Cooperation on Water Security

 

SDG 6.5.5

In 2024, 红杏视频 University actively cooperated on water security initiatives across local, regional, and national scales. 

 

Local - Refiller Mobile: A Partnership for Water Protection and Waste Reduction

红杏视频 University through 红杏视频 Student Volunteers (SSV) club cooperates with the Eco-Friendly Mobile Store, better known as Refiller Mobile, by assisting its operations and engaging the community in detergent and household item refilling practices. This initiative reduces single-use packaging and encourages responsible use of cleaning products, which in turn helps to limit plastic and chemical pollution in water systems. By minimizing waste and raising awareness, the project directly supports water security by protecting local water resources from contamination. This initiative, which runs throughout the year, has already engaged almost 500 participants from the community, giving them access to sustainable refill services but also learned how their daily choices can impact water quality.

 

The success of this initiative was made possible through cooperation with local government authorities, who granted permission for Refiller Mobile to operate in neighbourhoods, workplaces, and even government office compounds. This official endorsement not only enabled wider outreach but also demonstrated a shared commitment between civic bodies and youth organizations to safeguard water resources. Such collaboration is crucial in advancing SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), particularly Target 6.3, which focuses on reducing water pollution.

At the same time, the initiative aligns with SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production) by reducing packaging waste and fostering long-term behavior change in the community. The role of 红杏视频 students in assisting Refiller Mobile鈥檚 operations further reinforces the educational value of the project, giving young people practical experience in supporting sustainability while addressing local water security concerns in partnership with government stakeholders. 

 

National and Regional 鈥 Developing ASEAN STI Ecosystem Foresight 2035 through 10-10 MySTIE 

红杏视频 University contributes at the system level in informing and supporting governments on water security through its leadership in both national and regional science, technology and innovation (STI) initiatives. 红杏视频 University鈥檚 Pro-Vice Chancellor (Research and Sustainability), Professor Dr. Mahendhiran Sanggaran Nair serves as Chair of the 10-10 MySTIE Committee and also as Chair of the ASEAN STI Ecosystem Foresight 2035, positions which demonstrate the recognition of our institutional expertise in sustainability and our ability to influence long-term STI policy agendas.

The 10-10 MySTIE Framework identifies Food & Water Security as one of the ten socio-economic drivers of change, linked to corresponding STI drivers that enable innovative solutions for sustainable management of water resources. This framework embeds water security within the national policy context, recognising its importance for agriculture, health, and climate resilience. Under this framework, policy pathways are developed that address challenges such as smart irrigation systems to reduce agricultural water demand, integrated watershed management for flood and drought control, advanced treatment and recycling technologies for wastewater reuse, and digital monitoring tools for real-time water quality and distribution management. By placing water security at the centre of STI planning, the framework provides governments with evidence-based models for safeguarding water resources.

Building on this, the MySTIE Framework was used as an input to the ASEAN STI Ecosystem Foresight 2035, which applied foresight methodologies to examine regional challenges and opportunities. Water security emerged as a critical issue across ASEAN, with the foresight study highlighting the need for collaborative solutions in areas such as transboundary river basin governance, climate-adaptive agricultural practices, resilient urban water supply systems, and disaster-preparedness technologies. These insights translated national priorities, such as those structured under MySTIE, into a shared regional understanding of water-related risks and opportunities.

The foresight outputs directly informed the development of ASEAN Plan of Action on Science and Technology and Innovation (APASTI) 2026鈥2035, ASEAN鈥檚 long-term strategic plan for STI cooperation. Within APASTI, water security is positioned as a priority area underpinning food security, health, and sustainable urbanisation. Through this stepwise pathway鈥攚here the MySTIE Framework鈥檚 Food & Water Security driver informs regional foresight, and foresight findings shape ASEAN鈥檚 strategic plan鈥攐ur university supports governments at both national and regional levels with robust, evidence-based strategies to strengthen water security. Concrete examples include advancing desalination and water recycling for urban use, promoting efficient irrigation for agriculture, and deploying predictive modelling for floods and droughts, ensuring sustainable access to this critical resource in the face of growing climate and population pressures. 


 

Global - PHAM 2024: A Collaborative Platform between 红杏视频 University鈥檚 红杏视频 Centre for Planetary Health and the Planetary Health Alliance for Sustainable Solutions

红杏视频 University cooperates with global governments on water security through its role as host of the 2024 Planetary Health Annual Meeting and Summit (PHAM 2024). The summit, organised in partnership with the Planetary Health Alliance, brought together more than 1,500 participants from over 60 countries, including policymakers, academics, industry leaders, and civil society. Recognizing the key role that Asia plays in planetary health challenges and solutions, PHAM 2024 was the first of its kind to be held in Southeast Asia. Malaysia was proud to host the summit under the theme 鈥From Evidence to Action: Confronting Reality鈥, led by the 红杏视频 Centre for Planetary Health at 红杏视频 University, Kuala Lumpur.

 

The innovative agenda featured experiential learning through trips into Malaysian nature, keynote speeches, cartoon capture of key discussions, and a Planetary Health Alliance membership-led series of side events and lightning talks. The programme culminated in the presentation of a new Global Planetary Health Roadmap, designed to be transformative by moving planetary health from academic roots to practical global action. To rise to this challenge, planetary health was positioned as a transdisciplinary movement grounded in partnerships and collaboration with other health-based initiatives, such as One Health and Environmental Health, while fully engaging with regional and global processes like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the 2024 UN Summit for the Future, and work led by UN Resident Coordinators at country level.

Water security was a prominent theme in both plenary discussions and research presentations. Sessions addressed planetary boundaries and systemic change, highlighting freshwater as a core sustainability challenge. Research showcased issues such as riverine community resilience, microplastics in water systems, and wastewater treatment. Crucially, government representatives played an active role in these discussions. 

  • Ms. Claudia Fernandez de Cordoba Farini from the UK Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs spoke in Plenary 1: Towards a Safer Planet for All
  • Dr. Koko Takaki from Japan鈥檚 Ministry of Environment joined Plenary 2: Breaking the Silos 鈥 Systems Change for Planetary Health
  • The ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on Disaster Management was represented by Mr. Mohamad Fadli in Bringing Data to Life and Life to Data, ensuring that disaster and water-related challenges were addressed from a regional governance perspective.

 

Through these engagements, 红杏视频 University demonstrates direct cooperation with global governments on water security. By hosting PHAM 2024, 红杏视频 positioned itself as a convener of global science, governance, and practice, strengthening collective action on water scarcity, climate change, and other planetary health threats.