WRI Events at World Water Week 2022: The Value of Water
This year, World Water Week is focused on “Seeing the unseen: the value of water.” Throughout the week, sessions will cover topics relating to food security and health, agriculture, technology, biodiversity and the climate crisis. World Water Week is curated by SIWI, but convened by world-leading organizations that share their latest insights.
World Water Week 2022 will be held both online and in-person. Online sessions will take place from August 23-25, with on-site events from August 28-September 1. Both online and in-person passes are available for purchase now, which include access to the week’s sessions (online) and networking events and exhibitions (on-site). Register here.
Wednesday, August 24
Advancing Gender and Social Equity through Nature-Based Solutions
Cities around the world are integrating gender and social equity considerations in their urban nature-based solutions policies and programs, especially as it relates to water issues. Through this session, the Cities4Forests team will highlight the efforts of three cities from different geographies planning equitable and inclusive nature-based solutions.
Event Time: 20:00-21:20 CEST, 2:00-3:20 p.m. EST
WRI Speaker: Ayushi Trivedi
Partners: Forest Trends, Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative, United Kingdom, Department of Environment,Food and Rural Affairs, World Resources Institute
Thursday, August 25
Corporate Enterprise Water Targets: Factoring in Nature and Climate Change
This track is for any businesses interested in understanding what enterprise water targets are, how to set enterprise water targets and what impacts can be made for nature and climate change. Participants will be able to interact with businesses that have set enterprise water targets and engage in practice sessions.
Event Time: 08:30-11:25 CEST, 2:30-5:25 a.m. EST
WRI Speakers: Sara Walker, Colin Strong, Nanda Aung, Tianyi Luo (former WRI employee)
Partners: Bonneville Environmental Foundation, Cargill Inc, LimnoTech, Procter and Gamble Company, Tyson Foods, Inc, World Resources Institute, Inc (confirmed)
Resilience Knows No Boundaries: Water Resilience from Basins to Cities
A new, holistic approach is needed to understand and address water and climate challenges and chart institutional, policy, and infrastructure pathways to address future shock in urban Africa. This event, including WRI, Arup, Resilient Cities Network, and WaterAid, will emphasize a collaboration to bring together several existing and emerging programs to advance water security for nations, communities, and poor and vulnerable people across the African continent.
Event Time: 18:30-19:50 CEST, 12:30-1:50 p.m. EST
Partners: Arup, Resilient Cities Network, WaterAid, World Resources Institute
WRI Speaker: Smita Rawoot
Tools for Valuing Ecosystems and Nature- Based Solutions
This Seminar will examine the value of ecosystem services and nature-based solutions (NBS) considering the impact of Covid-19, the increase in frequency and strength of climate change events, and urbanization trends worldwide. It will highlight sustainable approaches to water security that recognize that land use, demographics, agricultural practices, and the climate are changing faster than traditional engineering approaches can keep up. NBS can support long-term sustainability of water security as they do not have finite life expectancies. The Seminar will present various innovative tools that are now available to support NBS.
Session 1 will explore the importance of valuing ecosystem services and nature-based solutions to mitigate the impacts of climate change. It is not sufficient to reinforce existing gray infrastructure; we need to protect and use natural ecosystems to absorb the shocks of natural disasters. Not only can this limit damages, but it can also lead to the creation of new environmentally friendly economies that can sustain local communities.
Event Time: 17:00-18:20 CET, 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 a.m. EST
Partners: Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment, FEMSA Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank, Stockholm International Water Institute, Rainmatter Foundation
WRI Speaker: Todd Gartner
Projecting Future Global Water Stress, Supply and Demand with CMIP6
This session will bring experts from Microsoft (TBC), Moody's, and World Resources Institute, share how the new CMIP6-based global water projections is developed for the Aqueduct Water Risk Atlas 4.0, and discuss how the financial sector and industry leaders leverage the data in ESG products and corporate water stewardship efforts.
Event Time: 18:30-19:50 CEST, 12:00-1:50 p.m. EST
Partners: Microsoft, Moody's, World Resources Institute
WRI Speaker: Sam Kuzma
Tuesday, August 30
Water As A Driver For Peace and Cooperation
Water crises pose a growing threat to livelihoods, ecosystems, and security. Many people around the world lack access to sufficient, safe, affordable, and clean water. Decreasing supplies of water, mismanagement, and limited land use and water planning integration has led to rising water-related conflict throughout the world.
But there are paths forward. To turn water-related threats into opportunities for peacebuilding, we need to encourage collaboration among regional, national, and international stakeholders; provide better access to data; ensure inclusive decision-making; increase capacity building; pursue partnerships; and scale up investment in water security and infrastructure. Part of SIWI’s World Water Week seminar “Water as a Driver for Peace and International Cooperation”, this session includes a high-level dialogue on the interlinkages between water and conflict and will provide a suite of tools to increase understanding of water stress as well as resources for capacity building, partnerships and collaboration.
Event Time: 16:00-17:30 CEST, 10:00-11:30 a.m. EST
WRI Speaker: Charlie Iceland, Aklilu Fikresilassie
Partners: Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, International Association of Hydrogeologists, International Groundwater Resources Assessment Centre, Lincoln Institute of Land and Policy, National Audubon Society, Stockholm International Water Institute, Urban Water Resilience in Africa initiative of the World Resources Institute, Water, Peace, and Security Partnership, World Resources Institute
Wednesday, August 31
How Innovative Cities are Financing Equitable Natural Infrastructure for Water
This event will showcase how cities and counties around the world are financing equitable nature-based solutions to improve urban resilience, stormwater management, water security, and flood control. We will showcase four diverse stories to inspire and instruct other cities who seek to adapt to climate change while protecting vulnerable populations.
Event Time: 9:00-10:30 CEST, 3:00-4:30 a.m. EST
WRI Speaker: Todd Gartner (in person), John-Rob (online)
Partners: City of Freetown, Sierra Leone, City of Jayapura, Indonesia, City of Xalapa, Mexico, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs of United Kingdom, Norway's International Climate and Forest Initiative, World Resources Institute
Valuing Nature in LAC: Challenges and Opportunities Ahead
More than a decade of experimentation with NBS in LAC has produced proof of concept with attractive returns for investors and increased resilience. Yet, these still are not reaching the desired scale. This session highlights challenges and solutions that can help define the next evolution for nature and water security.
Event Time: 16:00-17:30 CEST, 10:00-11:30 a.m. EST
WRI Speaker: Todd Gartner (in person), Emmie Oliver (online)
Partners: FEMSA Foundation, Inter-American Development Bank, The Nature Conservancy, World Resources Institute
Related Projects
Urban Water Resilience in Africa
Building sustainable, adaptive, resilient urban water systems