Course info

At the 11th session of this webinar series, we invited Prof. Jeff Camkin, Adjunct Professor at the University of Western Australia’s Institute of Agriculture and the International Water Centre and Griffith University, Australia, and Prof. Soontak Lee, Distinguished Professor of Yeungnam University, Korea, President of International Hydrologic Environmental Society (IHES), and Governor of World Water Council (WWC). 

Prof. Shahbaz Khan, the Director of UNESCO Regional Science Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, started the session by requesting the guests to provide their perspectives on water inequality issues. Prof. Lee referred to SDG 10 and SDG 6, indicating that water inequality is one of the various inequality issues, and is created by lack of available water, good management, investment, and political awareness. Prof. Camkin indicated that “equity” is a better term than “equality” to be used in this context. Although both terms promote fairness, “equity” achieves it through supporting people differently depending on their needs. Governments are tasked to facilitate water equity for all to ensure basic human rights.

With looking back at the history of IHP activities in the region, Prof Lee explained that IHP 8 selected water security as a central issue, considering its wider scope than water scarcity. Prof. Camkin stressed that governments are responsible for ensuring good governance, but governance is for all people. Multi-disciplinary approach, consideration of various types of knowledge, and the participation of all relevant stakeholders are introduced as key elements for successful governance.  

The question remains as to how we can ensure water security and investment in water in the post-pandemic world. Professors responded that the IHP programme has to develop cooperative actions, utilize the networks which were developed and maintained by JFIT and other support, and assist local transformation by looking at the issues through the local lens.