Bali:The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) participated in the 11th GEF Biennial International Waters Conference, held in Bali, Indonesia. This event, organized by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), saw significant contributions from EAD in promoting integrated water governance through its Source-to-Sea initiative.
According to Wam, Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of EAD and Vice Chair of the Global Council on SDG 14, was a keynote speaker at the conference's opening ceremony. She led a side event titled 'From Source to Large Marine Ecosystems Where Water Meets Life', attended by experts, policymakers, and international organization representatives.
Dr. Al Dhaheri emphasized the importance of managing water resources and the marine environment under a single regulatory authority. Her presentation highlighted Abu Dhabi's experience and the role of evidence-based governance in connecting freshwater management with marine ecosystem protection, supporting SDG 6 on clean water and sanitation and SDG 14 on life below water.
The Source-to-Sea initiative, launched by EAD, promotes integrated water governance, treating water as a connected system from inland sources to the ocean. It aims to enhance cooperation and expertise exchange in water and environmental challenges, showcasing Abu Dhabi's strategies in water management and marine ecosystem protection.
This initiative started at the UN High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York in July, continued in Seoul in September, and reached its third chapter in Bali. These efforts are part of the preparatory activities for the 2026 UN Water Conference, which the UAE will co-host with Senegal in Abu Dhabi from December 8th to 10th, 2026.
