NTU researcher hopes to help poorer countries have a sustainable water supply
After reading about floods that ravaged Pakistan (July 2022) and the aftermath that left it without clean water amidst the US$15.2 billion (S$20.7 billion) damage and 1,700 people lost lives. This disaster struck a note for researcher Naeem Nadzri, "“When it comes to a flood, you’d think that there’s water all around, but actually much of their water resources, such as lakes and rivers, are contaminated by debris and sedimentation,” he said.
“That got me thinking: With climate change worsening the intensity and frequency of these disasters, what would happen to the long-term water supply in these countries?” said Mr Naeem.
He is part of a team of 20 young people under Singapore’s inaugural Climate Youth Development Programme who will be heading to COP28 in Dubai. The initiative was launched by the Government to help the team learn about the conference and understand how climate issues are discussed on the world stage. The UN-led talks will be held from Nov 30 to Dec 12.
The COP28 presidency has elevated water on its agenda, with a focus on restoring freshwater ecosystems, enhancing urban water resilience and bolstering water-resilient food systems.