Monday 18 November
0930
Session One | The Changing Geopolitics of Water and ‘Hydro-Diplomacy’
0930 – 1100
Access to, and control of, water can determine the geopolitical standing of a country and has the potential to define relationships, conflict and strategic decisions between regions – with a real possibility of escalation to warfare. This session will consider water in the geopolitical agenda, and its role from a global perspective in the state and stability of the world.
- What regions are more vulnerable to ‘hydro-political issues’ and instability?
- Where are water patterns changing at a faster rate due to climate change and other environmental factors? How can governments manage the social unrest and conflict that water scarcity can cause?
- Are the direct, indirect and system risks associated with changes in water availability understood, and how are these incorporated in security thinking?
- How successful are current international mechanisms for settling water disputes? Is water being adequately addressed among diplomacy concerns?
- How can governments avoid the politicization of water, as seen in cases such as the Nile River Basin and across the Middle East, to avoid water conflicts?
- Where are the opportunities of water as a resource for peacebuilding?
Chair
Tim Benton, Director, Energy Environment and Resources Department, Chatham House
Speakers
Loïc Fauchon, President, World Water Council
Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute
Maria van der Hoeven, Senior Fellow, Clingendael International Energy Programme
Daanish Mustafa, Professor in Critical Geography, King’s College London
Questions and discussion
1100 – 1130 Refreshments
Session Two | Water Governance and Management
1130 – 1300
Good water governance and management impacts the health of humans and ecosystems, industry and the wider society. The scarcity, as well as the excess, of water can critically impede sustainability development, poverty alleviation and stability. This session will explore the importance, development and implementation of water governance in society.
- What role can water management play in preventing conflicts at both the national and international level? How can governance be used to stop water being weaponized in vulnerable regions?
- Can further integrating water resource management and governance support the SDGs and resource sustainability?
- Are policy-makers paying enough attention to water governance as part of the political economy?
- How can water pricing and tariff setting be used to improve water efficiency and social equity?
- What reforms and regulations are in place, or are being developed, in water management? Is the policy framework fit for purpose?
- What are current pan-sectoral approaches to good governance and water management – where are these most successful, and where are the opportunities?
Chair
Glada Lahn, Senior Research Fellow, Energy, Environment and Resources, Chatham House
Speakers
Håkan Tropp, Head, Water Governance Programme, OECD
Annabelle Houdret, Senior Researcher, German Development Institute
Paulo Salles, Director-President, Regulatory Agency for Water, Energy and Basic Sanitation of the Federal District, Brazil
Questions and discussion
1300 – 1400 Lunch
Session Three | Urbanization and Agriculture
1400 – 1515
Water is essential for agricultural production, and due to the pressure it places on fresh water, it is one of the main causes – and victims – of water scarcity. Rapid urbanization, a growing population and demand for food in the context of climate change has also increased the need for innovative and intelligent management of fresh water, waste water and storm water. This session will consider the challenges facing both agriculture and increasingly urbanized cities.
- How can cities make progressive steps toward water sourcing, management and conservation to mitigate the impact of droughts and flooding and ensure access to fresh water?
- What are the opportunities to optimize management, monitoring and reuse at other stages in water’s life cycle – namely rain, storm and waste water? How are cities prepared for excess water from flooding and other extreme weather changes?
- How can cities harness both policy and education to enhance the public promotion of water-saving behaviours, practices and incentives?
- As climate change produces challenges for agriculture, how can the industry adapt and improve the resilience of food production and systems with less access to water?
- What action has been and needs to be taken to address water scarcity in agriculture, especially in the context of climate change and population growth?
Chair
Fiona Harvey, Environment Correspondent, The Guardian
Speakers
Craig Davies, Head, Climate Resilience Investments, European Bank For Reconstruction and Development
Olcay Ünver, Vice Chair, UN-Water; Senior Water Advisor, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
Gareth Price, Senior Research Fellow, Asia-Pacific Programme, Chatham House
Christopher Hurst, Director General, European Investment Bank
Questions and discussion
1515 – 1545 Afternoon refreshments
Session Four | Technology and Innovation
1545 – 1700
The United Nations estimates that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will live in regions that face absolute water scarcity, and the UN University Institute for Water, Environment and Health approximates that $1.8 trillion of investment is necessary to combat the impact on vulnerable regions. This session will discuss the latest technological innovations to address water scarcity, efficiency, conservation and sanitation.
- What are the latest innovations in water treatment and purification?
- Which companies are driving forward research and development in water scarcity and efficiency solutions?
- Which sectors are reducing their water dependence or taking steps to protect water quality?
- What are the latest innovative developments in water desalination?
- Where has there been a particular need for innovation in response to environmental concerns, such as the demand for plastic bottle alternatives?
Chair
Roger Harrabin, Environment and Energy Analyst, BBC
Speakers
Martin Shouler, Project Director and London Water Leader, Arup
Wouter Buytaert, Reader in Hydrology and Water Resources, Imperial College London
Mark Smith, Deputy Director General, International Water Management Institute
Jill Lauren Hass, Technical Director, Water and Sanitation, Relief International
Questions and discussion
1700 Close of conference and reception hosted by Chatham House
© The Royal Institute of International Affairs 2019
