Today's Edition
Mudhi Alobthani (Abu Dhabi)
The link between climate change and human security took centre stage during a high-level panel discussion at TRENDS Research & Advisory’s 5th Conference on Sustainable Water Security.
Titled “Multilateralism and Knowledge in the Global Water Dialogue: The UN and the Role of Think Tanks in Promoting SDG 6”, the session was moderated by Abdulla Al Khaja, a researcher at TRENDS Research & Advisory.
According to Al Khaja, the discussion aimed to foster collaboration between international organisations, think tanks, and research institutions in addressing shared challenges related to climate and security.
“Our objective was to highlight how global institutions, such as the UN, WHO, and World Bank, together with research centres, can align efforts to promote sustainable water management and address the broader security threats linked to climate change,” he said.
The panel featured experts from the UN, the Hague Centre for Strategic Studies, the South African Presidential Climate Commission, and TRENDS Research & Advisory.
Among the insights, Al Khaja pointed to the intervention of Sultan Majed Al Ali, who presented official statistics, academic studies, and a TRENDS Global Barometer survey to illustrate the sharp disparities in water consumption between the MENA region and the rest of the world.
The UAE and the wider region can benefit by adopting lessons from international experiences, Al Khaja said. “Integrated governance linking water, energy, and food systems, alongside innovation and demand management, is essential. But adaptation must also be conflict-sensitive and community-driven if it is to succeed,” he noted.
The panellists agreed that urgent policy priorities should include integrating climate risks into national planning, scaling resilient infrastructure, and enhancing regional cooperation.
Al Khaja closed the session by stressing the human dimension of the crisis. “Water is our most vital resource, and it is our mission as humans to ensure its availability and sustainable management. Climate change is not just an environmental issue—it threatens human security by undermining access to water, food, health, and stability,” he said.
