Water Europe IWDs
Water Europe IWDs is an initiative, in line with the three main WE programmes: WE Collaboration, Advocacy and Market Programme, which aims to set up business and research collaboration between the EU and other strategic global regions to better enable our members to create market opportunities for European solutions and to facilitate scientific collaboration.
Water Europe IWDs are implemented through country-specific IWD, the WE WG Water Beyond Europe, and in collaboration with international organisations such as the OECD, the World Bank, and the World Economic Forum. Currently, we have country-specific IWD on China, India, and Iran.
Objectives of the Event
- Exchange and replication of good practices at country and regional levels in Water-Oriented LLs contexts;
- Analyse the water international cooperation related actions;
- Review the main water challenges and their relevant implications;
- Support ongoing EU water-related programmes for International Cooperation.
Why you should join
International Water Dialogues Days aims to raise challenges and analyse what is being done already between the European Union and the world, particularly with China, India, Africa Central Asia and Middle East. The event will offer you the opportunity to:
🌍Network with international Water-Oriented LL stakeholders;
💡Create opportunities for securing water for all;
🖐Raise your challenges and success stories;
🧩Contribute to an action plan for Europe and beyond.
To advocate for the role that the European Union and European water sector actors can play in achieving the 2030 Agenda, in particular SDG6 and other water-related targets.
To set-up an action plan for Europe and beyond to realize the value of water for our society and economy achieve a Water-Smart Society in line with the 2030 Agenda
Water is key to all our societal functions including industry, agriculture, our daily life at home, and all the services that we enjoy, including the function that nature has for our well-being. Globally 90% of the economy and 75% of jobs depend on the availability of enough water of the right quality. The need to emphasise the value of water becomes especially clear, when we look at the emerging challenges over the upcoming decades potentially leading to increased water scarcity, pollution of our living environment and fresh water sources, and increased cost for our societies to deal with the effects of the ever more frequent and intense floods and droughts.
In the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the world has defined 17 specific Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) focussed on our Planet, our People, and our Prosperity. Water has a dedicated goal (SDG6), however if we have a close look, water appears almost everywhere and it is fair to conclude that without proper attention to water sector development at large, it will be impossible to reach most of the SDGs[1].
In the World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2019, the water crises rank for the 8th consecutive year among the top 5 global societal risks in terms of impact. According to the WEF “Water presents some of the world’s most pressing social, political, and economical challenges.” The water crises are also closely interconnected with other major global risks.
A very special feature of the SDGs is the dedicated SDG 17 on “Partnerships for the goals” which recognizes multi-stakeholder partnerships as important instruments for mobilizing and sharing knowledge, technologies and resources to support the achievement of the SDGs. This includes the promotion of effective public, public-private and non-state CSO / CBO / NGO partnerships around the world. To this end, the multi-stakeholder water oriented living labs approach and methodology[2] can broadly support the co-creation of systemic solutions.
More than any other region in the World, Europe boasts a wealth of experience in collaboration, innovation and the creation of proven solutions in addressing past and current water challenges. The European Union is in a unique and privileged position to secure water for all by adopting a systemic approach at the watershed level. to provide real water sustainability for people, economies and the ecosystem both now and in the future. International collaboration within such a mission will further permit the overcoming of global challenges as defined by the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Water management is risk management: this implies a move away from crisis management (linked to extreme events such as a droughts or floods) towards the Water Security approach to enhancing resilience, anticipating damages, and ensuring that water is supplied in the right quantity and quality to different users and for different uses.
Through the European Green Deal, the EU will lead global efforts towards circular economies and green and clean technologies. In the area of climate change, the EU is at the forefront of implementing the Paris Agreement, and the Commission has adopted a vision for achieving a climate neutral economy by 2050. The EU can lead the global community in developing and implementing a new approach to protecting biodiversity and planetary boundaries, while these efforts towards achieving climate neutrality also offers the opportunity for new jobs and growth globally. These actions strongly contribute to the achievement of the SDGs 6, as well as 2 (Zero Hunger), 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure) and 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).
[1] Water in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development: How can Europe Act?
Agenda
Tuesday, 26th of April
(9.00 – 11.30)
9.30 – Opening words by Ilari Aho (Vice-President Innovation- Water Europe) and Astrid Shomaker (Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism- DG ENV).
10.00 – Key-note International Cooperation – Presentation of flagship water initiatives and partnerships between SA and the EU, by Mamohloding Tlhagale (Head of International and Stakeholder Engagement – Water Research Commission South Africa)
10.15 – Panel discussion International Cooperation on Water: Presentation of the EC water international cooperation related actions in support of Agenda 2030 – EC – DG ENV /DEVCO.
The EU has implemented in the past several water programmes (e.g. the EU Water Facility) and started a number of bilateral cooperation on water (e.g. with China, India, and Iran). What are the lessons learned in those programmes and instruments? What are future interests and directions?
-Moderator: Murray Biedler (Development & Humanitarian Expert on Environment & Health, Human Capacity Development and Climate Sector Policy )
-Arnaud De Vanssay (DG INTPA)
-Almotaz Abadi (Managing Director Water – Union for the Mediterranean)
– Ms Birgit Vogel (Implementation Support to the India-EU Water Partnership)
– Panagiotis Balabanis (EC DG RTD)
11.20 – Introduction to tomorrow’s session by David Smith
Wednesday, 27th of April
(09.00 – 11.30)
09.00 – Welcoming & Recap from yesterday – Overall moderation by David Smith
09.10 – Water-Oriented Living Labs
The definition of a WoLL and the current status of WoLLs in Europe. This will be followed by the experience of Living Labs in focus areas. Two presentations for each of the priority regions of successful experience. (EU, and other focus regions).
-SoWAT Living Lab (Africa) Ranya Amer – Professor of Environmental Biotechnology City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications (SRTA-City)
-Water Living Lab, Water Valley Denmark – Ulla Sparre, CEO Water Valley Denmark and Pia Jacobsen, Program Manager, Large Scale Innovation Projects
09.40 – The Living Labs experience: building from lessons learned (breakout rooms)
EC research programmes supported many water related international activities. Were they successful in showcasing EU innovation solutions? How were international water markets influenced by their results? How does EC look at the future of international cooperation on research and innovation?
| SoWat Living Lab (Egypt – Africa)
Moderator: Ranya Amer Rapporteur: Moderator introduces the theme of the roundtable having the morning presentation as starting point, adding possible highlights and asking participants to provide inputs and experience keeping in mind the cross-cutting themes and priority regions. |
Water Valley Denmark
Moderator: Ulla Sparre and Pia Jacobsen Rapporteur: Emily Kemp, WE technology intern Moderator introduces the theme of the roundtable having the morning presentation as starting point, adding possible highlights and asking participants to provide inputs and experience keeping in mind the cross-cutting themes and priority regions. |
10.40 – Plenary for the reports on the Roundtables
11:00 – Stimulating Water-Oriented Living Labs Beyond Europe (to be followed up one year later)
11:15 – Closing remarks
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Request additional information
Do you still want to know more about WE International Dialogs? Contact Mr. Durk Krol, WE Executive Director
