IUCN at World Water Week
World Water Week is the leading conference on global water issues, held every year since 1991. The Week attracts a diverse mix of participants from many professional backgrounds and every corner of the world.
This year, the event will take place from 23 August to 1 September. For the first time, it will be hosted in a hybrid manner, with participants being able to join online and in person in Stockholm, Sweden.
Srisailam Dam in Andhra Pradesh
Photo: Tejj on Unsplash
The 2022 theme, Seeing the Unseen: The Value of Water, focuses on the value of water, from many different perspectives. Expect interesting discussions on topics like pricing of water, indigenous knowledge, human rights, and much more. We also draw attention to the unseen water in aquifers and the soil.
IUCN will be involved in a number of online and onsite events between 25 August and 1 September. These include sessions on 'Upscaling Nature- based Solutions for water security and climate change adaptation', 'Youth Engagement: From Why to How', and 'Regenerative agriculture to value water and soils'. Below is an overview of all of IUCN's events (all times in UTC+01:00).
25 August 2022
Online 7:00 - 08:20
Upscaling Nature-based Solutions for water security and climate change adaptation
Nature-based Solution (NbS) provide a powerful defense against the long-term impacts of climate change in the water sector. Water being a precious input to all socio-economic and socio-cultural activities, scaling up nature NbS in the water sector in South Asia requires addressing gaps in science, capacity and sustainable financing.
IUCN contact person: Vishwa Sinha | Lead: ADPC | Co-organizers: IUCN and Asian Institute of Technology
25 August 2022
Online – 13:00 - 14:20
Swimways: A pathway to secure the value of rivers?
Many migratory freshwater fishes are threatened and yet provide a major source of food security and livelihoods for communities globally. We will provide a forum to discuss the proposed ‘Global Swimways’ framework, highlighting Swimways’ potential to direct river conservation and restoration of rivers through policy and implementation.
IUCN contact person: Catherine Sayer | Lead: WWF US | Co-organizers: UNEP WCMC, WFMF, University of Cambridge, WWF, TNC, University of Nevada Reno, IUCN
28 August 2022
On-site (Folkets Hus - Room: 307) – 11:00 - 12:30
Enabling Nature based Solutions in droughts context towards increasing evidence
Drought-related risks are increasing worldwide affecting livelihoods of communities. This session is an urge a call for action to better advocate the potential of NbS for droughts and get them ready for upscaled implementation. It will discuss the enabling conditions for creating, implementing and upscaling NbS for drought impact mitigation.
IUCN contact person: Chris Magero | Lead: Deltares | Co-organizers: IDMP, IUCN
28 August 2022
On-site (Folkets Hus - Room: 307) – 14:00 - 15:30
Clean Groundwater – Our Hidden Treasure
A new groundwater source can be transformative, but what if this is polluted, unusable? Clean-up is slow and expensive. Pollution prevention is best for ensuring safe groundwater supplies. Solving these issues requires investment, policies, capacity and education. Let’s work together towards keeping groundwater clean now and for future generations.
IUCN contact person: James Dalton | Lead: World Bank | Co-organizers: GEF IW:LEARN, IAH, IGRAC, IUCN, FAO
31 August 2022
Online and on-site (Music Hall) – 11:00 - 12:30
Co-implementing Integrated Drought Management: the next decade
Despite substantial success in establishing National Drought Policies, drought impacts continue to increase around the globe. This session will review progress since the High-level Meeting on National Drought Policy (HMNDP) held in 2013 and discuss the way forward to scaling up and accelerating implementation of Integrated Drought Management.
IUCN contact person: Chris Magero | Lead: WMO | Co-organizers: FAO, IDMP, IWMI, IUCN, NDMC, NOAA, CBD, UNESCO, UNCCD, UNDP, UNDRR, WB and WMO
31 August 2022
Online and on-site (Room 451) – 14:00 - 15:30
Tackling the twin challenge: NBS for climate resilience and biodiversity
While communities worldwide are tapping nature’s potential to support climate resilience, habitat and biodiversity loss continues at an alarming pace. Healthy freshwater ecosystems are fundamental to resilient development, cutting GHG emissions, and stemming biodiversity loss. This session demonstrates nature-based solutions that offer win-win propositions for people and the planet.
IUCN contact person: James Dalton | Lead: GIZ | Co-organizers: AGWA, GIZ, Forest Trends, UNESCO, IUCN
31 August 2022
Online and on-site (Pillar Hall) – 14:00 - 15:30
Strategic dialogue: Agenda2030 - Connecting dots from source to sea
Humanity is facing a climate crisis, a sixth mass extinction and the task of improving the lives and prospects of everyone, everywhere. This session aims to highlight how source-to-sea management is needed to meet and overcome these challenges, and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
IUCN contact person: James Dalton | Lead: SIWI | Co-organizers: S2S Platform, GEF IW:LEARN, Ramsar, SEI, SwAM, TNC
31 August 2022
Online and on-site (Music Hall) – 16:00 - 17:30
Salmons, Sturgeons, Dolphins - What else MIGHT we find?
Freshwater species need our help because we need them! Freshwater populations have declined by 84% since 1970; 28% are threatened with extinction highlighting the poor status of rivers. Attendees will learn about the simplicity of sampling and practical uses of eDNA in conservation restoration; supply chain, water and risk.
IUCN contact person: James Dalton | Lead: NatureMetrics| Co-organizers: GEF IW:LEARN, IUCN, NatureMetrics, WWF
1 September 2022
Online and on-site (Pillar Hall) – 09:00 - 10:30
Youth Engagement: From Why to How
Last year, a coalition of partner organisations highlighted why it’s critical to engage and empower young people in water governance & management. Since then, we’ve launched a Valuing Water Youth Taskforce and action plan to stimulate youth engagement across the sector. It’s time to move from why to how.
IUCN contact person: Maria Ana Borges | Lead: IUCN | Co-organizers: Aquafed, Climate Centre, VWI, KWR, World Waternet, Young Experts Prog, Youth for the Rhine
1 September 2022
Online and on-site (Room 353) – 11:00 - 12:30
Regenerative agriculture to value water and soils
What do water and soils have in common? By adopting and scaling up regenerative farming practices we can improve soil health and rehabilitate water services, catalysing the transition to sustainable food systems. Join us to discuss what you can do to help!
IUCN contact person: Maria Ana Borges | Lead: IUCN | Co-organizers: ICRAF, CA4SH, IAASA
1 September 2022
Online and on-site (Room 451) – 14:00 - 15:30
Having a positive impact at catchment level
During the session, participants will discuss, using concrete examples and experiences, the ways to have a positive impact on water at catchment level. It will be about sharing learning on methodologies (such as VWBA), ways to identify shared water challenges, but also to share data and to stimulate collective actions. The session will involve Experts, NGOs and private sector.
IUCN contact person: James Dalton | Lead: Nestlé | Co-organizers: Bluerisk, Diageo, Global Water Challenge, IUCN, Nestlé, CEO Mandate
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