{"disclaimer":"Transcripts available through this tool are created by using automatic speech recognition and are not official records nor official documents of the United Nations. Official records and official documents are available on the Official Document System of the United Nations.","url":"https://transcripts.un.org/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp","llms":{"note":"Plain-text sibling of this page, compact for LLM context. For the full API guide (search, listing, URL grammar) see /llms.txt.","textUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp.txt","guide":"/llms.txt"},"video":{"id":"k1t/k1tp07s1hp","kaltura_id":"1_tp07s1hp","title":"From Scarcity to Security: Sustainable Water Management for Small Island States (HLPF 2026 Side Event)","clean_title":"From Scarcity to Security: Sustainable Water Management for Small Island States (HLPF 2026 Side Event)","url":"https://webtv.un.org/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp","date":"2026-07-16T00:00:00.000Z","scheduled_time":"2026-07-16T17:15:00.000Z","status":"finished","duration":"01:25:21","category":"Economic and Social Council","body":"Economic and Social Council","event_code":null,"event_type":null,"session_number":null,"pv_symbol":null,"pv_part":null,"slug":"asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp"},"metadata":{"summary":"The side event will discuss the technical, financial, regulatory, and social considerations of sustainable water management, also known as integrated water resources management.","description":null,"categories":["Meetings & Events","Economic and Social Council"],"geographic_subject":[],"subject_topical":["WATER","SMALL ISLAND STATES","WATER SUPPLY","DEVELOPMENT"],"corporate_name":[],"speaker_affiliation":[],"related_documents":[{"title":"Concept Note and Agenda","url":"https://files.teamup.com/17186452/attachment/01KXE0TJWDZ3H64HXRKJTSSZ9G/Concept%20Note%20and%20Agenda.pdf?hash=2e139267ee8ef60003b0fa18cb363a72e26f3e2e45be5eb1536a58fbb469c076"}]},"transcript":{"transcript_id":"assemblyai-universal-3-5-pro-e4ddeb3e-de3a-4a4d-b18b-5fbd048fd510","language":"en","data":[{"statement_number":1,"start":1.2,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=2","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Good afternoon, Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues.","start":1.2,"end":6.68,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Good","start":1.2,"end":1.28},{"text":"afternoon,","start":1.6,"end":1.68},{"text":"Excellencies,","start":2.96,"end":3.96},{"text":"distinguished","start":4.4,"end":4.48},{"text":"delegates,","start":4.96,"end":5.6},{"text":"colleagues.","start":5.68,"end":6.68}]},{"text":"My name is Tishka Francis, and I am the head of the SIDS Small Island Developing States team at the Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, UNOHRLLS.","start":7.36,"end":21.48,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"My","start":7.36,"end":7.44},{"text":"name","start":7.6,"end":7.68},{"text":"is","start":7.84,"end":7.92},{"text":"Tishka","start":8.24,"end":8.56},{"text":"Francis,","start":8.64,"end":9.12},{"text":"and","start":9.12,"end":9.2},{"text":"I","start":9.28,"end":9.36},{"text":"am","start":9.36,"end":9.52},{"text":"the","start":9.52,"end":9.6},{"text":"head","start":9.68,"end":9.76},{"text":"of","start":9.84,"end":9.92},{"text":"the","start":10,"end":10.16},{"text":"SIDS","start":10.24,"end":10.48},{"text":"Small","start":10.88,"end":10.96},{"text":"Island","start":11.04,"end":11.12},{"text":"Developing","start":11.76,"end":11.84},{"text":"States","start":12.24,"end":12.32},{"text":"team","start":12.64,"end":12.72},{"text":"at","start":12.96,"end":13.04},{"text":"the","start":13.36,"end":13.44},{"text":"Office","start":13.68,"end":13.76},{"text":"of","start":14,"end":14.08},{"text":"the","start":14.24,"end":14.32},{"text":"High","start":14.4,"end":14.48},{"text":"Representative","start":14.96,"end":15.04},{"text":"for","start":15.92,"end":16},{"text":"Least","start":16.08,"end":16.16},{"text":"Developed","start":16.4,"end":16.48},{"text":"Countries,","start":16.8,"end":17.2},{"text":"Landlocked","start":17.36,"end":17.68},{"text":"Developing","start":17.92,"end":18},{"text":"Countries,","start":18.32,"end":18.4},{"text":"and","start":18.72,"end":18.8},{"text":"Small","start":18.96,"end":19.04},{"text":"Island","start":19.2,"end":19.28},{"text":"Developing","start":19.6,"end":19.68},{"text":"States,","start":20,"end":20.4},{"text":"UNOHRLLS.","start":20.48,"end":21.48}]},{"text":"This office supports the 92 most vulnerable countries.","start":22.64,"end":25.12,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"This","start":22.64,"end":22.72},{"text":"office","start":22.88,"end":22.96},{"text":"supports","start":23.36,"end":23.6},{"text":"the","start":23.76,"end":23.84},{"text":"92","start":23.92,"end":24.24},{"text":"most","start":24.32,"end":24.4},{"text":"vulnerable","start":24.56,"end":24.72},{"text":"countries.","start":25.04,"end":25.12}]},{"text":"And I would like to thank all of those present for joining us at the tail end of these frenetic 2 weeks of HLPF events.","start":26.39,"end":35.19,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"And","start":26.39,"end":26.47},{"text":"I","start":26.71,"end":26.79},{"text":"would","start":26.95,"end":27.03},{"text":"like","start":27.11,"end":27.27},{"text":"to","start":27.27,"end":27.43},{"text":"thank","start":27.51,"end":27.59},{"text":"all","start":28.31,"end":28.39},{"text":"of","start":28.47,"end":28.55},{"text":"those","start":28.63,"end":28.71},{"text":"present","start":28.87,"end":28.95},{"text":"for","start":29.27,"end":29.35},{"text":"joining","start":29.43,"end":29.59},{"text":"us","start":29.75,"end":29.83},{"text":"at","start":29.99,"end":30.07},{"text":"the","start":30.07,"end":30.15},{"text":"tail","start":30.31,"end":30.39},{"text":"end","start":30.63,"end":30.71},{"text":"of","start":30.87,"end":30.95},{"text":"these","start":31.03,"end":31.11},{"text":"frenetic","start":32.31,"end":32.71},{"text":"2","start":32.87,"end":32.95},{"text":"weeks","start":33.03,"end":33.11},{"text":"of","start":33.75,"end":33.83},{"text":"HLPF","start":34.23,"end":34.71},{"text":"events.","start":35.11,"end":35.19}]},{"text":"And the aim of this event is SDG 6, is to ensure that the availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all.","start":36.71,"end":47.03,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."}],"words":[{"text":"And","start":36.71,"end":36.79},{"text":"the","start":36.95,"end":37.03},{"text":"aim","start":37.11,"end":37.19},{"text":"of","start":37.27,"end":37.35},{"text":"this","start":37.51,"end":37.59},{"text":"event","start":37.99,"end":38.07},{"text":"is","start":38.87,"end":38.95},{"text":"SDG","start":39.91,"end":40.47},{"text":"6,","start":40.71,"end":40.79},{"text":"is","start":41.83,"end":41.91},{"text":"to","start":42.07,"end":42.15},{"text":"ensure","start":42.47,"end":42.55},{"text":"that","start":42.87,"end":42.95},{"text":"the","start":43.11,"end":43.19},{"text":"availability","start":43.35,"end":43.43},{"text":"and","start":44.07,"end":44.15},{"text":"sustainable","start":44.39,"end":44.47},{"text":"management","start":44.79,"end":44.87},{"text":"of","start":45.35,"end":45.43},{"text":"water","start":45.51,"end":45.59},{"text":"and","start":45.75,"end":45.83},{"text":"sanitation","start":45.99,"end":46.39},{"text":"for","start":46.71,"end":46.79},{"text":"all.","start":46.95,"end":47.03}]},{"text":"Though SDG 6 is a goal on its own, water is inextricably connected to progress on all of the SDGs.","start":48.07,"end":55.06,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."}],"words":[{"text":"Though","start":48.07,"end":48.15},{"text":"SDG","start":48.39,"end":48.79},{"text":"6","start":48.95,"end":49.03},{"text":"is","start":49.35,"end":49.43},{"text":"a","start":49.51,"end":49.59},{"text":"goal","start":49.67,"end":49.75},{"text":"on","start":49.99,"end":50.07},{"text":"its","start":50.15,"end":50.23},{"text":"own,","start":50.39,"end":50.47},{"text":"water","start":50.95,"end":51.03},{"text":"is","start":51.27,"end":51.35},{"text":"inextricably","start":51.78,"end":52.34},{"text":"connected","start":52.82,"end":52.9},{"text":"to","start":53.22,"end":53.3},{"text":"progress","start":53.38,"end":53.46},{"text":"on","start":53.94,"end":54.02},{"text":"all","start":54.18,"end":54.26},{"text":"of","start":54.34,"end":54.42},{"text":"the","start":54.42,"end":54.5},{"text":"SDGs.","start":54.58,"end":55.06}]},{"text":"For SIDS and Small Island States, this interlinkage is amplified, yet SIDS and Small Island States face unique challenges related to the availability and management of water.","start":56.26,"end":68.3,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable 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week at the HLPF's opening segment, the President of ECOSOC stated that we already know the challenges we face.","start":68.58,"end":75.46,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Last","start":68.58,"end":68.66},{"text":"week","start":68.82,"end":68.9},{"text":"at","start":69.06,"end":69.14},{"text":"the","start":69.14,"end":69.22},{"text":"HLPF's","start":69.3,"end":70.02},{"text":"opening","start":70.02,"end":70.1},{"text":"segment,","start":70.42,"end":70.98},{"text":"the","start":70.98,"end":71.06},{"text":"President","start":71.22,"end":71.3},{"text":"of","start":71.62,"end":71.7},{"text":"ECOSOC","start":71.78,"end":72.18},{"text":"stated","start":72.42,"end":72.5},{"text":"that","start":72.74,"end":72.82},{"text":"we","start":72.9,"end":72.98},{"text":"already","start":73.06,"end":73.3},{"text":"know","start":73.46,"end":73.54},{"text":"the","start":73.62,"end":73.7},{"text":"challenges","start":73.78,"end":73.86},{"text":"we","start":74.34,"end":74.42},{"text":"face.","start":74.5,"end":75.46}]},{"text":"In the final stretch to 2030, what we need more of are stronger partnerships, more effective international cooperation, faster implementation, and above all, delivery and impact on the ground.","start":75.62,"end":88.71,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."