INTRODUCTION

The ecosystems on which life itself is based – our food security, energy sustainability, public health, food, jobs, cities – are all at risk because of how water is managed. Now more than ever global water security is threatened by the issues that impact people’s lives: rapid urbanization, climate change, ageing infrastructure, increasing demand for food and energy supply are examples of these threats that are exerting constant and increasing pressure on our global water resources. Water is an invaluable resource and a thread of life essential for life, food, education, and indeed, peace. It links all of our lives, is an essential transversal element and the basis of development of all other sectors. It is an increasingly essential component of geopolitics and hydrodiplomacy. Therefore, we must stop addressing water issues in silos It is more than time that we approach water in a more holistic and cross-cutting way. India Water Foundation recognizes that water institutions are working to build climate resilient water systems by managing risks from climate shocks and variability. However, improved water policy and practice is critical to support equitable and sustained climate resilience for water security. A new approach of transversality is needed which is integrated and inclusive to catalyze change, build partnerships and cooperation. It will bring immense opportunity with this finite resource especially in building resilience to changing climate.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this side event is to have a dialogue with diverse stakeholders to identify and develop water-transversality solutions that promote more resilient water systems and accelerate climate actions by engaging local communities, water agencies, utilities, and policymakers.  Developing and applying tools for how integrated energy and water policies can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and limit the ultimate impacts of climate change. This session will explore how we need to rethink collaboration with our greatest allies in the Climate Crisis, if we’re going to achieve climate and water resilience for all. 

Multi-stakeholder Policy Dialogue on “Water Transversality & Climate Risk : Adaptation, Mitigation & Resilience Building’ : VIDEO LINK CLICK HERE

CHAIR ADDRESS
H.E. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat 
Sh. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Hon’ble Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Ministry of Jal Shakti, Government of India is an active politician from Rajasthan. He has keen interest in Cooperatives, Social Work, Education, Sustainable water resource development, Industry, Rural Development etc.

 

Eminent Speaker
H.E. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana

Ms. Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana is Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) . Prior to joining ESCAP, Ms. Alisjahbana was Professor of Economics at Universitas Padjadjaran in Bandung, Indonesia. Since 2016, she has served as Director for the Center for Sustainable Development Goals Studies at Universitas Padjadjaran and Vice Chair of the Indonesian Academy of  Sciences.

 

Dr. Arvind Kumar
 Dr. Satya Tripathi
Dr. Arvind Kumar is a strategist and key-influencer in development sector with more than 28 years of experience as an author, columnist, Water and Human Rights Pro-activist, and specializes in concepts like ecosystem-based adaptation, water-energy-food nexus, with specific emphasis on Transversal approach of inter-linkages between water, environment and SDGs. He has published over 500 plus research articles and several books. He is a proud recipient of Achievers Award for his contribution to the Environment from International Human Rights Organization in collaboration with United Nations Information Centre, India. Dr. Satya S. Tripathi is Secretary-General of the Global Alliance for a Sustainable Planet. A development economist, lawyer and changemaker with over 40 years of varied experience, Mr. Tripathi is also the Chancellor of Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences – and Senior Distinguished Fellow on Innovative Finance at the World Agroforestry Centre. He has served with the UN for more than two decades in key positions and was most recently the UN Assistant Secretary-General, Head of New York Office at UN Environment and Secretary of the UN Environment Management Group.
H.E. Loic Fauchon  H.E. David Cooper
Mr. Loïc Fauchon is President of the World Water Council and former President of the Water Supply Company of Marseille. He was President of the World Water Council from 2005 to 2012 and re-elected in 2018. He directly contributed to the organization of various  World Water Forums and now is spearheading the 10th World Water Forum in Indonesia, Bali. 

Dr. David Cooper is Acting Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity. David has more than 30 years of experience in environmental and agricultural science and policy, and international negotiations, including more than 20 years with the CBD. He has built strong and productive working relationships with Parties in all regions and with partners in civil society, international organisations, and the scientific community.
H.E. Eddy Moors Mr. Bruno Pozzi
Dr. Eddy Moors is Rector of IHE Delft Institute of Water Education. Professor Moors was head of the research team ‘Climate change and adaptive land & water management’ at Wageningen Environmental Research (Alterra). He is also Professor of Water and Climate at he VU University Amsterdam. Eddy Moors specialized in the research of climate change mitigation and adaptation. Earlier in his career he worked for the World Meteorological Organization in Africa and in the Caribbean. Mr. Bruno is deputy director, ecosystems division, UNEP. Mr. Bruno was a diplomat from Belgium, Bruno Pozzi brings over 20 years of experience in high-level diplomacy and politics across three different continents and in various political and economic roles. Bruno’s work is shaped by three core convictions. The first is that the environment is a central political subject and at the heart of multilateralism. Secondly, Bruno believes that sustainable development, peace and prosperity can only be achieved if the environment is the fundamental principle guiding the thinking behind development and socio-economic policies.
Mr. Thomas Rebermark Mr. Anthony Mhagama
Mr. Thomas Rebermark is DIRECTOR SWEDISH WATER HOUSE//International Processes, Stockholm International Water Institute. Awater and value chain champion, with +30 years C-level experience in business development, partnerships and stakeholder engagement. Thomas’ previous affiliations include WaterAid, Childfund Sweden and International, private sector companies within urban development, infrastructure, and civil engineering. Thomas sits on the Election Board of UN Global Compact Network Sweden, is board member of IWA Sweden, holds Diplomas in Executive Management from IFL/Stockholm School of Economics, Diploma in Infra Service Management from KTH Executive School. A Swedish citizen, he speaks Swedish, English, Danish, e un po`Italiano.  Mr. Anthony Mhagama is the Sustainable Agriculture Lead and SUSTAIN Programme Manager at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in Tanzania with over 15 years of progressive experience working with sustainable agricultural sector development strategies, ecosystem management and organisational development. He is very passionate about regenerative agriculture, biodiversity conservation and local economic development.
Mr. Hitesh Vaidya Ms. Shweta Tyagi 
Mr. Hitesh Vaidya, Chief Technical Advisor, India Water Foundation, Former, Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs, has more than 25 years of broad-based experience on policy, project formulation, implementation and program management. He has been engaged primarily  on UN, World Bank, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) assignments. The areas he has been associated with are urban development, urban governance and urban Infrastructure management. Poverty Alleviation has been an integral component in all his assignments. Prior to joining National Institute of Urban Affairs, Hitesh Vaidya  was holding the position of Country Representative of UN-Habitat India. He has been intensely involved in supporting an ecosystem to design and roll-out urban flagship missions in India.  Ms. Shweta Tyagi is Chief Functionary, India Water Foundation. She is results-focused development sector professional with a 22 years of demonstrated history and a proven ability to manage project teams to deliver multiple projects and programmes across diverse sectors of sustainable Development, Water and Sanitation, Social Development, Livelihood Generation, climate change etc.  Excellent knowledge of project management and strategic planning of partnership creation and coordination, as well as advising decision-makers and strengthening capacities. Experience of Natural Resource management among rural communities for implementing