Today I share with the Linkedin community my speech at the Global Water Awards 2023 Gala Dinner.
“Dear colleagues,
I am delighted to be able to open the Global Water Awards Gala in such a wonderful city as Berlin.
It is an honor to welcome and salute the companies and professionals working for excellence in the water sector, bringing technologies, experience, knowledge, and value to the water cycle chain.
As a Spanish citizen, I want to mention the deep drought we are leaving, which is affecting both our country and the rest of the countries in the world. Newspapers called 2022 the year of the drought, the hottest year in Europe, but already in 2023, we are even in the worst scenario.
The full impact of the global climate emergency can already be seen in April’s record temperatures, more frequent episodes of scarcity, drastic reduction in food production, rising raw material costs,and natural disasters such as fires and scorching heat waves.
We are already in a dramatic situation and need significant changes in water management and how we do business.
2023 is a landmark year, including the United Nations Water Conference. World leaders, civil society, and private and public water company representatives have intervened to call for innovative solutions to the global water crisis. As a united and globalized society, we must cooperate to protect, sustainably manage and ensure universal access to water.
Water must be at the center of the global political agenda because the future of humanity depends on it, and it is our job as members of the water sector to make this happen. From this fantastic event today, we must transmit to the world that we are working to provide new technologies, knowledge, skilled people, and passion for ensuring that water is appropriately valued in this society.
Achieving Sustainable Development Goal number 6 is crucial to achieving other water-related SDG targets, such as eradicating poverty, achieving food security, ensuring healthy lives and well-being, access to affordable and sustainable energy for all, and reducing inequalities within and between countries, to name but a few examples.
The United Nations has confirmed that non-conventional water resources, such as desalination and reuse, are crucial to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 and ensuring access to water as a universal right. Of course, all of us in this room have known this for decades, but we applaud, albeit belatedly, the recognition of these technologies for a shared future.
But there is still much to be done. From more international cooperation between all public and private bodies, more robust political will, and more awareness of the importance of water as an indispensable resource for life through a change in consumption habits and business-as-usual attitudes, ending with more significant funding for the development and improvement of water infrastructures. Water is a common good, and it is in our hands to preserve and respect it.
And this path already began years ago in the water sector companies, which tonight, thanks to their efforts and dedication, will be awarded for their excellent work. From this platform, I congratulate you all and encourage you to continue working for a more sustainable future for all of us.”
