Published on 14 Nov 2023

NTU researcher hopes to help poorer countries have a sustainable water supply

Naeem NadzriAfter reading about floods that ravaged Pakistan (July 2022) and the aftermath that left it without clean water amidst the US$15.2 billion (S$20.7 billion) damage and 1,700 people lost lives. This disaster struck a note for researcher Naeem Nadzri, "“When it comes to a flood, you’d think that there’s water all around, but actually much of their water resources, such as lakes and rivers, are contaminated by debris and sedimentation,” he said.

“That got me thinking: With climate change worsening the intensity and frequency of these disasters, what would happen to the long-term water supply in these countries?” said Mr Naeem. 

The Pakistan disaster also gave him a mission in life and a PhD focus: The 26-year-old is working for his PhD in water research at the Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) Nanyang Environment and Water Research Institute, and hopes to be part of efforts to create sufficient freshwater resources for all the world’s populations, rich or poor. 
“Much more also has to be done in water governance – so that people know how to conserve the precious resource and use it sustainably. Water-intensive sectors like agriculture urgently need to cut their water use,” he said

He is part of a team of 20 young people under Singapore’s inaugural Climate Youth Development Programme who will be heading to COP28 in Dubai. The initiative was launched by the Government to help the team learn about the conference and understand how climate issues are discussed on the world stage. The UN-led talks will be held from Nov 30 to Dec 12.

The COP28 presidency has elevated water on its agenda, with a focus on restoring freshwater ecosystems, enhancing urban water resilience and bolstering water-resilient food systems.