}],"words":[{"text":"In","start":75.62,"end":75.7},{"text":"the","start":75.7,"end":75.78},{"text":"final","start":75.86,"end":75.94},{"text":"stretch","start":76.26,"end":76.34},{"text":"to","start":76.58,"end":76.66},{"text":"2030,","start":77.06,"end":77.54},{"text":"what","start":77.62,"end":77.7},{"text":"we","start":77.78,"end":77.86},{"text":"need","start":78.02,"end":78.1},{"text":"more","start":78.26,"end":78.34},{"text":"of","start":78.58,"end":78.66},{"text":"are","start":79.23,"end":79.31},{"text":"stronger","start":79.47,"end":79.55},{"text":"partnerships,","start":79.95,"end":80.91},{"text":"more","start":81.07,"end":81.15},{"text":"effective","start":81.39,"end":81.47},{"text":"international","start":82.03,"end":82.11},{"text":"cooperation,","start":82.75,"end":83.31},{"text":"faster","start":83.55,"end":83.63},{"text":"implementation,","start":84.43,"end":84.51},{"text":"and","start":84.83,"end":84.91},{"text":"above","start":85.07,"end":85.15},{"text":"all,","start":85.39,"end":85.47},{"text":"delivery","start":86.11,"end":86.19},{"text":"and","start":86.59,"end":86.67},{"text":"impact","start":86.99,"end":87.07},{"text":"on","start":87.39,"end":87.47},{"text":"the","start":87.55,"end":87.63},{"text":"ground.","start":87.71,"end":88.71}]},{"text":"This is a call echoed throughout the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS, or the ABAS, the need to translate priorities and targets into projects, investments, and practical partnerships.","start":88.91,"end":100.63,"topics":[{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term viability."},{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the 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ABAS highlights the need for integrated water resources management through stronger policies and legislative frameworks, enhanced human and institutional capacities, and greater investment in sustainable water infrastructure, including expanded wastewater treatment— sorry, recycling and reuse.","start":100.99,"end":120.49,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."},{"key":"wastewater-reuse","label":"Wastewater Reuse and Circular Water Systems","description":"A recurring topic was the treatment, recycling, and reuse of wastewater as a way to reduce pressure on freshwater sources, support agriculture, and advance more circular and resource-efficient water management 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viability."}],"words":[{"text":"The","start":100.99,"end":101.07},{"text":"ABAS","start":101.23,"end":101.47},{"text":"highlights","start":101.63,"end":102.03},{"text":"the","start":102.11,"end":102.19},{"text":"need","start":102.27,"end":102.35},{"text":"for","start":102.51,"end":102.59},{"text":"integrated","start":102.91,"end":102.99},{"text":"water","start":103.31,"end":103.39},{"text":"resources","start":103.87,"end":103.95},{"text":"management","start":104.27,"end":104.35},{"text":"through","start":104.91,"end":104.99},{"text":"stronger","start":105.15,"end":105.23},{"text":"policies","start":105.55,"end":105.63},{"text":"and","start":106.19,"end":106.27},{"text":"legislative","start":106.43,"end":106.51},{"text":"frameworks,","start":107.07,"end":107.47},{"text":"enhanced","start":108.33,"end":108.41},{"text":"human","start":108.65,"end":108.73},{"text":"and","start":108.97,"end":109.05},{"text":"institutional","start":109.45,"end":109.53},{"text":"capacities,","start":109.85,"end":110.41},{"text":"and","start":110.97,"end":111.05},{"text":"greater","start":111.29,"end":111.37},{"text":"investment","start":111.69,"end":111.77},{"text":"in","start":112.09,"end":112.17},{"text":"sustainable","start":112.49,"end":112.57},{"text":"water","start":112.97,"end":113.05},{"text":"infrastructure,","start":113.69,"end":114.41},{"text":"including","start":114.73,"end":114.81},{"text":"expanded","start":115.29,"end":115.37},{"text":"wastewater","start":116.01,"end":116.41},{"text":"treatment—","start":116.97,"end":117.05},{"text":"sorry,","start":117.69,"end":118.49},{"text":"recycling","start":118.89,"end":118.97},{"text":"and","start":119.37,"end":119.45},{"text":"reuse.","start":119.69,"end":120.49}]},{"text":"It also emphasizes the importance of building resilience to climate-related water hazards while ensuring that water services are inclusive and accessible to people of any gender or social group.","start":120.65,"end":133.21,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island settings."},{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and Inclusive Water Governance","description":"Speakers also underscored the importance of public trust, water literacy, conservation behavior, and inclusive planning so that water services and reforms are socially accepted, affordable, and responsive to vulnerable groups and community 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is committed to supporting the implementation of the ABAS and helping to translate its priorities into tangible action.","start":133.62,"end":140.9,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the 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inauguration.","start":141.7,"end":147.7,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the 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a part of this effort, our office is supporting the establishment of the Island Investment Forum under the Centre of 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Forum is intended to help bridge the gap between priorities and implementation by connecting SIDS with investments, partnerships, and expertise needed to advance sustainable development in SIDS.","start":164.78,"end":177.66,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term 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Island Investment Forum will be officially launched during the SIDS Global Business Network Forum, which OHRLLS is organizing in the Maldives from 23 to 25 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Forum will provide an important platform to strengthen private sector engagement in the implementation of ABAS, foster new partnerships, and facilitate investment in sustainable solutions that can help address the unique challenges facing SIDS, which are critical to advancing sustainable water resource management.","start":188.86,"end":205.89,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended 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recently, at the 4th High-Level International Conference on the International Decade for Action, Water for Sustainable Development in Dushanbe this May, our Under-Secretary-General emphasized that investments in water must be planned as part of a broader economic transformation supported by concessional and blended finance guarantees and strong partnerships.","start":217.49,"end":239.46,"topics":[{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term viability."},{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing 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will continue to champion this partnership-oriented approach in support of ABAS implementation, and we hope the discussion over the next hour serves as one of the many opportunities for SIDS and Small Island States to spend some time acknowledging our shared challenges, but more importantly, sharing national experiences on best practices and lessons learned, which we hope will spark new ideas, solutions, and partnerships.","start":240.34,"end":268.26,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the 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this, I would like to begin our first panel, which is to set the scene and discuss the challenges and structural barriers faced by SIDS and small island states in sustainable water management.","start":269.1,"end":280.14,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for 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first speaker is Ambassador Walton Alphonso Webson, or Aubrey Webson as we know him, Permanent Representative of Antigua and 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us, Antigua and Barbuda, water security is not solely a consequence of limited rainfall.","start":336.16,"end":345.28,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable 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Antigua and Barbuda welcome this as a practical demonstration of the ABAS, underscoring the importance of partnership among SIDS and with international partners to accelerate progress towards the SDG 6 and build more resilient water systems for present and future generations.","start":643.62,"end":677.26,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and 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us in Antigua and Barbuda, achieving SDG 6 is about more than what— more than just water.","start":678.46,"end":689.98,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable 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note that you will have to leave shortly, so we thank you very much for joining us here 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Jamaica.","start":770.71,"end":786.72,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":770.71,"end":770.79},{"text":"really","start":770.95,"end":771.03},{"text":"feel","start":771.27,"end":771.35},{"text":"privileged","start":771.83,"end":772.15},{"text":"to","start":772.31,"end":772.39},{"text":"be","start":772.47,"end":772.55},{"text":"invited","start":772.79,"end":772.87},{"text":"to","start":773.35,"end":773.43},{"text":"join","start":773.59,"end":773.67},{"text":"you","start":774.8,"end":774.88},{"text":"in","start":774.96,"end":775.04},{"text":"this","start":775.12,"end":775.2},{"text":"important","start":775.6,"end":775.68},{"text":"meeting,","start":776.08,"end":776.72},{"text":"and","start":776.8,"end":776.88},{"text":"I","start":776.96,"end":777.04},{"text":"would","start":777.04,"end":777.2},{"text":"like","start":777.2,"end":777.28},{"text":"to","start":777.44,"end":777.6},{"text":"recognize","start":778,"end":778.08},{"text":"our","start":778.8,"end":778.88},{"text":"Environment","start":779.12,"end":779.2},{"text":"Assembly","start":779.92,"end":780},{"text":"President","start":780.64,"end":780.72},{"text":"with","start":781.84,"end":781.92},{"text":"us,","start":782,"end":782.08},{"text":"Minister","start":783.2,"end":783.28},{"text":"for","start":784.72,"end":784.8},{"text":"Environment","start":784.96,"end":785.04},{"text":"of","start":785.52,"end":785.6},{"text":"Jamaica.","start":785.76,"end":786.72}]},{"text":"Thank you very much, and all Excellencies present in this room and