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UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme in Asia and the Pacific reaffirms commitment and calls for action in advancing water security
On 29-31 October 2024, the Republic of Korea hosted the 31st session of UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) Regional Steering Committee Meeting for Asia and the Pacific (RSC-AP). Leaders and water experts from 17 Member States in the region reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening regional collaboration and announced a ‘Call to Action’ to advance their common efforts to achieve a water secure world. This gathering highlighted the need for a coordinated response to the growing challenges of water scarcity and pollution, climate-induced disruptions impacting communities and ecosystems across Asia-Pacific, among others.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Mr Kim Kue-bum, the Director General of Water Resources Policy Bureau, the Ministry of Environment of Republic of Korea, stressed the urgency of ensuring water security across the region. His statement, echoed by water experts and policymakers in attendance, highlighted the region’s growing recognition of the need for science-based solutions for water security amid rising pressures linked to climate change.
The 31st RSC-AP meeting provides a valuable forum for sharing scientific knowledge and building strong partnerships within the Asia-Pacific.
Key Initiative for a Water-Secure Future
This meeting also served as a platform to introduce UNESCO’s Water Science Frontiers, presented by Prof Joo-Heon Lee, Vice-Chair of IHP National Committee of the Republic of Korea. This initiative aligns with the ‘game changer’ idea proposed by UNESCO IHP at the UN 2023 Water Conference and encourages countries to adopt science-based water management practices.
One of the key outcomes of the session was the development of a roadmap leading up to the 50th anniversary of IHP, set to be celebrated in 2025. Ms Rahmah Elfithri, Chief of Capacity Development and Water Family Coordination Section, Division of Water Sciences from UNESCO HQ, presented plans that are under development for the commemoration and invited the Water Family in the region to follow suit. The roadmap offered an opportunity for countries across Asia and the Pacific to reflect on progress, share best practices, and enhance collaborative efforts to address water security challenges.
At the end of the session, the members of the RSC-AP unanimously elected Assoc. Prof. Pham Thi Thanh Nga, Director General of the Viet Nam Institution of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change (IMHEN), as the new chairperson of the RSC-AP. Assoc. Prof. Pham Thi Thanh Nga took the floor as she accepted the chairpersonship and invited the members of RSC-AP to Vietnam in 2025 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of IHP and organize the 32nd session of the RSC-AP.
Tackling Water Scarcity and Climate Risks
On 29th October, the host country organized a series of IHP-IX special sessions, including a Roundtable and a Poster Session. Water experts and professionals discussed and elaborated on the future direction of the RSC-AP in the coming decisive years. These sessions further highlighted the RSC’s overarching goals and showcased key achievements of its members such as developing advanced hydrological monitoring systems, implementing water conservation projects, improving water quality and health of ecosystems, promoting research and innovation. International collaboration and technological innovation, including the use of AI and remote sensing, are central to ongoing efforts.
On 30th October, delegates representing the IHP National Committees from 17 Member States, water-related Category 2 Centres under the auspices of UNESCO, water-related UNESCO Chairs, and water networks across Asia and the Pacific, attended the 31st Session of the RSC-AP Meeting. In addition, it is noteworthy that the 31st session welcomed a representative from the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), which served as the coordinator of the sub-regional sessions for the Pacific Island countries in the 10th World Water Forum. Mr. Andreas Antoniou, Senior Hydrogeologist from the SPC shared the overall view of water challenges in the Pacific Island States with RSC-AP members. Setting the scene, Mr Engin Koncagul, Senior Programme Specialist in UNESCO Regional Office, Jakarta, presented IHP’s ongoing work to advance scientific frontiers in the water domain, by supporting member states in applying scientific advancements, developing methodologies to integrate uncertainties linked to climate variability in water management, promoting citizen science and open science, establishing a robust international water information network system among others. Participants engaged in dynamic discussions and information exchange on the current status, challenges and opportunities during the implementation of IHP Phase IX.
Participants also took part in the 7th Workshop on the Catalogue of Hydrologic Analysis (CHA). This workshop offered a platform for contributors to discuss and plan for CHA Volume 4, which will focus on “Water Shortage and Scarcity, and Drought”. The upcoming volume will explore a range of water scarcity challenges emerging in different forms across diverse landscapes and hydrometeorological conditions in Asia and the Pacific, ensuring continuity with and relevance to previous themes (Previous volumes of CHA: , , ).
As part of the event, participants were invited to a field visit to the Han River, an iconic river in Seoul. The trip included a visit to the Han River Flood Control Office, which manages floods systematically via hydrological surveys, data transmission, flood analysis, and forecasting. The tour also showed a state-of-the-art example of using an AI-based monitoring system, which enables an increase in field monitoring stations. The next visit was to the Sinwol Rainwater Tunnel beneath Seoul City. This deep underground tunnel, the only kind in the Republic of Korea, is a drainpipe with an underground water storage with a capacity of 320,000 m3, could successfully reduce the flood risks in Seoul since its completion in 2010 by temporarily storing and bypassing rainwater during the extreme weather events.
The meeting was hosted by the Water Resources Policy Bureau, the Ministry of Environment and the UNESCO IHP National Committee of the Republic of Korea, facilitated by the IHP RSC-AP Secretariat at the UNESCO Regional Office in Jakarta and supported by Japanese Funds-in-Trust (JFIT).
About IHP
Founded in 1975, the UNESCO IHP is the only intergovernmental cooperation programme of the UN system dedicated to water research and management, and related education and capacity development. It addresses water challenges at national, regional, and global levels, promoting sustainable water resources management and resilient societies in a changing environment.
The IHP Regional Steering Committee (RSC-AP) was established in 1993 to enhance coordination among water professionals In the Asia and Pacific region and improve cooperation on water issues. Since its inception, the UNESCO Water Family in the region has grown into a strong network, offering training, technical support, and expertise to Member States, partners, and UNESCO offices to tackle water challenges and promote sustainable management.
