Latest news with #watersecurity
The Independent
an hour ago
- General
- The Independent
Al Qaida terrorists tried to poison UK water supply, says ex-security minister
An al Qaida militant cell sought to poison London's water supplies but were thwarted by the security services, a former counter-terrorism minister has revealed. Details of the foiled 2008 extremist plot were given by Lord West of Spithead, who was in office at the time, as the Government was tackled at Westminster over steps to protect the Britain's reservoirs against attack by hostile forces. It follows the publication of comprehensive military plans to safeguard the UK in the face of threats from Vladimir Putin's Russia and China. Sir Keir Starmer said the strategic defence review (SDR), published earlier this week, would create a 'battle-ready, armour-clad' nation. The move comes against the backdrop of ongoing concerns about the vulnerability of critical national infrastructure to attack. Pressed in Parliament over whether there had ever been an attempt or a plan uncovered to contaminate the UK's water supply, environment minister Baroness Hayman of Ullock said: 'My understanding is that there has not been such an incident, but that does not mean that we should be complacent. 'We know that our water and energy infrastructure are both potentially vulnerable to hostile attacks.' But moving to correct his frontbench colleague, Lord West, who served as Home Office minister for security and counter-terrorism from 2007 to 2010, said: 'In 2008 there was an attempt by eight al Qaida operatives to poison north London water supplies. 'I am pleased to say that our agencies worked brilliantly to stop it happening.' The former Navy chief, who sits on Parliament's Intelligence and Security Committee, added: 'As a result, in the Home Office we put in hand a whole series of work on police response times, indicators of where the outflows from reservoirs went and new barriers. 'Where has all that work gone? These things somehow seem to disappear. There should be some reports, and hopefully someone did something about it.' Responding, Lady Hayman said: 'That is extremely interesting and very helpful of my noble friend. I will certainly look into it, because it is an important point.' Earlier, the minister told peers: 'The Government's first duty is to protect our national security and keep our country safe. 'Defra (the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) recognises that the drinking water supply is a potential target for hostile actors. 'It works with water companies and partners across Government to understand and monitor threats to water supply and to consider responses as appropriate to protect the security of our water system.' But Labour peer Lord Harris of Haringey, who is chairman of the National Preparedness Commission, said: 'I wonder whether her department is being a tad complacent in talking simply about monitoring the threat rather than looking at what practical arrangements can be made. 'For example, how do we deal with a drone which is flown over a reservoir and deposits something in there? 'The panic effects of that being known to have happened and not necessarily knowing what the substance is would be enormous.' Lady Hayman said: 'Tackling the diverse range of state threats – not just drones but many other threats – requires a cross-government and cross-society response. 'We need to draw on the skills, the resources and the remits of different departments and operational partners. 'In Defra, we work closely to look at the threats and the appropriate levels of response, specifically drawing on expert advice from the National Protective Security Authority, the National Cyber Security Centre and the Home Office, as well as carrying out threat assessment with policing partners.' Former Metropolitan Police chief Lord Hogan-Howe, who led the UK's largest force from 2011 to 2017, said: 'For about 15 years, I have been worried about the water supply – the large and small reservoirs, the pipes that connect them and, of course, the water treatment plants. 'I worry that there is sometimes confusion between the Home Office, Defra and others about who is looking after security.' The independent crossbencher added: 'It needs to be higher in the priorities than it presently appears.' In reply, the minister said: 'I can assure him that we discuss these matters with the Home Office. 'One thing that we have been trying hard to do in Defra and other departments since we came into government is to work better across Government.'
