Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 10, 2023 — On a significant day dedicated to water discussions at COP28, the Department of Energy Abu Dhabi (DOE Abu Dhabi), proud host of the IDRA 2024 World Congress, joined hands with the International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) to lead a pivotal conversation addressing the global challenge of water scarcity in the face of climate change. This collaboration emphasizes a commitment to exploring innovative technical solutions that can combat and mitigate the impacts of water scarcity.
The panel discussion, led by Ms. Shannon McCarthy, IDRA Secretary-General, featured esteemed experts from key stakeholder organizations:
- Mr. Fady Juez, IDRA President
- Dr. Shamma Al-Malek, Director of Strategy Development, Abu Dhabi Department of Energy
- Mr. Ahmed Khalid Othman, Executive Director for Strategy & Policy, ADAFSA
- Dr. Shadi Hasan, Director at the Center for Membranes & Advanced Water Technology, Khalifa University
- Mr. Bruce Smith, Director of Strategy & Planning, EWEC
The dialogue centered around the interconnectivity of water, energy, food, and climate and highlighted the imperative for cross-sectoral collaboration to address water scarcity. Panelists delved into pressing issues related to innovation in desalination and water reuse, focusing on reducing costs, minimizing carbon footprints, managing brine discharge, ensuring water resources for food production, and enhancing water reuse by industries to foster a circular water economy.
Water scarcity is a universal challenge that impacts communities worldwide. The collaborative efforts of IDRA and DOE Abu Dhabi aim to drive positive change and establish a sustainable future for all. As part of this initiative, IDRA invites industry experts, researchers, and innovators to submit extended abstracts for the IDRA 2024 World Congress, scheduled to be hosted by the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy from December 8-12, 2024, at ADNEC. The submission deadline is January 15, 2024. For more information, please visit wc.idadesal.org.
“Over the last fifty years, the IDRA has been committed to helping safeguard water sources and positively impact water for food security, industrial processes, and municipal requirements through the responsible use of desalination and reuse solutions coupled with renewable energy where possible. The 2024 IDRA World Congress will bring together public and private sector experts in all facets of desalination, reuse, and energy solutions to share their insights, innovations, and solutions to tackle the challenge of water scarcity. We are honored to be hosted by the Department of Energy Abu Dhabi for the IDRA 2024 IDRA World Congress and look forward to working with them to prepare a spectacular and innovative gathering in December 2024,” stated Shannon McCarthy, Executive Director, IDRA.
Join the conversation and make a difference: #IDRA #COP28 #Sustainability #WaterAction #Desalination #WaterReuse #AbuDhabiDOE #WaterSecurity
For media inquiries, please contact:
Haifa Shaar at easg@idadesal.org
