Cairo Water Week 2024

EU AQUA DIALOGUE

16 October 2024

Opening Remarks by Ambassador Christian Berger, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt

As we all know, water is life. It is the foundation of all ecosystems, and yet, as we speak, millions of people worldwide struggle to access clean and safe water. Here in Egypt and across the Mediterranean, water scarcity is a daily reality. Climate change is further exacerbating these challenges, creating more frequent droughts, floods, and water shortages. The numbers are alarming—by 2050, it is estimated that 1.8 billion people will be living in areas of absolute water scarcity. This is why today’s conversations are so vital.

But today is not just about challenges—it’s about solutions and opportunities, and the essential role you, the youth, play in this journey. The European Union recognises that you are the driving force behind the innovations that will solve these problems. The solutions must be local, sustainable, and powered by the creativity of young water entrepreneurs and innovators, just like you.

In this spirit, I am excited to announce the launch of several important initiatives today that will further support your journey and amplify your voices in the global water discourse.

As part of the Team Europe Initiative for Integrated Water and Food Security, I am proud to announce the launch of the EU Water Goodwill Ambassadors Program. Through this initiative, young leaders like yourselves will be appointed as EU Young Water Ambassadors, tasked with advocating for water conservation and climate resilience across Egypt and beyond. This platform will empower you to work alongside the EU delegation, local governments, and international organizations, making a real impact on the ground.

Additionally, we are launching the H2O Incubation Hub to foster young water entrepreneurs and innovators. The Hub will serve as a springboard for your ideas, offering resources, mentorship, and funding to develop projects that address water scarcity, wastewater management, and sustainable agriculture. This initiative reflects the EU’s commitment to investing in youth-driven solutions, ensuring that innovative technologies are part of the solution to the water crisis.

We understand that lasting solutions must be locally driven. That’s why the EU is committed to supporting Egypt’s Ownership Policy by ensuring that these initiatives are tailored to local communities and reflect Egypt’s priorities. By empowering young people through education, skills training, and entrepreneurship, we are building a resilient future.

To close, I want to leave you with a challenge. I encourage each of you to use this platform to innovate, to lead, and to push boundaries. We need you to be bold in your thinking and brave in your actions. The solutions to the water crisis will come from people like you—young innovators, entrepreneurs, and advocates who are willing to take risks and create change.