From left to right: Prof Tony Wong, Professor, Sustainable Development, Monash University; Prof Cecilia Tortajada, Professor in Practice - Environmental Innovation, School of Social & Environmental Sustainability, University of Glasgow.Water is a fundamental resource that holds the key to both urban sustainability and climate resilience. As the world confronts the escalating challenges of climate change, efficient and equitable water management emerges as a critical factor in mitigating environmental impact and fostering resilient urban environments.
The complex interplay between water management, climate action, and the pursuit of global sustainability goals was a key focus of a recent session at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy's Festival of Ideas 2024. The session, “Water as an Enabler of Sustainable Development” featured insights from LKYSPP’s Adjunct Senior Research Fellow
Dr Cecilia Tortajada and Monash University’s Professor Tony Wong.
Water as a Strategic Enabler for Achieving SDGs
Professor Wong underscores the deep and inextricable link between water management and the realisation of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He highlighted the pervasive influence of water across the SDG framework, stating that “of the 169 SDG targets, water directly influences 50 of them. This impact extends far beyond SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), highlighting how water permeates through all the others.”
“When you look even deeper, we find that it also enables another 34 SDG targets. Now if you add them up, water directly or indirectly influences half the SDG targets,” he said.
This interconnectedness underscores the strategic importance of incorporating robust and adaptive water management strategies into broader sustainable development agendas.
Professor Wong said a paradigm shift is occurring: “when we shift from a focus on climate mitigation to climate adaptation, we suddenly realise that it’s not just an energy question anymore, it’s not a fossil fuel question anymore—it’s about how we create the capacity for climate impact adaptation.”
Dr Tortajada emphasised the urgency of this challenge within a landscape of shrinking freshwater resources. "We don’t discuss what the small amount of fresh water means in a sense of socioeconomic development and protection of the environment,” she said.
Global water availability per capita is decreasing, with significant implications for essential sectors such as agriculture and infrastructure, ultimately impacting livelihoods and exacerbating existing inequalities. She highlighted the uneven distribution of these impacts, stating that climate change "has more or less impact depending on the institutions, governance aspects, and the capacity not only to protect people, but also for people to survive."
The Singapore Model: Water Management Innovation
Singapore's comprehensive and innovative approach to water management, particularly its ‘Four National Taps’ strategy, was presented as a potential model for achieving urban resilience and climate adaptation in the face of resource constraints. This multi-pronged approach, encompassing local catchment water, imported water, NEWater (reclaimed water), and desalinated water, demonstrates a commitment to water security and self-sufficiency.
The conversation further explored how Singapore's approach to water management integrates sustainability with liveability through initiatives like the ABC (Active, Beautiful, Clean) Waters Programme, transforming stormwater management into opportunities for community engagement and urban beautification. The naturalisation of the Kallang Canal at Bishan Park exemplifies this approach, showcasing how flood management infrastructure can be seamlessly integrated with public spaces to enhance urban liveability.
Adapting Global Solutions: The Significance of Local Context
While Singapore’s water management model is world-renowned, the speakers stressed that global solutions must be adapted to local contexts. Professor Wong said, “there's no point expecting a nation with a different level of technical capacity to embrace the type of technology we offer.”
Professor Tortajada underscored the importance of context by comparing China and India, two countries with populations exceeding one billion but with vastly different approaches to water management. She highlighted China’s focus on water conservation, water production, digitalisation, AI, and capacity building as part of its 14th five-year plan, contrasting it with India’s approach. This compares how different national contexts and priorities shape water management strategies.
The case of Kunshan, China, further illustrated this need for context-specific adaptation. Professor Tortajada questioned the feasibility of applying a one-size-fits-all approach to water governance. As a canal city facing unique geographical and water quality challenges, Kunshan employed a combination of natural infrastructure (wetlands) and digital technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT) to monitor and manage water quality through wetland filtration systems. This approach was key to the importance of integrating technology with an understanding of local conditions.
Cross-Sector Collaboration: A Key to Success
Water management is not the responsibility of a single entity. It requires collaboration across sectors, including government, private industry, academia, and local communities. The discussion highlighted the importance of fostering partnerships between different stakeholders to drive innovation and implement effective water solutions.
Professor Wong stressed the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, suggesting that governments should foster coordination while the private sector contributes innovative solutions. He also emphasised the critical role of community engagement in co-designing water management policies and strategies, ensuring that solutions are grounded in local realities and addressing community needs.
Professor Tortajada added a crucial dimension to this discourse, highlighting that successful collaboration hinges on effective governance and robust institutions. This is particularly important when considering the disparities in capacity between developed and developing nations. She argued that bridging this gap necessitates focusing on strengthening institutions and building capacity, particularly in regions facing acute water challenges.
Water and Climate Adaptation: The Future Challenges
The discussion also addressed future challenges related to climate change, particularly the increased frequency of extreme weather events such as floods and droughts. With the advent of more intense rainfall and rising sea levels, urban areas are facing unprecedented threats to their water security and infrastructure.
Professor Wong highlighted the importance and complexity of cities when it comes to water management, claiming, “working in cities is incredibly complex. It is complex because cities are a melting pot of all the challenges that we talk about, but it is also the melting pot of all the disciplinary inputs that need to come together to solve that problem.”
As climate change intensifies, the need to prioritise sustainable water management as a cornerstone of resilient and equitable urban futures becomes increasingly urgent. The insights shared during the session underline that sustainable water management requires a combination of technological innovation, community engagement, and cross-sector collaboration. As cities around the world continue to face increasing challenges from climate change, water management will remain a central focus for building sustainable and resilient urban environments.
This article is produced as part of a series in conjunction with
Festival of Ideas 2024.