National Post
6 days ago
- Business
- National Post
Orbia's Time4Water Volunteering Campaign Wins International CSR Excellence Award
Article content BOSTON — Orbia has been named a winner in the prestigious International CSR Excellence Awards for its 2024 Time4Water campaign, a global volunteering initiative dedicated to building awareness and action around the responsible use of water across communities and ecosystems worldwide. The International CSR Excellence Awards recognize companies that lead with responsibility and embed sustainability into their business strategies. The 2025 awards ceremony will be held at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Monday, June 30, 2025. Article content Article content Orbia's Time4Water campaign was launched in March 2024 in honor of the United Nations (UN) World Water Day and expanded throughout the month to provide opportunities for the Orbia community and local partners to give their time to water security-related volunteering efforts. The inaugural campaign brought together more than 2,500 Orbia employees and partners in over 30 countries through 120 different projects, from educational initiatives to clean-up efforts. Article content 'At Orbia, we believe that bold action begins with purpose: ours is to advance life together. Time4Water showed us the power of coming together across borders, businesses and communities to protect one of our planet's most vital resources: water,' said Tania Rabasa Kovacs, Orbia Chief Sustainability Officer, Vice President of Corporate Affairs and President of Orbia Mexico. 'This recognition is for the thousands of Orbia people who stepped up to make water security their shared mission—and proved that when we act together, we can drive real, lasting change.' Article content Highlights of the 2024 campaign included participation in an awareness race in Bogotá, Colombia by over 400 employee volunteers; a water workshop delivered by Orbia employees in Mexico that reached more than 450 students and more than 20 Orbia-hosted community cleanups, through which participants collected several tons of trash in Lithuania, Turkey, France and many other countries. Article content 'This honor from the International CSR Excellence Awards is a testament to the purpose-driven culture we're building at Orbia,' said Deb Butters, Orbia Senior Vice President and Chief People Officer. 'We are incredibly proud of what our people achieved and also how they brought this campaign to life. Time4Water was powered by the passion and creativity of Orbians who took initiative—from organizing local cleanup efforts and school workshops to rallying their colleagues and communities around the cause. It's a reflection of what's possible when people feel deeply connected to purpose, live by their values and are personally and collectively empowered to make a difference.' Article content Given the success of the 2024 effort, Time4Water has become a flagship campaign for Orbia, with strong results recorded in 2025 and 2026 plans underway. Article content Orbia's commitment to environmental and social responsibility is grounded in its purpose to advance life around the world. In 2024 alone, 67% of Orbia's revenues corresponded to solutions that contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Article content
Zawya
7 days ago
- General
- Zawya
IWMI partners ECOWAS, Sierra Leone to boost regional water security
The International Water Management Institute (IWMI), a global research-for-development organisation focused on solving water challenges in developing countries, has announced two major partnerships aimed at enhancing water security, climate resilience, and policy innovation across West Africa and the Sahel. A five-year agreement was signed with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Commission to strengthen the governance of transboundary water resources across member states. The partnership will support the co-development of digital tools for drought and flood forecasting, facilitate knowledge and data exchange through regional platforms, and promote biodiversity conservation and resilience within agrifood systems. IWMI also formalised a new collaboration with Sierra Leone's National Water Resources Management Agency (NWRMA), centred on research, innovation, and capacity building for sustainable water and land management. The agreement with NWRMA, also spanning five years, will support the development of early warning systems, knowledge-sharing platforms, inclusive governance structures, and climate-smart tools to bolster water security in the country. The memoranda of understanding (MoUs) were signed on 19 May 2025 in Accra, Ghana, and are seen as a significant step towards advancing regional cooperation on water and climate issues. 'These partnerships signal a shared regional commitment to science-driven, inclusive water governance. By aligning efforts, we can tackle climate risks, advance food and water security, and drive meaningful impact across the region,' said Olufunke Cofie, IWMI's Africa Director for Research Impact. Director of the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre, Kouassi Kouakou Alexis, also commended the collaboration, saying, 'It is great for us to have this kind of support from IWMI to do our best for the ECOWAS community. Let us continue to work together to have a concrete impact on our populations through water management in the region.' Similarly, the Director of Hydrological Services at NWRMA, Mohamed Sahr E. Juanah, remarked, 'Sierra Leone has many water challenges and when looking for partnerships to solve this problem, there is no better organisation than IWMI. This is just the start of a long journey, however, with unity and determination we believe we can achieve our goals.' The signing ceremony was attended by IWMI's management and members of its Board of Governors, alongside representatives from ECOWAS, NWRMA, and other regional stakeholders committed to enhancing climate resilience and sustainable water management. The partnerships align with IWMI's West and Central Africa Roadmap 2024–2030, which prioritises resilient agrifood systems, transboundary water governance, climate-risk mitigation, digital innovation, water infrastructure, circular economy principles, gender equality, social inclusion, and capacity building. These initiatives are expected to harness earth observation technologies, inclusive research, and regional cooperation to address urgent challenges such as water scarcity, climate variability, and rural poverty.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Abu Dhabi Government delegation concludes France visit after Global Water Summit participation
