-
2023. Dec VOL.669
2023. Dec VOL.669
The Asia Water Council (AWC) held the 19th AWC Board of Council meeting on November 6, 2023 in Manila, Philippines. Founded in 2016 as Asia’s largest organization led by the Korean government in the area of water cooperation, AWC is dedicated to raising international awareness of major water issues facing Asia and resolving them. AWC has 164 member organizations from 24 countries including K-water.
The 19th AWC Board of Council meeting was attended by Yun Seog-dae, president of K-water, as well as the chair organization and representatives from over 30 board organizations. Major items on the agenda included the hosting of the 10th World Water Forum, progress in organizing the 3rd Asia International Water Week, and decision on the venue for the 4th Asia International Water Week. In particular, the meeting featured various informative programs including a Korea-Philippines-Thailand water industry expo and a water management technology seminar. Concurrent events include the presentation of cutting-edge water technologies by over 10 corporations including 5 Korean water corporations and water-related public corporations under the Metropolitan Waterworks & Sewerage System of the Philippines, expo, and business meetings.
On November 17, the next day of the AWC Board of Council meeting, K-water and ADB signed a revised agreement on “strengthening cooperation for the water industry and green transition” with the key objectives of developing new projects and enhancing execution capacity to respond to climate change. The agreement specified areas of cooperation including safety management and operation of existing dams in response to climate change, creation of flood forecast and warning systems for water management at river basins, development of renewable energy to execute carbon neutrality, and policy coordination for green transition.
K-water president Yun Seog-dae was appointed as a new official member of the 22nd High-Level Experts and Leaders Panel on Water and Disasters (HELP) held on November 22 at ADB in Manila, Philippines, and he will perform the role of secretary. Admission to HELP has been highly restricted, but President Yun’s appointment came at the request of the chair of the UN HELP and upon approval by the members, making his appointment all the more meaningful. His membership secures opportunities for K-water with a new and enhanced global status to participate in international discussions on water issues.
HELP has been actively involved in a variety of international activities as it leads the collective efforts of the international community to address a wide array of climate change issues. The 22nd HELP meeting discussed diverse activities and cross-border cooperation to cope with issues of water, disasters, and climate change in connection with major international events such as the 2023 COP 28 (November~December, Dubai), 10th World Water Forum 2024 (May, Bali), and 2nd UN Water Conference 2026 (TBD). In order to respond to climate change, K-water has been developing and improving a range of technologies including digital twin, SWM water management system, and net zero water purification plant. Based on these experiences and technologies, K-water will work with the rest of the international community to develop solutions for water issues and disasters constantly and engage in international activities actively as a leading water specialist company.
