Topic 2 – SDG 6 and managing wastewater pollution as a practical example of science and diplomacy
 

Speaker: Dr. Graham Alabaster (Head of the Geneva Office of UN Habitat)

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The Challenges: A Changing World :

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Dr. G. Alabaster (Head of Geneva Office, UN-Habitat) said that the demography of the world was changing very rapidly. Urbanization was taking place in many places on scales that had not been seen before, resulting in significant inequities that had been compounded by climate stresses, the full effects of which had yet to be seen. The resulting impact on food systems would be significant, with water becoming scarcer as a resource. Countries in Europe would begin to face some of the same scarcity problems as seen in the Middle East. One of the areas that lacked attention was the management of waste that came out of society. Fortunately, there was a Sustainable Development Goal dedicated specifically to water, as a result of previous efforts by multiple governments pushing in that regard. There was a sophisticated system in place to monitor aspects of the water cycle. All of the UN agencies that were responsible in that regard supported Member States in monitoring the Sustainable Development Goals. It was his responsibility, along with colleagues at the WHO, to manage the production of wastewater.

Looking back to 2019, achievement of the water-related Sustainable Development Goals was lagging behind, in particular in the Middle East and North Africa region, which was not surprising considering the region was well known for being water-short. Sustainable Development Goals Target 6.3 focused on halving the amount of pollution and discharge of untreated wastewater into the environment by 2030. The goal had two parts: wastewater management and the water quality of bodies of water. UN-Habitat focused its work on industrial wastewater, and the WHO focused its attention on the wastewater produced by households. In its most recent report, it was noted that only 42 countries had reported statistics on wastewater generation and treatment in 2015. UN-Habitat was particularly worried about the low level of reporting and its impact on all aspects of life in the future. Wastewater itself was also a complex issue. There were places in the world that had sewers that received water from toilets and from industry, combined with rainwater. It was particularly concerning to note the increasing levels of micropollutants and antibiotic residues found in wastewater. It was common knowledge that contaminants were affecting the environment, but the management process was not properly understood.

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The re-use of wastewater :

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Tackling water scarcity meant that demand for wastewater reuse would continue to grow. In many parts of the world, wastewater was used in the agricultural industry. The excreta produced by humans contained similar levels of the recommended nutrient levels required to raise crops and produce cereals. Nitrogen was one of the main components in fertilizer and was frequently used. Nitrogen-production processes had not changed significantly over the past century, and it was a particularly energy-intensive process. Very expensive fertilizer was therefore being produced, which was used to fertilize fields, which in turn was used to produce livestock, which humans then consumed. The intensive use of agriculture and the actual cost of production to the environment was concerning. According to research, 2 hectares of land were needed to produce 1 tonne of edible animal protein. Each tonne of protein required 50,000 m3 of fresh water, and produced 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide. Current processes were not sustainable from an environmental perspective. Based on such statistics, there was an opportunity to rethink the cycle and how nitrogen produced from livestock through their waste could be recycled to directly produce feedstock for animals. There were also possibilities to recycle human excreta to produce microbial proteins that ultimately could be made safe for human consumption. Understandably, there were certain hurdles to overcome, but it would be a good way to save many resources.

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Challenges of water pollution and food production :

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Science and diplomacy could come together to tackle the joint challenges of water pollution and food production, in particular as the topics were loosely connected in terms of antibiotic residues. A large proportion of residues were sourced from animals, and many farmers used antibiotics as a prophylaxis to stop animals becoming sick. A lot of antibiotic residues in wastewater came from intensive agricultural systems. Finding a way to recycle nitrogen and remove antibiotic residues from water would solve many problems, such as better use of energy and a more efficient food cycle. Quantum computing could play a role in such process. A new generation of materials and biological processes, themselves particularly complex, would need to be developed, and quantum computing could be used to help understand such processes. As an example, quantum computing could help to design a material that could entrap antibiotic residues or mimic the attachment processes of drugs. Under current methods, it could take many years for such materials to be designed and tested, but leveraging quantum computing could unlock possibilities to fast-track practical development solutions in cooperation with GESDA. In regard to nitrogen recycling, quantum computing could undertake the many calculations for modelling the reactions and complex biological processes involved.