Paris: Demonstrating the Emirate of Abu Dhabi's dedication to advancing international cooperation and the exchange of knowledge in the water sector, His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE), led a high-level Government delegation. The delegation, which features representatives from the emirate's water and electricity sector companies, undertook an official visit to France, to attend the Global Water Summit. The summit is recognized as a distinguished global platform aimed at promoting international collaboration to confront escalating water challenges. This Summit unites world leaders, policymakers, and experts for the purpose of exchanging innovative solutions and securing sustainable water security. By underscoring the vital links between water, climate, and development, the Summit also endeavors to expedite the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 and encourage effective partnerships across different countries and sectors. The visit aimed to establish strategic partnerships with governmental authorities, industrial establishments, and major service providers in France. It also focused on accelerating the uptake of water reuse technologies and advancing digital solutions and innovation in the management of water resources. His Excellency Dr. Abdulla Humaid Al Jarwan, DoE Chairman, remarked: "Emirati-French ties represent a foremost example of bilateral cooperation in essential domains, particularly energy and water. Our visit to the French Republic is part of this fruitful collaboration, during which our aim is to share experiences and investigate fresh avenues for innovation, which will contribute to our mutual aims in the fields of energy, water, and sustainability." His Excellency elaborated that the DoE is actively working towards attaining an optimal standard in the provision of services linked to the energy sector and is focused on advancing it to match global progress. "Al Jarwan" noted that the meetings concentrated on deliberating investment opportunities, joint undertakings, and avenues for boosting collaboration with the French side in a multitude of related fields, as well as showcasing the DoE's function and strategic approach to developing the energy sector in Abu Dhabi. The visit's agenda featured discussions on the challenges facing the water sector and exploring its future prospects. Furthermore, it also involved high-level meetings with policymakers, regulatory bodies, utility companies, R&D institutions, and developers of cutting-edge digital solutions in France, all intended to strengthen collaboration in the adoption of innovative and sustainable approaches to water and energy management. Discussions covered several main topics, chief among them: the advancement of regulatory frameworks that support water reuse, the investigation of sustainable finance models like green bonds, the expansion of collaboration in the circular economy domain, and the reinforcement of the water sector's resilience against climate change.
Zawya
22-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
EtihadWE, Al Dahra, and Fujairah Municipality partner to advance sustainable development in Fujairah
Abu Dhabi, UAE: Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE), Al Dahra Agriculture Trading, and Fujairah Municipality have signed a cooperation agreement aimed at accelerating sustainable development efforts in the Emirate of Fujairah. The tripartite partnership brings together institutional capabilities to support critical infrastructure, strengthen community services, and promote long-term environmental and economic sustainability. The agreement addresses legacy land-related matters and establishes a forward-looking framework for infrastructure development. EtihadWE has played a key role in enabling the agreement's implementation—helping to unlock priority projects and ensure continuity in delivering essential utility services to the community. This joint resolution strengthens integrated planning between the three entities and supports broader national priorities—particularly in water efficiency, food security, and the creation of green job opportunities. The partnership also enables future collaboration across strategic sustainability areas. Eng. Yousif Ahmed Al Ali, CEO of EtihadWE, said: 'This agreement reflects our continued commitment to enabling infrastructure and sustainability in Fujairah. The new land lease allows us to move forward with key projects that modernise utility services in the emirate—enhancing resilience and meeting future demand. By working closely with Al Dahra and Fujairah Municipality, we are fostering a collaborative model that delivers tangible impact for the community.' Arnoud van den Berg, Group CEO of Al Dahra, stated: 'This agreement signifies our commitment to working together to create a more sustainable future.' H.E Mohamed Al Afkham, Director General of Fujairah Municipality said, 'We welcome this collaboration and are confident in the positive outcomes it will bring to Fujairah's development.' The agreement is effective immediately, with technical and administrative teams already working to activate the new framework. Over the coming months, the partnership will expand to explore joint initiatives in renewable energy, water conservation, and food systems—aligned with Fujairah's vision for inclusive and sustainable growth. Through regular progress reviews, the three entities will ensure alignment, measure outcomes, and optimise shared value for the community. About EtihadWE EtihadWE was established in 2020 under the Federal Decree-Law No. (31) of 2020 to carry out the duties assigned to The Federal Electricity & Water Authority at that time. It is wholly owned by the Emirates Investment Authority and is mandated to meet the needs of the northern emirates of electricity and desalinated water. EtihadWE seeks to become global leader and achieve the highest levels of excellence in the field of services it provides, achieve sustainability, reduce waste in natural resources, launch institutional initiatives aimed at supporting economic sustainability and preserving the environment, in addition to fulfil its social responsibilities. EtihadWE boasts an exemplary record of uninterrupted water and power supply with a network that includes 8,000 kilometres of water pipelines, 15,000 kilometres of power lines; and a water storage capacity of about 600 million gallons. About Al Dahra Al Dahra is a prominent multinational leader in agribusiness, with over 400 thousand acres of agricultural land in Egypt, Romania, Serbia, USA, and other countries, specialized in cultivation, production and trading of nearly 3 million tons of essential food commodities and up to 3 million tons of animal feed. Serving a large customer base from Commercial enterprises to Government agencies, Al Dahra has a widespread geographic footprint, operating in over 20 countries and catering to more than 40 markets with a leading position in Africa, Europe and the Middle East. For more information, visit For media inquiries, please contact:
