt's commitment to raising awareness on water and climate change issues in all regional and international forums, Irrigation Minister Hani Sewilam stated.

Egypt is working with the UAE, the host of COP28, to emphasise the strong interdependence between water and climate on a global level, he added.

This year’s edition, the minister said, aims to integrate water issues within climate action, discuss the impact of climate change on the water sector, and encourage the use of modern technology and innovation to tackle water challenges.

Additionally, the event aims to devise sustainable solutions for managing water resources in the face of overpopulation and climate change, the minister added.

The event includes several high-level sessions, technical sessions, workshops, and competitions such as the Best Agricultural Practices Conservation Competition, the Three-Minute Thesis competition, the Young Innovators in the Water competition and the Best Graduation Project competition.

Last year, the fifth edition of the CWW was held under the title “Water is at the Heart of Climate Action.”

Egypt faces significant water scarcity. With a demand of 114 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually, the country only receives an average of 60 bcm, mainly from the Nile River due to the limited amounts of rainwater and groundwater in the desert.

To bridge this gap, Egypt is exploring various solutions, such as reusing agricultural wastewater and groundwater and importing food products that would otherwise consume 34 bcm of water annually

The country has drawn up a strategy for its water resources through 2050, at a cost of up to EGP 900 billion (about $57.3 billion). The issue is also included in its recently issued National Strategy for Climate Change 2050.