delegates.","start":786.88,"end":793.16,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":786.88,"end":786.96},{"text":"you","start":787.04,"end":787.2},{"text":"very","start":787.28,"end":787.44},{"text":"much,","start":787.52,"end":787.68},{"text":"and","start":788.24,"end":788.32},{"text":"all","start":788.56,"end":788.64},{"text":"Excellencies","start":788.96,"end":789.6},{"text":"present","start":790.64,"end":790.72},{"text":"in","start":791.12,"end":791.2},{"text":"this","start":791.28,"end":791.36},{"text":"room","start":791.6,"end":791.68},{"text":"and","start":791.92,"end":792},{"text":"delegates.","start":792.16,"end":793.16}]},{"text":"Let me begin with a saying where we say small island developing states are the canary in the coal mine of the climate crisis.","start":793.76,"end":806.39,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted 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cities are often the first to face the impacts which will eventually be felt globally, and that is especially true with regards to water.","start":807.79,"end":820.75,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island 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have a unique combination of structural barriers, and that's why we are discussing challenges in water management.","start":821.07,"end":828.62,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for 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vulnerability.","start":829.98,"end":842.22,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island 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Karl Cilia, Chief Executive Officer of the Water Services Corporation of Malta, will now give us a 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Excellencies, friends, first of all, thank you for having us and thank you for participating.","start":1087.41,"end":1094.25,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Okay.","start":1087.41,"end":1087.49},{"text":"Excellencies,","start":1089.57,"end":1090.21},{"text":"friends,","start":1090.37,"end":1090.45},{"text":"first","start":1091.01,"end":1091.09},{"text":"of","start":1091.17,"end":1091.25},{"text":"all,","start":1091.25,"end":1091.33},{"text":"thank","start":1091.41,"end":1091.49},{"text":"you","start":1091.57,"end":1091.65},{"text":"for","start":1091.65,"end":1091.81},{"text":"having","start":1091.81,"end":1091.89},{"text":"us","start":1092.05,"end":1092.13},{"text":"and","start":1092.37,"end":1092.45},{"text":"thank","start":1092.53,"end":1092.61},{"text":"you","start":1092.61,"end":1092.77},{"text":"for","start":1092.77,"end":1092.85},{"text":"participating.","start":1093.25,"end":1094.25}]},{"text":"Let me begin with a simple truth about my own 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to always be one step ahead with technology and innovative advancement in the sector.","start":1126.75,"end":1140.43,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the 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seeing that this peak is being extended all over the year.","start":1159.69,"end":1162.41,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island settings."}],"words":[{"text":"We're","start":1159.69,"end":1159.93},{"text":"seeing","start":1159.93,"end":1160.01},{"text":"that","start":1160.09,"end":1160.17},{"text":"this","start":1160.17,"end":1160.25},{"text":"peak","start":1160.33,"end":1160.41},{"text":"is","start":1160.49,"end":1160.57},{"text":"being","start":1160.65,"end":1160.73},{"text":"extended","start":1161.05,"end":1161.13},{"text":"all","start":1161.53,"end":1161.61},{"text":"over","start":1161.69,"end":1161.77},{"text":"the","start":1161.93,"end":1162.01},{"text":"year.","start":1162.01,"end":1162.41}]},{"text":"So 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process.","start":1224.7,"end":1228.54,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."}],"words":[{"text":"As","start":1224.7,"end":1224.78},{"text":"you","start":1224.86,"end":1224.94},{"text":"all","start":1225.02,"end":1225.1},{"text":"know,","start":1225.26,"end":1225.34},{"text":"desalination","start":1225.42,"end":1225.9},{"text":"is","start":1226.46,"end":1226.54},{"text":"a","start":1226.7,"end":1226.78},{"text":"very","start":1226.86,"end":1226.94},{"text":"energy-intensive","start":1227.26,"end":1227.74},{"text":"process.","start":1227.98,"end":1228.54}]},{"text":"So we require a lot of financing and our cost, 30% plus of our national cost, are related to energy for our 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water.","start":1249.11,"end":1255.83,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."}],"words":[{"text":"Just","start":1249.11,"end":1249.19},{"text":"to","start":1249.27,"end":1249.35},{"text":"put","start":1249.35,"end":1249.43},{"text":"it","start":1249.51,"end":1249.59},{"text":"into","start":1249.67,"end":1249.75},{"text":"perspective,","start":1250.07,"end":1250.15},{"text":"nowadays","start":1250.71,"end":1250.79},{"text":"Malta","start":1251.27,"end":1251.35},{"text":"uses","start":1251.67,"end":1251.75},{"text":"around","start":1251.99,"end":1252.07},{"text":"2.8","start":1252.23,"end":1252.71},{"text":"kilowatt-hours","start":1253.03,"end":1253.51},{"text":"to","start":1253.91,"end":1253.99},{"text":"produce","start":1254.23,"end":1254.31},{"text":"a","start":1254.55,"end":1254.63},{"text":"single","start":1254.63,"end":1254.79},{"text":"cubic","start":1255.03,"end":1255.11},{"text":"meter","start":1255.35,"end":1255.43},{"text":"of","start":1255.51,"end":1255.59},{"text":"water.","start":1255.67,"end":1255.83}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Karl Cilia","affiliation":"MLT","affiliation_full":"Malta","group":null,"function":"Chief Executive Officer"}},{"statement_number":7,"start":1255.83,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=1256","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Wow.","start":1255.83,"end":1255.99,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Wow.","start":1255.83,"end":1255.99}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":null,"affiliation":null,"affiliation_full":null,"group":null,"function":null}},{"statement_number":8,"start":1256.4,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=1257","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Which is a breakthrough in our industry.","start":1256.4,"end":1258.4,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient 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as I mentioned before, Malta also, we always had to look ahead, invest, train our people to try and first of all meet the national demand and secondly do so in the most efficient way possible.","start":1267.04,"end":1281.48,"topics":[{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term viability."},{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the 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time and knowledge.","start":1281.69,"end":1283.29,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thirdly,","start":1281.69,"end":1282.09},{"text":"time","start":1282.33,"end":1282.41},{"text":"and","start":1282.97,"end":1283.05},{"text":"knowledge.","start":1283.21,"end":1283.29}]},{"text":"As I mentioned before, it took Malta 25 years plus for us to get where we are today.","start":1284.41,"end":1290.17,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"As","start":1284.41,"end":1284.49},{"text":"I","start":1284.57,"end":1284.65},{"text":"mentioned","start":1284.73,"end":1284.81},{"text":"before,","start":1285.13,"end":1285.21},{"text":"it","start":1285.29,"end":1285.37},{"text":"took","start":1285.37,"end":1285.53},{"text":"Malta","start":1285.61,"end":1285.85},{"text":"25","start":1286.17,"end":1286.25},{"text":"years","start":1286.33,"end":1286.49},{"text":"plus","start":1286.73,"end":1286.81},{"text":"for","start":1287.85,"end":1287.93},{"text":"us","start":1288.01,"end":1288.09},{"text":"to","start":1288.25,"end":1288.33},{"text":"get","start":1288.41,"end":1288.49},{"text":"where","start":1288.89,"end":1288.97},{"text":"we","start":1289.13,"end":1289.21},{"text":"are","start":1289.29,"end":1289.37},{"text":"today.","start":1290.09,"end":1290.17}]},{"text":"Obviously, we required knowledge, training, delving into new technologies back in the '80s.","start":1291.29,"end":1298.97,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."}],"words":[{"text":"Obviously,","start":1291.29,"end":1291.37},{"text":"we","start":1291.77,"end":1291.85},{"text":"required","start":1292.09,"end":1292.17},{"text":"knowledge,","start":1293.37,"end":1293.45},{"text":"training,","start":1294.01,"end":1294.09},{"text":"delving","start":1296.25,"end":1296.57},{"text":"into","start":1296.81,"end":1296.89},{"text":"new","start":1296.97,"end":1297.05},{"text":"technologies","start":1297.37,"end":1297.45},{"text":"back","start":1298.09,"end":1298.17},{"text":"in","start":1298.25,"end":1298.33},{"text":"the","start":1298.41,"end":1298.57},{"text":"'80s.","start":1298.57,"end":1298.97}]},{"text":"Our first desalination plant was commissioned in 1982 on the southern part of the island.","start":1299.13,"end":1304.17,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, 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island.","start":1304.73,"end":1312.77,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."