UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

09/27/2021 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/27/2021 01:27

UNESCO-ICQHS organized the “Water, Peace and Sustainable Development” Webinar On the occasion of the International Day of Peace 2021

On the occasion of the International Day of Peace, 21 September, the Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures UNESCO Category II Centre and UNESCO Tehran Office jointly held a webinar on "Water, peace and sustainable development". The Webinar took place virtually on 23 September 2021.

The session started with a short presentation of "Blue Thoughts" roundtables by Dr. Faghigh, Scientific Affairs Advisor of UNESCO-ICQHS.

Dr. Cvetan Cvetkovski, Officer in Charge of the UNESCO Tehran Cluster Office started his opening remarks by quoting the main points of the message of Madam Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, on the occasion of the International Day of Peace, 21 September 2021.

He continued by stressing that the rise of the global population and the related demand for resources induces a significant potential for conflicts over natural resources, which is expected to intensify in the coming decades. To achieve water security, we must protect vulnerable water systems, mitigate the impacts of water-related hazards and manage water resources in an integrated and equitable manner. He also emphasized that UNESCO works to build the scientific knowledge base to help countries manage their water resources in a sustainable way through the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP), through leading the UN-wide World Water Development Report and through numerous Centres and Chairs on water around the world.

He finished his address by emphasizing the pioneering role of the International Center on Qanats and Historic Hydraulic Structures in enhancing our knowledge about traditional water systems. He also pointed out the need to apply the wisdom of the traditional knowledge in our attempts to meet today's challenges, as well as, at this point of time when action is more than urgent, the need to further intensify our cooperation in water issues in order to contribute to accelerate progress towards water-related goals.

Dr. Javadian-Zadeh, director of UNESCO-ICQHS, drew upon some Persian poems and verses of the holy Quran where the importance of the preservation of nature were pointed out. He ended his speech by mentioning the significant role of cooperation between stakeholders in achieving sustainable water-related goals.