Phl Embassy Joins Kick-Off Meeting for the 8th World Water Forum in Brasilia
The Philippine Embassy in Brasilia, Brazil led by Ambassador Jose D.R. Burgos joined the 55 countries from all over the world at the Kick-Off Meeting on June 27 to 29 in preparation for the 8th World Water Forum to be held in 2018 in Brasilia.
Organized every three years, the World Water Forum is the largest water-related event in the world, aimed at putting the issue of water firmly on the international agenda. With the theme: “Sharing Water,” the Forum will be held in the Southern Hemisphere for the first time ever.
Governor Rodrigo Rollemberg of Brazil’s Federal District welcomed the 800 participants to the kick-off meeting which marks the beginning of a two-year preparatory process for the Forum to be held from March 18 to 23 2018.
In his speech, Governor Rollemberg remarked that the Forum “is needed at a time when 78% of jobs depend on water” and urged everyone to move forward in making the 8th World Water Forum “a stepping stone in making water an issue of the utmost importance.”
Foremost in the minds of the organizers of the event was shaping the 8th World Water Forum to support lasting improvements in managing water in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Climate Agreement.
Thus, the participants to the Kickoff Meeting were tasked to discuss and propose the most pressing thematic issues and processes that the Forum should address to further refine the overall framework of the 8th World Water Forum.
The Philippine interventions that were adopted by the groups during the breakout sessions of the Kickoff Meeting included the topics of climate adaptation, especially for the most vulnerable nations like the Philippines, the use of the Green Climate Fund to support research, data management and the application of smart technologies in developing countries, benchmarking of best practices and a network of parliamentarians in the context of Clean Water Act and related legislation.
The 8th edition of the World Water Forum is co-organized by the World Water Council together with the Brazilian Government.
Source: www.dfa.gov.ph Date Accessed: 01 August 2016