}],"words":[{"text":"Nowadays,","start":1304.73,"end":1305.05},{"text":"Malta","start":1305.21,"end":1305.53},{"text":"have","start":1305.61,"end":1305.69},{"text":"4","start":1306.01,"end":1306.09},{"text":"desalination","start":1306.25,"end":1306.73},{"text":"plants","start":1306.97,"end":1307.05},{"text":"and","start":1307.25,"end":1307.33},{"text":"we","start":1307.49,"end":1307.57},{"text":"started","start":1307.65,"end":1307.73},{"text":"looking","start":1307.97,"end":1308.05},{"text":"at","start":1308.69,"end":1308.77},{"text":"building","start":1308.85,"end":1309.01},{"text":"the","start":1309.25,"end":1309.33},{"text":"5th","start":1309.41,"end":1309.49},{"text":"reverse","start":1310.53,"end":1310.61},{"text":"osmosis","start":1310.93,"end":1311.17},{"text":"plant","start":1311.25,"end":1311.33},{"text":"on","start":1311.65,"end":1311.73},{"text":"the","start":1311.73,"end":1311.89},{"text":"island.","start":1311.89,"end":1312.77}]},{"text":"Having said that, back in the '90s in Malta, it was not just a matter of producing more water.","start":1313.49,"end":1321.57,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Having","start":1313.49,"end":1313.57},{"text":"said","start":1313.89,"end":1313.97},{"text":"that,","start":1314.21,"end":1314.29},{"text":"back","start":1314.85,"end":1314.93},{"text":"in","start":1315.01,"end":1315.09},{"text":"the","start":1315.25,"end":1315.33},{"text":"'90s","start":1315.41,"end":1315.89},{"text":"in","start":1316.37,"end":1316.45},{"text":"Malta,","start":1316.61,"end":1317.09},{"text":"it","start":1317.65,"end":1317.73},{"text":"was","start":1317.81,"end":1317.89},{"text":"not","start":1318.21,"end":1318.29},{"text":"just","start":1318.45,"end":1318.53},{"text":"a","start":1319.01,"end":1319.09},{"text":"matter","start":1319.17,"end":1319.25},{"text":"of","start":1319.41,"end":1319.57},{"text":"producing","start":1319.97,"end":1320.05},{"text":"more","start":1320.61,"end":1320.69},{"text":"water.","start":1320.93,"end":1321.57}]},{"text":"Malta changed its strategy, which brings me to the 4th challenge: leakage management.","start":1321.81,"end":1329.61,"topics":[{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding 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international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term 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thank you for everyone.","start":1506.48,"end":1508.2,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"So","start":1506.48,"end":1506.56},{"text":"thank","start":1506.64,"end":1506.72},{"text":"you","start":1506.8,"end":1506.88},{"text":"for","start":1506.88,"end":1507.04},{"text":"everyone.","start":1507.2,"end":1508.2}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Karl Cilia","affiliation":"MLT","affiliation_full":"Malta","group":null,"function":"Chief Executive Officer"}},{"statement_number":9,"start":1508.56,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=1509","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you.","start":1508.56,"end":1509.76,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1508.56,"end":1508.64},{"text":"you.","start":1508.8,"end":1509.76}]},{"text":"Thank you very much, Mr. Cilia, and indeed to the rest of our scene-setting speakers for laying the groundwork for our discussions, including by highlighting pressure on the availability of water resources, including Groundwater salinization, limited supplies, distribution 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that, I would like now to move on to our next panel to discuss strategies and solutions for some of these challenges that we've 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panel will aim to reflect on how have small islands addressed these challenges and what are some technical, financial, regulatory and social considerations of their national water management strategies.","start":1543.56,"end":1555.72,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."},{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term 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I would, of course, like to acknowledge the presence of our Minister, Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change of Jamaica and President of the United Nations Environment 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you for being with us today.","start":1571.24,"end":1572.6,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1571.24,"end":1571.32},{"text":"you","start":1571.4,"end":1571.56},{"text":"for","start":1571.56,"end":1571.72},{"text":"being","start":1571.8,"end":1571.88},{"text":"with","start":1572.04,"end":1572.12},{"text":"us","start":1572.2,"end":1572.28},{"text":"today.","start":1572.52,"end":1572.6}]},{"text":"Minister, you have the floor for your intervention.","start":1573.08,"end":1575.16,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Minister,","start":1573.08,"end":1573.16},{"text":"you","start":1573.48,"end":1573.56},{"text":"have","start":1573.72,"end":1573.8},{"text":"the","start":1573.88,"end":1573.96},{"text":"floor","start":1574.12,"end":1574.2},{"text":"for","start":1574.36,"end":1574.44},{"text":"your","start":1574.52,"end":1574.6},{"text":"intervention.","start":1575.08,"end":1575.16}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Tishka Francis","affiliation":"OHRLLS","affiliation_full":"OHRLLS","group":null,"function":"Head, SIDS Team"}},{"statement_number":10,"start":1575.56,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=1576","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you.","start":1575.56,"end":1576.6,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":1575.56,"end":1575.64},{"text":"you.","start":1575.72,"end":1576.6}]}]},{"sentences":[{"text":"Excellencies, distinguished delegates, colleagues, friends, I wish to start by thanking the Permanent Missions of Malta and indeed Antigua and Barbuda, and of course the Office of the 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pause also to acknowledge Elizabeth M. 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water will form a focus of— or a critical focus of my time at UNEA.","start":2010.64,"end":2019.2,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Certainly,","start":2010.64,"end":2011.12},{"text":"water","start":2011.28,"end":2011.36},{"text":"will","start":2012.16,"end":2012.24},{"text":"form","start":2012.56,"end":2012.64},{"text":"a","start":2013.36,"end":2013.44},{"text":"focus","start":2013.52,"end":2013.6},{"text":"of—","start":2014.16,"end":2014.24},{"text":"or","start":2015.04,"end":2015.12},{"text":"a","start":2015.44,"end":2015.52},{"text":"critical","start":2015.68,"end":2015.76},{"text":"focus","start":2016.16,"end":2016.24},{"text":"of","start":2016.88,"end":2016.96},{"text":"my","start":2017.28,"end":2017.36},{"text":"time","start":2017.52,"end":2017.6},{"text":"at","start":2017.76,"end":2017.84},{"text":"UNEA.","start":2018.24,"end":2019.2}]},{"text":"As we move through to the UN Water Conference, I welcome this 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Thank you, Madam Chair.","start":2072.2,"end":2074.56,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":2072.2,"end":2072.28},{"text":"you.","start":2072.44,"end":2072.76},{"text":"Thank","start":2072.84,"end":2072.92},{"text":"you,","start":2073,"end":2073.24},{"text":"Madam","start":2073.24,"end":2073.32},{"text":"Chair.","start":2073.56,"end":2074.56}]},{"text":"Excellencies, distinguished colleagues, ladies and gentlemen.","start":2075.24,"end":2079.4,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Excellencies,","start":2075.24,"end":2076.24},{"text":"distinguished","start":2076.6,"end":2076.68},{"text":"colleagues,","start":2077.08,"end":2077.88},{"text":"ladies","start":2078.04,"end":2078.12},{"text":"and","start":2078.44,"end":2078.52},{"text":"gentlemen.","start":2078.6,"end":2079.4}]},{"text":"It is a pleasure to participate in this important discussion on advancing water security in SIDS.","start":2080.77,"end":2087.85,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in 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many island nations, we are experiencing increasing rainfall variability, prolonged drought conditions, declining groundwater recharge, and growing pressure on traditional water sources.","start":2119.66,"end":2132.38,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island 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terms of technical considerations, our experience demonstrates that water security requires solutions tailored to the specific circumstances of each island.","start":2158.72,"end":2172,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for 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resilience.","start":2183.61,"end":2187.89,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"reinforcing","start":2183.61,"end":2183.93},{"text":"the","start":2184.33,"end":2184.41},{"text":"need","start":2184.49,"end":2184.57},{"text":"for","start":2184.81,"end":2184.89},{"text":"greater","start":2184.97,"end":2185.05},{"text":"diversification","start":2185.61,"end":2186.17},{"text":"and","start":2186.57,"end":2186.65},{"text":"resilience.","start":2186.89,"end":2187.89}]},{"text":"Over the past several years, we have made significant investments to strengthen national water supply.","start":2188.41,"end":2194.25,"topics":[{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term 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disruptions.","start":2265.97,"end":2273.85,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island settings."}],"words":[{"text":"This","start":2265.97,"end":2266.05},{"text":"diversification","start":2266.69,"end":2267.25},{"text":"strengthens","start":2267.81,"end":2268.21},{"text":"our","start":2268.37,"end":2268.45},{"text":"ability","start":2268.61,"end":2268.77},{"text":"to","start":2269.33,"end":2269.41},{"text":"manage","start":2269.57,"end":2269.65},{"text":"drought","start":2269.97,"end":2270.05},{"text":"conditions","start":2270.53,"end":2270.61},{"text":"and","start":2271.41,"end":2271.49},{"text":"climate-related","start":2271.73,"end":2272.29},{"text":"disruptions.","start":2272.85,"end":2273.85}]},{"text":"The next phase of our transformation focuses on improving efficiency and strengthening the systems that deliver water to our communities through the TransWater project, which we expect to be approved by the Green Climate Fund in 2027.","start":2274.13,"end":2289.09,"topics":[{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding production."},{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the 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production."}],"words":[{"text":"non-revenue","start":2314.88,"end":2315.44},{"text":"water.","start":2315.6,"end":2316.6}]}]},{"sentences":[{"text":"Reducing water losses is a critical priority.","start":2317.28,"end":2319.36,"topics":[{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding production."}],"words":[{"text":"Reducing","start":2317.28,"end":2317.6},{"text":"water","start":2317.76,"end":2317.84},{"text":"losses","start":2318.08,"end":2318.16},{"text":"is","start":2318.48,"end":2318.56},{"text":"a","start":2318.64,"end":2318.72},{"text":"critical","start":2318.8,"end":2318.88},{"text":"priority.","start":2319.28,"end":2319.36}]},{"text":"Improved leakage detection, pressure management metering, 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viability."}],"words":[{"text":"Consumers","start":2495.68,"end":2496},{"text":"must","start":2496.4,"end":2496.48},{"text":"understand","start":2497.04,"end":2497.12},{"text":"how","start":2497.36,"end":2497.44},{"text":"revenue","start":2497.52,"end":2497.6},{"text":"supports","start":2498.24,"end":2498.4},{"text":"Reliable","start":2498.98,"end":2499.46},{"text":"services,","start":2499.62,"end":2500.26},{"text":"conservation,","start":2500.82,"end":2501.7},{"text":"infrastructure","start":2502.98,"end":2503.06},{"text":"maintenance,","start":2503.54,"end":2503.62},{"text":"and","start":2504.18,"end":2504.26},{"text":"climate","start":2504.58,"end":2504.66},{"text":"resilience.","start":2505.14,"end":2506.14}]},{"text":"In terms of regulatory and institutional considerations, effective water management requires coordination across government sectors.","start":2506.66,"end":2515.98,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources 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sustainability.","start":2525.69,"end":2533.97,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for 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trust.","start":2558,"end":2565.48,"topics":[{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and Inclusive Water Governance","description":"Speakers also underscored the importance of public trust, water literacy, conservation behavior, and inclusive planning so that water services and reforms are socially accepted, affordable, and responsive to vulnerable groups and community 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willingness to pay surveys The findings reinforce the importance of sustained communication.","start":2578.08,"end":2584.79,"topics":[{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and Inclusive Water Governance","description":"Speakers also underscored the importance of public trust, water literacy, conservation behavior, and inclusive planning so that water services and reforms are socially accepted, affordable, and responsive to vulnerable groups and community 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household groups.","start":2595.43,"end":2605.51,"topics":[{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and Inclusive Water Governance","description":"Speakers also underscored the importance of public trust, water literacy, conservation behavior, and inclusive planning so that water services and reforms are socially accepted, affordable, and responsive to vulnerable groups and community 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groups.","start":2606,"end":2609.68,"topics":[{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and Inclusive Water Governance","description":"Speakers also underscored the importance of public trust, water literacy, conservation behavior, and inclusive planning so that water services and reforms are socially accepted, affordable, and responsive to vulnerable groups and community needs."}],"words":[{"text":"Special","start":2606,"end":2606.08},{"text":"attention","start":2606.56,"end":2606.64},{"text":"must","start":2607.04,"end":2607.12},{"text":"also","start":2607.2,"end":2607.36},{"text":"be","start":2607.6,"end":2607.68},{"text":"given","start":2607.76,"end":2607.84},{"text":"to","start":2608.08,"end":2608.16},{"text":"vulnerable","start":2608.24,"end":2608.48},{"text":"groups.","start":2608.8,"end":2609.68}]},{"text":"Women and girls often play significant roles in household water 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thank you again.","start":2702.29,"end":2703.89,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"So","start":2702.29,"end":2702.37},{"text":"thank","start":2702.61,"end":2702.69},{"text":"you","start":2702.77,"end":2702.93},{"text":"again.","start":2703.09,"end":2703.89}]},{"text":"And our next speaker is Ing.","start":2704.05,"end":2706.37,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"And","start":2704.05,"end":2704.13},{"text":"our","start":2704.29,"end":2704.37},{"text":"next","start":2704.53,"end":2704.61},{"text":"speaker","start":2704.85,"end":2704.93},{"text":"is","start":2705.33,"end":2705.41},{"text":"Ing.","start":2706.29,"end":2706.37}]},{"text":"David Sacco, Chief Officer for Production and Treatment of the Water Services Corporation of Malta.","start":2706.77,"end":2713.97,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"David","start":2706.77,"end":2706.85},{"text":"Sacco,","start":2707.65,"end":2708.61},{"text":"Chief","start":2708.93,"end":2709.01},{"text":"Officer","start":2709.25,"end":2709.33},{"text":"for","start":2709.97,"end":2710.05},{"text":"Production","start":2710.29,"end":2710.37},{"text":"and","start":2710.61,"end":2710.69},{"text":"Treatment","start":2710.85,"end":2710.93},{"text":"of","start":2711.25,"end":2711.33},{"text":"the","start":2711.33,"end":2711.41},{"text":"Water","start":2711.49,"end":2711.57},{"text":"Services","start":2711.81,"end":2712.21},{"text":"Corporation","start":2712.61,"end":2712.69},{"text":"of","start":2713.09,"end":2713.17},{"text":"Malta.","start":2713.33,"end":2713.97}]},{"text":"Mr. Sacco, the floor is yours.","start":2714.56,"end":2716.08,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Mr.","start":2714.56,"end":2714.64},{"text":"Sacco,","start":2714.96,"end":2715.2},{"text":"the","start":2715.44,"end":2715.52},{"text":"floor","start":2715.68,"end":2715.76},{"text":"is","start":2715.76,"end":2715.84},{"text":"yours.","start":2716,"end":2716.08}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Tishka Francis","affiliation":"OHRLLS","affiliation_full":"OHRLLS","group":null,"function":"Head, SIDS Team"}},{"statement_number":14,"start":2716.32,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=2717","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Good afternoon, Excellencies, distinguished guests.","start":2716.32,"end":2719.2,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Good","start":2716.32,"end":2716.4},{"text":"afternoon,","start":2716.56,"end":2716.8},{"text":"Excellencies,","start":2718,"end":2718.32},{"text":"distinguished","start":2718.72,"end":2718.8},{"text":"guests.","start":2719.12,"end":2719.2}]},{"text":"Through this presentation, I would like to share 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in the late '70s, the membrane technology emerged The government was going to build a new distillation plant at Lapsi, the southern part of the island, but seeing this technology, this promising technology, decided to take the risk.","start":2811.51,"end":2830.48,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient 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losses we were experiencing.","start":2857.39,"end":2871.64,"topics":[{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding 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um, we started promoting, um, desalination also on-site production of water in the major hotels.","start":3477.69,"end":3486.89,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient 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would now like to invite our final speaker for this session, Ms. Asha Challenger from the Permanent Mission of Antigua and Barbuda, one of our esteemed 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you, Ms. of course, to take the floor.","start":3696.66,"end":3698.95,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":3696.66,"end":3696.74},{"text":"you,","start":3696.74,"end":3696.9},{"text":"Ms.","start":3697.06,"end":3697.14},{"text":"of","start":3697.59,"end":3697.75},{"text":"course,","start":3697.83,"end":3697.91},{"text":"to","start":3698.23,"end":3698.31},{"text":"take","start":3698.47,"end":3698.55},{"text":"the","start":3698.71,"end":3698.79},{"text":"floor.","start":3698.87,"end":3698.95}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Tishka Francis","affiliation":"OHRLLS","affiliation_full":"OHRLLS","group":null,"function":"Head, SIDS Team"}},{"statement_number":16,"start":3702.23,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=3703","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you, Madam Chair, and greetings to Mr. Samuda.","start":3702.23,"end":3708.23,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":3702.23,"end":3702.31},{"text":"you,","start":3702.47,"end":3702.63},{"text":"Madam","start":3702.71,"end":3702.79},{"text":"Chair,","start":3703.11,"end":3703.19},{"text":"and","start":3705.03,"end":3705.11},{"text":"greetings","start":3706.15,"end":3706.23},{"text":"to","start":3706.63,"end":3706.71},{"text":"Mr.","start":3707.19,"end":3707.27},{"text":"Samuda.","start":3707.99,"end":3708.23}]},{"text":"Thank you for joining us, Madam UNEP DSG Marima, Ambassador Mellie, distinguished 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colleagues from the Antigua Public Utilities Authority, our national water management agency, weren't able to attend today, so I will share some remarks on behalf of the 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and Barbuda, like many small island developing states, faces structural constraints in securing sustainable water resources.","start":3736.38,"end":3745.78,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable 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challenges are compounded by climate change, including prolonged droughts, increasingly variable rainfall, and growing water demand from key sectors such as agriculture and tourism.","start":3763.36,"end":3776.08,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island 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address these challenges, Antigua and Barbuda has made substantial investments in modernizing its water infrastructure despite the significant financial burden.","start":3778.49,"end":3788.25,"topics":[{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term viability."}],"words":[{"text":"To","start":3778.49,"end":3778.57},{"text":"address","start":3778.81,"end":3778.89},{"text":"these","start":3779.05,"end":3779.13},{"text":"challenges,","start":3779.37,"end":3779.45},{"text":"Antigua","start":3780.01,"end":3780.41},{"text":"and","start":3780.41,"end":3780.49},{"text":"Barbuda","start":3780.57,"end":3780.81},{"text":"has","start":3781.05,"end":3781.13},{"text":"made","start":3781.29,"end":3781.37},{"text":"substantial","start":3781.85,"end":3781.93},{"text":"investments","start":3782.57,"end":3782.65},{"text":"in","start":3783.37,"end":3783.45},{"text":"modernizing","start":3783.61,"end":3784.01},{"text":"its","start":3784.25,"end":3784.33},{"text":"water","start":3784.57,"end":3784.65},{"text":"infrastructure","start":3785.29,"end":3785.37},{"text":"despite","start":3786.33,"end":3786.41},{"text":"the","start":3786.57,"end":3786.65},{"text":"significant","start":3786.97,"end":3787.05},{"text":"financial","start":3787.61,"end":3787.69},{"text":"burden.","start":3788.17,"end":3788.25}]},{"text":"The, the authority has been systematically replacing aging transmission lines with high-density polyethylene pipelines, improving network efficiency reducing leakage, and strengthening the resilience of the national water distribution system.","start":3790.73,"end":3806.66,"topics":[{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding production."