US top envoy in Pakistan has said that not just the two governments but the two peoples would have to work together for solutions to the challenges of water, food and energy.
Addressing after opening a two-day Water-Energy-Food Security Nexus Conference, US Ambassador David Hale said, “Water, energy and food: three basic components of life… Complex processes are at work to bring us those essential elements and demographics and climate change are straining those processes. Together we need to generate new ideas, new partnerships and innovative solutions to meet this challenge,” he added.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Professor Ahsan Iqbal and Rector NUST Engineer Muhammad Asghar opened the Water, Energy, Food Security Nexus Conference on Tuesday at the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) in Islamabad.
The conference is designed to bring together experts to discuss the impact of climate change, population growth, economic development and increased consumption on water, energy and food security throughout the world and to develop possible solutions to some of these issues.
The two-day conference brought together policy experts, scientists and members of private sector businesses to discuss the links between water, energy and agriculture. Participants considered solutions for developing clear government policies and effective use of resources to ensure food, water and energy security. The conference highlighted continued cooperation between the US and Pakistan in these areas. The speakers referred to the meeting of President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in October 2015, which also discussed these issues.
“The importance of cooperation across borders to address global issues such as water and food security cannot be overstated,” Engineer Asghar said. “These are issues that cross borders and the solutions can benefit all people, regardless of where they live.”
The United States and Pakistan have a long history of energy cooperation and continue to work together to help attract private sector investments in natural gas and clean energy sources such as solar, wind, geothermal and hydro. Both nations pressed for an ambitious agreement on climate change at the Conference of Parties 21 in Paris in December and continue to work together on such issues through clean energy partnership and strategic dialogue.
