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The UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo is set to convene a groundbreaking event—an Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) Webinar on "Towards Sustainable and Affordable Desalination in the Arab Region." Scheduled for January 30, 2024, under the esteemed tutelage of H.E. Prof. Dr. Hani Swelam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation of Egypt, the event will unfold at the Regional Center for Training and Water Studies, 6 October, and simultaneously on the Zoom platform. The backdrop of this event is rooted in the pressing water scarcity crisis gripping the Arab region. Exacerbated by factors such as limited rainfall, soaring temperatures, and burgeoning population, the region grapples with unsustainable water withdrawals, especially from groundwater. The detrimental effects of climate change, desertification, and biodiversity loss further compound the challenges. In response, nations have turned to non-conventional water resources, prominently desalination, to bridge the widening gap between water supply and demand. Delving into the history of desalination, the event acknowledges its ancient roots, from Greek sailors boiling seawater for potable use to the industrial-scale deployment initiated in the 1970s. By 2022, the global desalination capacity reached a staggering 95.0 million m3/day, with the Arab Region hosting nearly 70% of this capacity. However, despite technological advancements lowering costs, the challenges persist, especially for developing countries facing water scarcity, coupled with environmental concerns related to brine disposal and thermal pollution. Recognizing the urgency of addressing these challenges, the UNESCO Regional Office in Cairo, mandated by the Arab Ministerial Council on Water, will lead a regional IHP initiative. The initiative aims to advise Arab Member States on low-cost desalination solutions, particularly tailored for their needs. To inaugurate this pivotal initiative, the upcoming hybrid event will host experts, delve into research on reducing desalination costs, explore greener desalination avenues leveraging renewable energy, and formulate recommendations for policymakers. The event aspires to foster regional cooperation and strategic vision to navigate the complexities of sustainable desalination in the Arab Region.

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