Retno Marsudi emphasises water security is increasingly an economic issue

Jakarta (ANTARA) - The UN Special Envoy for Water, Retno Marsudi, has emphasised that the issue of water security is no longer merely an environmental matter, but has evolved into a concern for economic security, food stability, and national security.

“Water affects how economies grow, how our cities function, how we produce food, and how societies face climate change,” said Retno during her keynote speech at the Indonesia International Sustainability Forum in Jakarta on Tuesday.

As economies and cities grow, Retno noted that the demand for water continues to rise. Simultaneously, climate change and pollution are placing increasing pressure on water resources.

Therefore, she asserted that the current challenge in the water sector is no longer just about increasing awareness of water’s importance, but also about ensuring that various solutions can be implemented with the necessary scale and speed.

She also emphasised the importance of integrating water, transport, energy, housing, and various urban services if cities are to become more resilient and livable, as well as the need to mobilise finance, innovation, and talent.

Retno stated that the world already possesses many solutions. However, the challenge lies in how to scale these solutions up.

“This means we need to make the water sector an investment priority, develop projects capable of attracting finance, and strengthen the skills, institutions, and innovation required to achieve this,” she said.

She added that governments and the UN system cannot act alone in achieving water-related actions, necessitating strong and responsible partnerships with the private sector.

“Additional funding alone is not enough. We need the right conditions and adequate capacity so that investments can proceed and deliver results,” she concluded.