Focusing on recycling both nitrogen and antibiotics could provide huge benefits to the environment and the health of both humans and animals, using less resources overall and producing less pollution. The issues involved were also multi-sectoral, and if investigating antibiotic residues from agriculture was the next step in development, it would require the involvement of health and agriculture ministries.

Mr. D. Naughten (Chair, IPU Working Group on Science and Technology), thanking Mr. Alabaster for his presentation, said that it was essential to translate the concepts outlined previously into practical applications locally so as to engage such communities accordingly so that they could drive the push towards change.

Ms. M. Hood (Executive Director Impact Translator, GESDA) said that the purpose of the Open Quantum Institute was to explore applications of quantum computing that would help in the achievement of the SDGs. Management and quality of wastewater was one such issue that had been developed together between GESDA and UN-Habitat. Quantum computing-inspired approaches could also support the optimization of logistics, in particular the distribution of aid, and in food security, by assessing what should be grown in what areas.

Mr. D. Naughten (Chair, IPU Working Group on Science and Technology) said that it was important to ensure that quantum computing could be deployed effectively, in particular in parts of the world where it would make a real difference and where there were huge pressures on current water resources. He asked what actions could be taken to ensure that there was adequate knowledge transfer to such areas. He asked what steps could be taken to ensure the technology was not controlled by big industry, in particular by fertilizer manufacturers who would not want such technology being developed.

Dr. G. Alabaster (Head of Geneva Office, UN-Habitat) said that actions should be taken at all stages, including inception. UN-Habitat involved partners from different parts of the world to ensure that knowledge was shared as widely as possible. There was no reason why such systems, however, could not be developed in other regions. As an example, Kenya was the first place to develop mobile phone banking via the M-PESA system, before anywhere else in the world. It would be logical to assume that developments would take root in places with the greatest demand, especially in places where there was the greatest need to reuse wastewater or large amounts of money were spent on fertilizers. As a UN agency, UN-Habitat had to ensure that information on technology developments and the basic rules of use were shared in an open platform to prevent any form of patents being held.

Mr. D. Naughten (Chair, IPU Working Group on Science and Technology)  said that the mechanisms put forward were particularly innovative as they not only offered the possibility to reuse and clean water, but also produced the protein that human development required and improved overall air quality.

Mr. M. Omar (IPU) asked if there were any case studies in relation to wastewater management with demonstrated results that could be shared and offered to parliamentarians, and if legislation in fact helped in that regard. He asked if there was a particular need for parliamentary networks to help address gaps in legislation, and if there were any legislative framework that could serve as a model.

Dr. G. Alabaster (Head of Geneva Office, UN-Habitat) said that the WHO regulations in regard to the reuse of wastewater were extremely strict. In the example of Jordan, which used approximately 94% of its wastewater, there was particularly effective legislation and a system that promoted the reuse of water. Jordanian legislation was also more well adapted to the local context, compared to the WHO’s standards. Examples from different parts of the world could help, but they should be applicable to the local context and local purposes, which may or may not require such stringent standards as set by the WHO.

Enforcement of legislation in regard to wastewater and pollution, however, was incredibly difficult. There were huge opportunities for communities to get more involved. It was usually the poorest whose water resources were affected by industrial pollution. It was essential to establish initiatives to get communities involved and guide them in how they could play a role in monitoring the local environment. UN-Habitat was ready to offer support to countries and governments in that regard.

Mr. M. Omar (IPU) asked if there were any specific incentives for countries to utilize such applied technology and intellectual property on waste management-related projects. He asked if more focused scientific research was needed on water.

Dr. G. Alabaster (Head of Geneva Office, UN-Habitat) said that there was a tendency around the world to adopt the latest high-tech solutions for wastewater management, when in fact, it was not always the most appropriate method for many countries. Significant work was required in developing nature-based solutions, such as wastewater treatment, in particular if the aim was to treat wastewater to subsequently be reused in agriculture. Nature-based solutions may be low-tech solutions, but they were biologically complex. Significant optimization could be carried out to address pollution issues and climate issues, such as stormwater and flooding management.