}],"words":[{"text":"The,","start":3790.73,"end":3790.81},{"text":"the","start":3791.37,"end":3791.45},{"text":"authority","start":3791.61,"end":3791.69},{"text":"has","start":3792.09,"end":3792.17},{"text":"been","start":3792.33,"end":3792.41},{"text":"systematically","start":3792.89,"end":3792.97},{"text":"replacing","start":3793.61,"end":3793.69},{"text":"aging","start":3794.17,"end":3794.41},{"text":"transmission","start":3794.89,"end":3794.97},{"text":"lines","start":3795.29,"end":3795.37},{"text":"with","start":3796.09,"end":3796.17},{"text":"high-density","start":3796.41,"end":3796.73},{"text":"polyethylene","start":3797.53,"end":3798.25},{"text":"pipelines,","start":3798.41,"end":3798.97},{"text":"improving","start":3799.93,"end":3800.01},{"text":"network","start":3800.41,"end":3800.49},{"text":"efficiency","start":3800.97,"end":3801.05},{"text":"reducing","start":3802.18,"end":3802.26},{"text":"leakage,","start":3802.5,"end":3802.9},{"text":"and","start":3803.3,"end":3803.38},{"text":"strengthening","start":3803.62,"end":3803.94},{"text":"the","start":3804.1,"end":3804.18},{"text":"resilience","start":3804.42,"end":3804.5},{"text":"of","start":3804.9,"end":3804.98},{"text":"the","start":3805.06,"end":3805.14},{"text":"national","start":3805.22,"end":3805.3},{"text":"water","start":3805.62,"end":3805.7},{"text":"distribution","start":3806.26,"end":3806.34},{"text":"system.","start":3806.58,"end":3806.66}]},{"text":"Climate change has also had a profound impact on the country's surface water resources.","start":3808.66,"end":3813.14,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island settings."}],"words":[{"text":"Climate","start":3808.66,"end":3808.74},{"text":"change","start":3809.06,"end":3809.14},{"text":"has","start":3809.3,"end":3809.46},{"text":"also","start":3809.62,"end":3809.7},{"text":"had","start":3810.02,"end":3810.1},{"text":"a","start":3810.1,"end":3810.18},{"text":"profound","start":3810.5,"end":3810.58},{"text":"impact","start":3810.98,"end":3811.06},{"text":"on","start":3811.3,"end":3811.38},{"text":"the","start":3811.38,"end":3811.46},{"text":"country's","start":3811.54,"end":3812.02},{"text":"surface","start":3812.02,"end":3812.1},{"text":"water","start":3812.5,"end":3812.58},{"text":"resources.","start":3813.06,"end":3813.14}]},{"text":"Historically, reservoirs provided up to 9 months of water production annually.","start":3814.58,"end":3820.1,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Historically,","start":3814.58,"end":3814.66},{"text":"reservoirs","start":3816.18,"end":3816.74},{"text":"provided","start":3817.14,"end":3817.22},{"text":"up","start":3817.46,"end":3817.54},{"text":"to","start":3817.7,"end":3817.78},{"text":"9","start":3817.94,"end":3818.02},{"text":"months","start":3818.26,"end":3818.34},{"text":"of","start":3818.5,"end":3818.66},{"text":"water","start":3818.74,"end":3818.82},{"text":"production","start":3819.22,"end":3819.3},{"text":"annually.","start":3819.7,"end":3820.1}]},{"text":"Today, that period has declined to between 3 to 5 months, with some years experiencing complete depletion due to prolonged droughts, increased evaporation, and increasingly erratic rainfall.","start":3821.06,"end":3834.62,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island settings."}],"words":[{"text":"Today,","start":3821.06,"end":3821.14},{"text":"that","start":3821.46,"end":3821.54},{"text":"period","start":3821.7,"end":3821.78},{"text":"has","start":3822.1,"end":3822.18},{"text":"declined","start":3822.5,"end":3822.58},{"text":"to","start":3822.82,"end":3822.9},{"text":"between","start":3823.14,"end":3823.22},{"text":"3","start":3823.62,"end":3823.7},{"text":"to","start":3823.78,"end":3823.94},{"text":"5","start":3824.02,"end":3824.1},{"text":"months,","start":3824.34,"end":3824.42},{"text":"with","start":3825.22,"end":3825.3},{"text":"some","start":3825.54,"end":3825.62},{"text":"years","start":3825.78,"end":3825.86},{"text":"experiencing","start":3826.5,"end":3826.58},{"text":"complete","start":3827.3,"end":3827.38},{"text":"depletion","start":3827.74,"end":3828.22},{"text":"due","start":3828.86,"end":3828.94},{"text":"to","start":3829.02,"end":3829.1},{"text":"prolonged","start":3829.26,"end":3829.5},{"text":"droughts,","start":3829.74,"end":3830.06},{"text":"increased","start":3830.86,"end":3830.94},{"text":"evaporation,","start":3831.34,"end":3831.98},{"text":"and","start":3832.7,"end":3832.78},{"text":"increasingly","start":3833.1,"end":3833.18},{"text":"erratic","start":3833.74,"end":3834.14},{"text":"rainfall.","start":3834.3,"end":3834.62}]},{"text":"As a result, desalination has become an indispensable component of the national water supply.","start":3836.54,"end":3842.7,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."}],"words":[{"text":"As","start":3836.54,"end":3836.62},{"text":"a","start":3836.7,"end":3836.86},{"text":"result,","start":3837.1,"end":3837.18},{"text":"desalination","start":3837.9,"end":3838.46},{"text":"has","start":3838.78,"end":3838.94},{"text":"become","start":3839.18,"end":3839.26},{"text":"an","start":3839.42,"end":3839.5},{"text":"indispensable","start":3840.14,"end":3840.3},{"text":"component","start":3840.94,"end":3841.02},{"text":"of","start":3841.42,"end":3841.5},{"text":"the","start":3841.58,"end":3841.66},{"text":"national","start":3841.74,"end":3841.82},{"text":"water","start":3842.14,"end":3842.22},{"text":"supply.","start":3842.62,"end":3842.7}]},{"text":"While it provides a reliable source of fresh water, it is significantly more expensive than surface water and groundwater because of its high energy consumption and operational This growing reliance underscores the importance of integrated water management— integrated water resources management to diversify water sources, improve efficiency, and build long-term climate resilience.","start":3843.74,"end":3870.42,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."},{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for 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and Barbuda is therefore pleased to participate in this side event to highlight national progress, share lessons learned through technical cooperation with the Republic of Malta, and to identify priority actions to strengthen water resilience in support of the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS.","start":3870.78,"end":3887.95,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."}],"words":[{"text":"Antigua","start":3870.78,"end":3871.1},{"text":"and","start":3871.18,"end":3871.26},{"text":"Barbuda","start":3871.34,"end":3871.58},{"text":"is","start":3871.66,"end":3871.74},{"text":"therefore","start":3871.82,"end":3871.9},{"text":"pleased","start":3872.22,"end":3872.3},{"text":"to","start":3872.46,"end":3872.54},{"text":"participate","start":3872.94,"end":3873.02},{"text":"in","start":3873.1,"end":3873.18},{"text":"this","start":3873.18,"end":3873.34},{"text":"side","start":3873.42,"end":3873.5},{"text":"event","start":3873.74,"end":3873.82},{"text":"to","start":3874.3,"end":3874.38},{"text":"highlight","start":3874.46,"end":3874.54},{"text":"national","start":3874.86,"end":3874.94},{"text":"progress,","start":3875.26,"end":3875.9},{"text":"share","start":3876.06,"end":3876.14},{"text":"lessons","start":3876.3,"end":3876.38},{"text":"learned","start":3876.78,"end":3876.86},{"text":"through","start":3877.18,"end":3877.26},{"text":"technical","start":3877.34,"end":3877.42},{"text":"cooperation","start":3878.14,"end":3878.22},{"text":"with","start":3878.78,"end":3878.86},{"text":"the","start":3878.86,"end":3878.94},{"text":"Republic","start":3879.1,"end":3879.18},{"text":"of","start":3879.34,"end":3879.42},{"text":"Malta,","start":3879.58,"end":3880.06},{"text":"and","start":3880.39,"end":3880.47},{"text":"to","start":3880.55,"end":3880.63},{"text":"identify","start":3881.11,"end":3881.19},{"text":"priority","start":3881.35,"end":3881.43},{"text":"actions","start":3881.91,"end":3881.99},{"text":"to","start":3882.31,"end":3882.39},{"text":"strengthen","start":3882.55,"end":3882.63},{"text":"water","start":3883.03,"end":3883.11},{"text":"resilience","start":3883.43,"end":3883.51},{"text":"in","start":3884.23,"end":3884.31},{"text":"support","start":3884.63,"end":3884.71},{"text":"of","start":3885.03,"end":3885.11},{"text":"the","start":3885.19,"end":3885.27},{"text":"Antigua","start":3885.35,"end":3885.43},{"text":"and","start":3885.67,"end":3885.75},{"text":"Barbuda","start":3885.83,"end":3886.07},{"text":"Agenda","start":3886.47,"end":3886.55},{"text":"for","start":3886.79,"end":3886.87},{"text":"SIDS.","start":3886.95,"end":3887.95}]},{"text":"So, as said before, Antigua and Barbuda's water sector faces a range of interconnected challenges common to many SIDS.","start":3890.23,"end":3897.99,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable development."}],"words":[{"text":"So,","start":3890.23,"end":3890.31},{"text":"as","start":3890.39,"end":3890.47},{"text":"said","start":3890.63,"end":3890.71},{"text":"before,","start":3891.03,"end":3891.27},{"text":"Antigua","start":3891.35,"end":3891.43},{"text":"and","start":3891.67,"end":3891.75},{"text":"Barbuda's","start":3891.83,"end":3892.39},{"text":"water","start":3892.55,"end":3892.63},{"text":"sector","start":3892.95,"end":3893.03},{"text":"faces","start":3893.43,"end":3893.51},{"text":"a","start":3893.91,"end":3893.99},{"text":"range","start":3894.07,"end":3894.15},{"text":"of","start":3894.47,"end":3894.55},{"text":"interconnected","start":3894.79,"end":3895.43},{"text":"challenges","start":3895.67,"end":3895.75},{"text":"common","start":3896.47,"end":3896.55},{"text":"to","start":3896.79,"end":3896.87},{"text":"many","start":3896.95,"end":3897.03},{"text":"SIDS.","start":3897.27,"end":3897.99}]},{"text":"Heavy reliance on desalination ensures a dependable water supply but entails significant energy costs.","start":3898.23,"end":3905.59,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."