KUWAIT CITY, March 1: Head of the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN-Habitat) Mission to Kuwait and the Gulf States, Amira Al-Hassan, highlighted the responsible and sustainable use of water as one of the greatest challenges facing Kuwait. She gave this statement during an interactive meeting hosted by the Swiss Ambassador to Kuwait Tiziano Palmelli at his residence. The meeting, which was regarding the importance of sustainable water usage in Kuwait, was held in the presence of the Turkish Ambassador to Kuwait Tuba Nur Sonmez, the Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Patricia Danzi, as well as several Kuwaiti businessmen, academics, and experts from the private sector.

Al-Hassan affirmed that Kuwait is one of the most water-scarce countries globally, as it relies heavily on desalination to meet its needs. She said the unsustainable consumption patterns have contributed to a huge increase in per capita water consumption, making Kuwait one of the highest in the world, insisting that improving water resource management is vital not only to meet current needs but also to protect the environment and ensure a sustainable future for generations to come.

Al-Hassan explained that reliance on desalination requires high energy consumption and has significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions and the disposal of brine generated during the desalination process. Excessive groundwater extraction threatens its long-term availability and quality, increasing the risk of irreversible depletion.

Also, rapid urban expansion exacerbates these issues, and this calls for the urgent need for integrated urban planning that prioritizes water conservation. Meanwhile, the Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation Patricia Danzi affirmed that global challenges are impacting water security. She explained that Switzerland has abundant water resources but it still relies heavily on imported water, making sustainable water management at the international level a strategic necessity. Switzerland has extensive experience in managing transboundary water resources and actively promotes dialogue between riparian countries in the Middle East and Central Asia through the “Blue Peace” initiative. This initiative aims to build trust and enhance cooperation through training and scientific research. In addition, the Swiss Ambassador to Kuwait Tiziano Palmelli said, “We can all learn from one another.

This platform aims to promote dialogue on the importance of sustainable water use. Through open dialogue, we can raise awareness, improve behaviors, and establish better practices, especially in a region where water is scarce.” He stressed the urgent need to improve water use and management. Ambassador Palmelli shared a personal experience, revealing that water consumption in his home has decreased by 40 percent compared to before, a change that is clearly reflected in the reduced water bills.

By Fares Al-Abdan
Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff