Water security discussed at conference

Deputy Minister of Water and Sanitation, David Mahlobo, has called on academia and global experts in research and science to prioritise major water, environment and climate change issues facing the entire global community.

Mr Mahlobo made the call at the International Conference on Water and Environmental Sustainability in Richards Bay. The two-day conference which began on Monday August 12, was organised by the University of Zululand in collaboration with the Changán University in China.

“The conference presents a distinguished forum for global experts, including researchers, scientists, academics, industry representatives and students to engage in scholarly debate and knowledge exchange,” said Mr Mahlobo. “It is also used to address the ongoing water issues in South Africa, while serving as a global platform for experts to discuss and find solutions for pressing challenges related to water scarcity, quality, and management in South Africa.”

Addressing delegates on Monday, Mr Mahlobo said the issues of environment and climate change have not been given the priority they deserve. He highlighted challenges, including population growth and migration, which have negatively impacted water availability to people around the world, and the environment.

Mr Mahlobo said many countries have not properly planned for population growth and migration which have an impact on the sustainability of water and the environment.

“I therefore urge you that, in your discussions, must come up with resolutions on how we deal with these issues especially around the finite resource of water. We call on you as the experts in your respective fields to raise your voices with information and knowledge to those in authority,” Mr Mahlobo said.

University of Zululand Vice-Chancellor, Professor Xoliswa Mtose, said the conference is held at a time when the world is grappling with a interconnected issues elaborated in the framework of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). She said this has generated a lot of research and debate among the academia to galvanise national and global development on issues of water and environment.

“The collaboration between the University of Zululand and Changán University in China is on knowledge sharing aimed at addressing the challenges of developments in water and sustainability as depicted in the SDG framework,” Professor Mtose said.

“Therefore, the research papers to be delivered will reflect on the national, continental and global footprint as far as water and environmental issues are concerned.”

The scholars and academics at the conference indicated that the outcomes of the conference will not only influence the global issues of water and environmental sustainability, but also enable them to enhance collaborations and knowledge sharing.