},{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term 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change has also undermined water security through saltwater intrusion, which has significantly reduced groundwater production and forced 3 well fields, particularly within the country's highly productive but vulnerable karstic aquifers offline for extended periods.","start":3918.72,"end":3938.91,"topics":[{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island 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with declining surface water availability, these pressures have increased dependence on desalination and reinforced the need for an integrated, climate-resilient approach to water resource management.","start":3940.67,"end":3951.63,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."},{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."},{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on 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this context, reducing non-revenue water is not simply a technical objective, it is an economic imperative.","start":3955.87,"end":3963.78,"topics":[{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding 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technical knowledge exchange, The partnership has also created practical opportunities for cooperation, including support with procurement processes and collaboration on digital mapping of our water network.","start":4035.91,"end":4049.51,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding 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investments will help us build a more efficient, resilient, and sustainable water sector while ensuring that our limited water resources are managed as effectively as 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conclusion, we call on further collaborations and the international community to continue to support SIDS in scaling integrated water management resources, continue strengthening bilateral and multilateral partnerships that can deliver tangible technical benefits, and finally, expand access to climate finance for water system resilience.","start":4142.65,"end":4165.93,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."},{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building 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you.","start":4166.019,"end":4166.339,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":4166.019,"end":4166.099},{"text":"you.","start":4166.259,"end":4166.339}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Asha Challenger","affiliation":"ATG","affiliation_full":"Antigua and Barbuda","group":null,"function":null}},{"statement_number":17,"start":4167.619,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=4168","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you, Ms. Challenger, for your comprehensive intervention, and of course to all of our speakers, many focusing on the importance of partnerships, investments, financing, as well as on getting the regulation, policy, and governance-related issues right.","start":4167.619,"end":4185.139,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and 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that context, I would ask the respondents to provide their perspectives as concisely as possible, please, on what is the current landscape for bilateral, regional, and international partnerships for SIDS on sustainable water management, and what are the current gaps for the implementation of ABAS in the context of sustainable water management.","start":4197.44,"end":4216.16,"topics":[{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, 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I would like to give the floor to our first speaker, Ms. Rhoda Roko Tui-Bau.","start":4217.84,"end":4223.13,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Now","start":4217.84,"end":4217.92},{"text":"I","start":4218.08,"end":4218.16},{"text":"would","start":4218.24,"end":4218.32},{"text":"like","start":4218.4,"end":4218.48},{"text":"to","start":4218.56,"end":4218.64},{"text":"give","start":4218.72,"end":4218.8},{"text":"the","start":4219.41,"end":4219.49},{"text":"floor","start":4219.65,"end":4219.73},{"text":"to","start":4219.81,"end":4219.89},{"text":"our","start":4219.89,"end":4219.97},{"text":"first","start":4220.05,"end":4220.13},{"text":"speaker,","start":4220.37,"end":4220.45},{"text":"Ms.","start":4220.77,"end":4220.85},{"text":"Rhoda","start":4221.01,"end":4221.33},{"text":"Roko","start":4221.65,"end":4221.89},{"text":"Tui-Bau.","start":4222.13,"end":4223.13}]},{"text":"I hope I pronounced that 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representatives.","start":4235.41,"end":4240.53,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":4235.41,"end":4235.49},{"text":"you,","start":4235.57,"end":4235.73},{"text":"Madam","start":4235.73,"end":4235.81},{"text":"Chair,","start":4236.13,"end":4236.85},{"text":"Honorable","start":4237.17,"end":4237.57},{"text":"Minister,","start":4237.65,"end":4238.21},{"text":"distinguished","start":4238.45,"end":4238.53},{"text":"Excellencies","start":4238.85,"end":4239.41},{"text":"and","start":4239.57,"end":4239.65},{"text":"representatives.","start":4240.13,"end":4240.53}]},{"text":"Allow me to thank Malta, Antigua and Barbuda, Thank you, OHRLLS, for convening us this afternoon.","start":4241.25,"end":4247.57,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Allow","start":4241.25,"end":4241.49},{"text":"me","start":4241.57,"end":4241.65},{"text":"to","start":4241.81,"end":4241.89},{"text":"thank","start":4241.97,"end":4242.05},{"text":"Malta,","start":4242.85,"end":4243.17},{"text":"Antigua","start":4243.49,"end":4243.73},{"text":"and","start":4243.81,"end":4243.89},{"text":"Barbuda,","start":4243.97,"end":4244.37},{"text":"Thank","start":4244.61,"end":4244.69},{"text":"you,","start":4244.69,"end":4244.77},{"text":"OHRLLS,","start":4245.09,"end":4246.09},{"text":"for","start":4246.45,"end":4246.53},{"text":"convening","start":4246.85,"end":4247.01},{"text":"us","start":4247.09,"end":4247.17},{"text":"this","start":4247.25,"end":4247.33},{"text":"afternoon.","start":4247.49,"end":4247.57}]},{"text":"Also, to our fellow panelists for their valuable insights.","start":4248.77,"end":4251.49,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Also,","start":4248.77,"end":4248.85},{"text":"to","start":4249.17,"end":4249.25},{"text":"our","start":4249.25,"end":4249.33},{"text":"fellow","start":4249.41,"end":4249.49},{"text":"panelists","start":4249.81,"end":4249.89},{"text":"for","start":4250.29,"end":4250.37},{"text":"their","start":4250.45,"end":4250.53},{"text":"valuable","start":4250.61,"end":4250.69},{"text":"insights.","start":4251.25,"end":4251.49}]},{"text":"For Fiji and many Pacific Small Island Developing States, water security is climate security.","start":4252.21,"end":4257.81,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable 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on efficiency, close to half of the water we extract is some way 49% and is lost in distribution that reaches households.","start":4309.05,"end":4320.25,"topics":[{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding 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Kroes","affiliation":"ABW","affiliation_full":"Aruba","group":null,"function":"Director, Department of Foreign Affairs"}},{"statement_number":21,"start":4702.78,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=4703","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"I thank you.","start":4702.78,"end":4703.26,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"I","start":4702.78,"end":4702.86},{"text":"thank","start":4702.94,"end":4703.02},{"text":"you.","start":4703.18,"end":4703.26}]},{"text":"Thank you very much, Ms. Cruz, for offering Aruba's perspectives.","start":4705.18,"end":4708.62,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":4705.18,"end":4705.26},{"text":"you","start":4705.34,"end":4705.5},{"text":"very","start":4705.58,"end":4705.74},{"text":"much,","start":4705.82,"end":4705.9},{"text":"Ms.","start":4706.06,"end":4706.14},{"text":"Cruz,","start":4706.3,"end":4706.38},{"text":"for","start":4706.62,"end":4706.7},{"text":"offering","start":4706.94,"end":4707.02},{"text":"Aruba's","start":4707.66,"end":4708.06},{"text":"perspectives.","start":4708.3,"end":4708.62}]},{"text":"And now our final speaker for Our next speaker for this session is Mr. Ho Chian Kai from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Singapore.","start":4709.42,"end":4716.06,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"And","start":4709.42,"end":4709.5},{"text":"now","start":4709.58,"end":4709.66},{"text":"our","start":4709.74,"end":4709.82},{"text":"final","start":4709.98,"end":4710.06},{"text":"speaker","start":4710.3,"end":4710.38},{"text":"for","start":4710.46,"end":4710.54},{"text":"Our","start":4710.54,"end":4710.62},{"text":"next","start":4710.62,"end":4710.7},{"text":"speaker","start":4710.7,"end":4710.78},{"text":"for","start":4710.78,"end":4710.86},{"text":"this","start":4710.86,"end":4710.94},{"text":"session","start":4711.02,"end":4711.1},{"text":"is","start":4711.42,"end":4711.5},{"text":"Mr.","start":4711.66,"end":4711.9},{"text":"Ho","start":4712.3,"end":4712.38},{"text":"Chian","start":4712.7,"end":4712.86},{"text":"Kai","start":4713.1,"end":4713.26},{"text":"from","start":4713.82,"end":4713.9},{"text":"the","start":4713.9,"end":4714.06},{"text":"Ministry","start":4714.06,"end":4714.14},{"text":"of","start":4714.7,"end":4714.78},{"text":"Foreign","start":4715.18,"end":4715.34},{"text":"Affairs","start":4715.5,"end":4715.58},{"text":"of","start":4715.82,"end":4715.9},{"text":"Singapore.","start":4715.98,"end":4716.06}]},{"text":"Mr. Ho, the floor is yours.","start":4717.74,"end":4718.78,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Mr.","start":4717.74,"end":4717.82},{"text":"Ho,","start":4717.82,"end":4717.9},{"text":"the","start":4717.98,"end":4718.06},{"text":"floor","start":4718.14,"end":4718.22},{"text":"is","start":4718.3,"end":4718.38},{"text":"yours.","start":4718.46,"end":4718.78}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Tishka Francis","affiliation":"OHRLLS","affiliation_full":"OHRLLS","group":null,"function":"Head, SIDS Team"}},{"statement_number":22,"start":4720.14,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=4721","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you, Madam Chair.","start":4720.14,"end":4721.1,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":4720.14,"end":4720.22},{"text":"you,","start":4720.38,"end":4720.46},{"text":"Madam","start":4720.62,"end":4720.7},{"text":"Chair.","start":4720.94,"end":4721.1}]},{"text":"My thanks also to the distinguished panelists for their very informative presentations on the challenges and approaches to water management.","start":4721.82,"end":4729.26,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."