Retno-Marsudi
The United Nations Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Water Issues, Retno Marsudi said water is an important element to achieve sustainable development goals (SDGs), but warned of three global challenges related to water − excessive water supply, shortages, and contaminated water conditions due to pollution.
"Too much (water) flooding, in 2023, UN data recorded 32 million people affected by flooding in just one year. 680 million people living in coastal zones, threatened by rising sea levels," Retno said on Wednesday, March 26, 2025.
She cited that in terms of water shortages, the world has lost 903 tons of water or the largest in the last 50 years due to the loss of glaciers. Glaciers are one of the main sources of fresh water in the world.
This condition causes sea levels to rise by 20 centimeters (cm) or higher when compared to the 1900 period.
Meanwhile, another problem is related to drought. In 2023, there are 29.4 million people receiving serious threats of drought and 700 million people are at risk of being displaced.
"And by 2050, 3 out of 4 of the world's population will be affected by drought," she said.
Retno cited that water pollution was also a major concern, with as many as 3 billion people worldwide living at risk from contaminated water.
"That is also a big challenge faced by water throughout the world. Not only in Indonesia but throughout the world," she concluded
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