Even in the most optimistic scenario, the central regions of Azerbaijan will face water scarcity, Meike van Ginneken, the special envoy on water issues from the Netherlands, stated this during her speech on “Turning Water into a Climate Change Adaptation Engine” at ADA University, APA reports.
Highlighting the significant impact of climate change on water resources, the Dutch official discussed the role of water in the adaptation process to climate change: “More than 90 percent of water sources are natural, but in recent decades, water sources have faced the consequences of climate change.”
She also spoke about Azerbaijan during her presentation.
“In the most optimistic scenario, central regions of Azerbaijan will face water scarcity,” she stated.
The Dutch official emphasized that Azerbaijan should work in various directions to address the water problems it faces due to climate change. This includes modernizing hydraulic systems, renewing irrigation systems, and implementing new technologies:
“It is als
o important to assist agriculture and small businesses in the adaptation process. At the same time, energy transition can reduce water demand,” she noted.
The Netherlands’ Special Envoy on Water Issues also spoke about COP29: “COP29 will focus on financial matters. There are significant gaps in finance, and we must ensure the mobilization of public, private, international, and national finances,” she emphasized.
She highlighted that expenditures on adaptation processes should be increased:
“We will work with Azerbaijan to ensure the success of COP29 and achieve its goals,” she underscored.
Source: Azeri-Press news agency