The Think Group adopts the views of the Arabian Gulf University for the G20 summit

Manama – AGU: The Think Group, one of the main groups at the G20 Summit, adopted the policy brief presented by the Water Resources Management Professor at the Arabian Gulf University (AGU), Dr. Waleed Zubari, and the general supervisor of the Riyadh Economic Forum and Professor at the King Saud University, Dr. Khalid Al-Ruwais, entitled “Approach to the Nexus between Water, Energy and Food Security: An Essential Enabler for Sustainable Development in the Middle East and North Africa.”

The policy brief recommended the establishment of a research network in the field of water, energy and food nexus to bridge the gap between science and policy formulation, and the creation of a forum for the best practices in governance for the nexus approach to bridge the gap in the institutional framework required for the application of the nexus approach. Finally, forming research and development teams to enhance the implementation of technologies related to the nexus approach, and to stimulate the private sector to bridge the investment gap by adopting and implementing innovative technological projects.

The policy brief paper was presented with the participation of Dr. Waleed Zubari in the Think Summit meeting held last week remotely, along with the participation of a group of scholars and specialists from around the world in preparation for the G20 Summit that will be held next November in Riyadh.

The Think Group works within the committees involved in drafting the strategic goals of the G20 Summit, which is considered to be the main forum for international economic cooperation and includes leaders from all continents representing developed and developing countries. The committee’s country representatives meet to discuss financial, social, and economic issues.

The Think Group is considered to be one of eight groups working to formulate the visions of the G20 Summit in various financial, social, and economic aspects. The G20 leaders commit themselves to create the conditions for the establishment of an inclusive and participatory group process by receiving relevant recommendations from relevant global civil society organisations that are organised accordingly in the participating groups. The Think Group works on liaising and collaborating with regional and international think tanks, which contribute to the G20 Summit through its work as the G20 Idea Bank. The group also provides research-based policy recommendations to the G20 Summit.

In addition, Dr. Waleed Zubari said in his intervention that there is a close connection between water, energy, and food security sectors in all regions of the world, and it is stronger in the Middle East and North Africa region. This is because the region is one of the most energy-intensive regions, characterised by water scarcity and food scarcity, which create many challenges in ensuring a balance between these three sectors.

Dr. Zubari added that this nexus is increasing with time due to the increase in the demand for resources due to population growth, changing consumption patterns, low efficiency in managing the three sectors' supply chains and industrial expansion, in addition to the expected impacts of climate change.

Dr. Zubari explained that trying to achieve security in one of these sectors independently without achieving balance with other sectors will jeopardise the sustainability of the three sectors. Moreover, modern solutions must be taken into account by producing clean and sustainable energy that preserves natural resources, which would not negatively affect the environment and meets the population’s basic needs for food and security.

In addition, Dr. Zubari pointed out that this can only be achieved through an enabling environment that works in its scientific aspect to enhance the role of scientific research in bridging the interconnected knowledge gap and supporting evidence-based policy making; thus, reducing trade-offs and benefitting from the synergies between the three sectors. Moreover, on the government side, this environment works on establishing appropriate interconnected institutional structures for planning and managing interconnectedness, and mechanisms for mainstreaming nexus policies in the existing sectoral policies. Furthermore, it develops capabilities by developing institutional and individual capabilities for planning and managing interconnections. Moreover, this environment would allow investments in drafting policies and legislation to stimulate the private sector to adopt and implement an innovative technology project linked with the World Economic Forum.

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© Press Release 2020