President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on April 2 that water could become the focus of global conflicts in the coming era, much like oil and carbon fuels were in the past and stressed the need for careful management of Türkiye's water resources.
"In a century where power competition is intensifying in every field, the most strategic and valuable resource, and the main element of production and energy, is water," Erdoğan said at an event in Ankara
The event marked the collective opening of 563 facilities completed by the State Water Works.
"The struggle that took place in the last century over oil and carbon fuels will be fought in the field of water in the coming period. Looking at the hot conflicts happening around us, we can already see the signs of this," he added.
Erdoğan highlighted the pressures on water resources caused by climate change, drought, population growth, rapid urbanization and industrialization. He noted that while the global average annual rainfall is 990 millimeters, Türkiye receives only 574 millimeters.
"This situation shows us that we are obliged to protect, use efficiently, and manage our water resources correctly before they reach the point of depletion," Erdoğan said.
He called on citizens and institutions to conserve water and use it responsibly. "We must be careful not to waste not only the water flowing from the tap, but also the water gushing from the river," he said.
Erdoğan also cited global concerns, pointing out that while demand for clean water is rising, usable resources are declining due to consumption and pollution.
"2.2 billion people in the world do not have access to safe drinking water. According to the World Water Development Report, it is predicted that approximately 6 billion people will not have access to sufficient clean water in 2050. In addition to all this, the climate crisis threatens our water, our source of life, the most," he said.
He noted that Türkiye faces some of the most severe climate-related threats, including forest fires and floods.
Erdoğan also highlighted water infrastructure achievements under his administration. "We have prioritized policies and investments that use water economically, manage it correctly, and connect our nation with water in the safest way possible, as water is the cornerstone of our civilization," he said.
He listed projects completed since 2002, including 805 dams, 522 ponds and weirs, 1,890 irrigation facilities, 365 land consolidation projects, 378 drinking water and wastewater treatment plants, 6,234 flood control facilities, 637 hydroelectric power plants and 148 underground storage and artificial recharge facilities.
