Abu dhabi: WUF13 is an important platform for bringing the problems of island states to the global agenda, Henk Ovink, Executive Director and founding Commissioner for the Global Commission on the Economics of Water, said during the special session titled 'Inclusive Urban Resilience, Blue Economy and Sustainable Tourism in Small Island Developing States' held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, Ovink stated that the World Urban Forum (WUF13) creates an important opportunity to include the challenges faced by small island states in the urban planning and economic development agenda. He noted that this year holds particular significance for the global climate and sustainable development agenda. Ovink mentioned that following WUF, several key international events, including the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), the Biodiversity COP, and the Climate COP, will be held, with the UN Water Conference scheduled to occur in Abu Dhabi at the end of the year.

He called on forum participants to consolidate the ideas and proposals discussed on this platform to shape new approaches for global agendas. Ovink emphasized that this process offers a critical opportunity to reconsider governance systems, the concept of economic value, and development models.