}],"words":[{"text":"My","start":4721.82,"end":4721.9},{"text":"thanks","start":4722.06,"end":4722.14},{"text":"also","start":4722.38,"end":4722.46},{"text":"to","start":4722.86,"end":4722.94},{"text":"the","start":4723.02,"end":4723.1},{"text":"distinguished","start":4723.42,"end":4723.5},{"text":"panelists","start":4723.82,"end":4723.9},{"text":"for","start":4724.46,"end":4724.54},{"text":"their","start":4724.62,"end":4724.7},{"text":"very","start":4724.86,"end":4724.94},{"text":"informative","start":4725.18,"end":4725.5},{"text":"presentations","start":4725.9,"end":4726.22},{"text":"on","start":4726.54,"end":4726.62},{"text":"the","start":4727.18,"end":4727.26},{"text":"challenges","start":4727.42,"end":4727.5},{"text":"and","start":4727.82,"end":4727.9},{"text":"approaches","start":4728.06,"end":4728.14},{"text":"to","start":4728.62,"end":4728.7},{"text":"water","start":4728.86,"end":4728.94},{"text":"management.","start":4729.18,"end":4729.26}]},{"text":"Allow me to say a few brief words from Singapore's perspective.","start":4730.3,"end":4733.58,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Allow","start":4730.3,"end":4730.38},{"text":"me","start":4730.46,"end":4730.54},{"text":"to","start":4730.62,"end":4730.7},{"text":"say","start":4731.02,"end":4731.1},{"text":"a","start":4731.1,"end":4731.26},{"text":"few","start":4731.26,"end":4731.34},{"text":"brief","start":4731.66,"end":4731.82},{"text":"words","start":4731.98,"end":4732.06},{"text":"from","start":4732.38,"end":4732.46},{"text":"Singapore's","start":4732.7,"end":4733.26},{"text":"perspective.","start":4733.5,"end":4733.58}]},{"text":"As a small and densely populated island city-state with limited natural resources, Singapore is among the world's most water-stressed countries.","start":4734.7,"end":4743.11,"topics":[{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable development."}],"words":[{"text":"As","start":4734.7,"end":4734.78},{"text":"a","start":4735.02,"end":4735.1},{"text":"small","start":4735.42,"end":4735.5},{"text":"and","start":4735.66,"end":4735.74},{"text":"densely","start":4735.82,"end":4736.14},{"text":"populated","start":4736.39,"end":4736.71},{"text":"island","start":4737.11,"end":4737.19},{"text":"city-state","start":4737.51,"end":4737.91},{"text":"with","start":4738.07,"end":4738.15},{"text":"limited","start":4738.31,"end":4738.47},{"text":"natural","start":4738.79,"end":4738.87},{"text":"resources,","start":4739.43,"end":4739.51},{"text":"Singapore","start":4740.39,"end":4740.47},{"text":"is","start":4740.87,"end":4740.95},{"text":"among","start":4741.11,"end":4741.19},{"text":"the","start":4741.35,"end":4741.43},{"text":"world's","start":4741.51,"end":4741.91},{"text":"most","start":4741.91,"end":4741.99},{"text":"water-stressed","start":4742.31,"end":4742.79},{"text":"countries.","start":4743.03,"end":4743.11}]},{"text":"Despite this, decades of long-term planning by PUB, our national water agency, have given us a diversified water portfolio that positions us to adapt to the challenges of climate change while ensuring universal and predictable access to water.","start":4744.39,"end":4758.95,"topics":[{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."},{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island 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have progressively expanded our water sources beyond rainwater to include climate-resilient alternatives such as recycled and desalinated water, while consistently treating conservation as a core pillar of water security.","start":4759.91,"end":4773.56,"topics":[{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."},{"key":"wastewater-reuse","label":"Wastewater Reuse and Circular Water Systems","description":"A recurring topic was the treatment, recycling, and reuse of wastewater as a way to reduce pressure on freshwater sources, support agriculture, and advance more circular and resource-efficient water management systems."},{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and 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approach has been underpinned by sustained efforts to secure public buy-in on treating water use responsibly and efficiently.","start":4801.15,"end":4808.83,"topics":[{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and Inclusive Water Governance","description":"Speakers also underscored the importance of public trust, water literacy, conservation behavior, and inclusive planning so that water services and reforms are socially accepted, affordable, and responsive to vulnerable groups and community 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those from capitals who are traveling back, I wish you all a safe journey back.","start":5093.74,"end":5098.62,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"To","start":5093.74,"end":5093.82},{"text":"those","start":5093.9,"end":5093.98},{"text":"from","start":5094.94,"end":5095.02},{"text":"capitals","start":5095.18,"end":5095.58},{"text":"who","start":5095.82,"end":5095.98},{"text":"are","start":5095.98,"end":5096.06},{"text":"traveling","start":5096.14,"end":5096.22},{"text":"back,","start":5096.62,"end":5096.7},{"text":"I","start":5096.86,"end":5096.94},{"text":"wish","start":5097.02,"end":5097.1},{"text":"you","start":5097.18,"end":5097.26},{"text":"all","start":5097.34,"end":5097.42},{"text":"a","start":5097.66,"end":5097.74},{"text":"safe","start":5097.82,"end":5097.9},{"text":"journey","start":5098.14,"end":5098.22},{"text":"back.","start":5098.54,"end":5098.62}]},{"text":"Congratulations to the colleagues who have presented VNRs, and wishing us all a productive end to this year's 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much.","start":5107.46,"end":5108.26,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":5107.46,"end":5107.54},{"text":"you","start":5107.62,"end":5107.78},{"text":"so","start":5107.86,"end":5107.94},{"text":"much.","start":5108.02,"end":5108.26}]},{"text":"And with that— usually we do this— I close the meeting.","start":5108.26,"end":5111.14,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"And","start":5108.26,"end":5108.34},{"text":"with","start":5108.42,"end":5108.5},{"text":"that—","start":5108.66,"end":5108.74},{"text":"usually","start":5109.06,"end":5109.22},{"text":"we","start":5109.54,"end":5109.62},{"text":"do","start":5109.62,"end":5109.7},{"text":"this—","start":5109.86,"end":5109.94},{"text":"I","start":5110.42,"end":5110.5},{"text":"close","start":5110.66,"end":5110.74},{"text":"the","start":5110.9,"end":5110.98},{"text":"meeting.","start":5111.06,"end":5111.14}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Natasha Melly","affiliation":"MLT","affiliation_full":"Malta","group":null,"function":"Permanent Representative"}},{"statement_number":25,"start":5111.94,"pageUrl":"/en/asset/k1t/k1tp07s1hp?t=5112","paragraphs":[{"sentences":[{"text":"Thank you.","start":5111.94,"end":5112.26,"topics":[],"words":[{"text":"Thank","start":5111.94,"end":5112.02},{"text":"you.","start":5112.18,"end":5112.26}]}]}],"speaker":{"name":"Tishka Francis","affiliation":"OHRLLS","affiliation_full":"OHRLLS","group":null,"function":"Head, SIDS Team"}}],"topics":[{"key":"wastewater-reuse","label":"Wastewater Reuse and Circular Water Systems","description":"A recurring topic was the treatment, recycling, and reuse of wastewater as a way to reduce pressure on freshwater sources, support agriculture, and advance more circular and resource-efficient water management systems."},{"key":"water-security-sids","label":"Water Security in SIDS","description":"A central theme was the urgent need to secure reliable and sustainable water supplies in small island developing States, where water scarcity directly affects health, food security, tourism, livelihoods, and overall sustainable development."},{"key":"water-loss-reduction","label":"Water Loss Reduction and Network Efficiency","description":"Several speakers focused on high levels of non-revenue water, aging distribution systems, leakage detection, pressure management, smart metering, and digital monitoring as cost-effective ways to improve water security without only expanding production."},{"key":"climate-water-impacts","label":"Climate Impacts on Water Resources","description":"Speakers repeatedly highlighted how climate change is worsening droughts, rainfall variability, sea-level rise, saltwater intrusion, and other hazards that reduce both the quantity and quality of freshwater in island settings."},{"key":"technical-cooperation","label":"Technical Cooperation and Partnerships","description":"Partnerships among SIDS, international organizations, donors, and technical agencies were presented as essential for sharing expertise, accelerating implementation, building capacity, and translating policy commitments into practical solutions on the ground."},{"key":"water-finance-investment","label":"Water Finance and Infrastructure Investment","description":"Participants emphasized that resilient water systems require sustained financing for infrastructure, operations, maintenance, and innovation, including concessional finance, blended finance, climate finance, and in some cases tariff reform to ensure long-term viability."},{"key":"desalination-water-supply","label":"Desalination and Water Supply Diversification","description":"Desalination was discussed as a critical source of water for island States with limited freshwater, alongside broader efforts to diversify supply through groundwater, surface water, rainwater harvesting, and climate-resilient alternatives."},{"key":"public-awareness-inclusion","label":"Public Awareness and Inclusive Water Governance","description":"Speakers also underscored the importance of public trust, water literacy, conservation behavior, and inclusive planning so that water services and reforms are socially accepted, affordable, and responsive to vulnerable groups and community needs."},{"key":"integrated-water-management","label":"Integrated Water Resources Management","description":"Many interventions stressed that water challenges cannot be addressed in isolation and require integrated planning across sectors, institutions, ecosystems, and levels of government, in line with SDG 6 and the Antigua and Barbuda Agenda for SIDS."}]}}