High Level Policy Dialogue on Fostering Collaborative efforts to protect receding Glaciers

High Level Policy Dialogue

on

Fostering Collaborative Efforts to Protect Receding Glaciers

Date- 25^th March, 2025, Time- 11 am (Geneva Time),

Organized

India Water Foundation

Platform – Virtual (ZOOM)

Webinar ID: 830 6373 0686
Passcode: 137749

To join the webinar: CLICK HERE

Introduction

Biodiversity decline have many common root causes: forest degradation and habitat fragmentation. The benefits and cost effectiveness of working with nature extends to other domains—including food and water security, and climate change. The impact of water management on aquatic ecosystems, wildlife, and biodiversity cannot be understated. As the world faces increasing water demands and environmental challenges, finding a balance between human needs and environmental conservation becomes a global imperative. To reduce future shocks and build societal resilience, we must focus on well-being and inclusiveness, and trigger investment and behaviour changes. But to achieve this, bold, interdependent actions are needed across several fronts—each of which is necessary and none sufficient on its own. Efforts to conserve and restore biodiversity, address climate change in ways that limit global temperature rise without imposing unintended pressures on biodiversity, and transform the way we produce, consume and trade goods and services that rely on and impact biodiversity must be increased. Unsustainable subsidies must be redirected into nature-positive incentives. The recently adopted Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) includes a target to protect 30% of the planet’s land and seas by 2030; the Global Plastics Treaty which is legally binding—will include mandates around plastic environmental pollution and address marine biodiversity loss. Financial-related drivers also mean organizations will have to simultaneously consider how water scarcity and pollution, climate disruption and loss of nature will impact their business, and how their business is driving climate change and biodiversity loss. As organizations navigate pathways towards net-zero greenhouse gases (GHG)—while also adapting to the impacts of climate change—biodiversity and nature will inevitably have to become part of the plan, as well as part of risk assessment. Our commitment to a healthier planet includes stewardship of ecosystems through water management and biodiversity protection. Working to responsibly manage and reduce water use while engaging with various collaborators to support conservation and habitat restoration.

Objective:

The objective of this high level dialogue is to understand how incorporating a ‘Transversal’ shift interlinking vertical linkages between water-energy-food-biodiversity with horizontal linkages in climate and water-related policies shall need managing ecosystems, including agricultural and urban ecosystems, as well as the use of wildlife, through an integrated approach, to promote healthy ecosystems and healthy people. To explore the need to have a dialogue with diverse stakeholders for accelerating partnerships by engaging local communities, UN agencies, funding organizations, government and policymakers to analyze the effects on all stakeholders and sectors involved. This session will explore how we need to rethink partnerships and cooperation with our greatest allies in fixing biodiversity loss.

CHAIR ADDRESS
Sh. Dr. Raj Bhushan Chaudhary
Dr. Raj Bhushan Choudhary is an Indian doctor-turned-politician and the Minister of State for Jal Shakti in the Narendra Modi government. He holds MBBS and MD degrees and began his political career in 2019 with the Vikassheel Insaan Party before joining the BJP in 2022. Dr. Choudhary is known for his dynamic leadership and commitment to public service. In 2024, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from Muzaffarpur with a record margin of over 234,000 votes. Associated with organizations like RSS and Nishad Vikas Sangh, he has also served as the Bihar Unit President of the National Association of Fishermen.

Eminent Speaker

Dr. Arvind Kumar	Mr. Bharat Lal
Dr. Arvind Kumar is a strategist and key-influencer in development sector with more than 30+ 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.	Mr. Bharat Lal, Secretary General and CEO of NHRC India since July 2023, is a former civil servant with over 35 years of service in good governance, human rights, and sustainable development. As founding Mission Director of Jal Jeevan Mission, he ensured clean tap water for over 194 million rural households. He led public policy reforms at NCGG and strengthened anti-corruption frameworks at Lokpal. His initiatives include WASMO, Chiranjeevi Yojana, and Van Bandhu Kalyan Yojana, improving water access, maternal health, and tribal welfare. Known for innovative solutions, he has shaped governance, digital transformation, and human rights protection.
Mr. Ignacio Deregibus	Dr. Stefan Uhlenbrook
Mr. Ignacio Deregibus, an expert in environmental policy and project management, is the Executive Director of the International Water Resources Association (IWRA) since November 2016. He previously worked with UNESCO’s Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme and as an Environmental Policy Consultant with the OECD in Paris. In Argentina, he served as a Business Specialist at Accenture for over four years. An Argentinian and Italian national, Ignacio holds a bachelor’s degree in Political Science (International Relations) from the University of Buenos Aires and a Master in Public Affairs (Sustainability) from Sciences-Po, Paris. His expertise focuses on water and sustainable development.	Dr. Stefan Uhlenbrook, an expert in water management and the water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus, leads the Hydrology, Water, and Cryosphere program at WMO since September 2022, focusing on early warning systems and water resource management. From 2019 to 2022, he worked on water and food system transformations at IWMI, Sri Lanka. He coordinated UNESCO’s World Water Assessment Programme (2015–2019) and held leadership roles at UNESCO-IHE (now IHE-Delft). A professor at IHE-Delft (since 2005) and Delft University (2009–2020), he holds a PhD (1999) and habilitation (2003) from the University of Freiburg, Germany.
Ms. Sara Manuelli	Ms. Sonja Koeppel
Ms. Sara Manuelli is a Communications and Advocacy Officer with a background in social anthropology and journalism. She is the author of several books and articles published in technical journals and the media, focusing on sustainable mountain development. Since 2008, she has worked at the Mountain Partnership Secretariat at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in Rome, Italy, where she develops and implements strategies to raise awareness about mountain regions and their communities.	Ms. Sonja Koeppel leads the water team at the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe and serves as secretary to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and co-secretary to the UNECE/ WHO-Europe Protocol on Water and Health. She has worked for more than 10 years in the secretariat, for example coordinating the activities on climate change adaptation. Before joining UNECE, she worked for UNEP in Nairobi and studied in Budapest, Stuttgart, Bordeaux and Manchester.
Dr. Mohd. Farooq Azam	Ms. Shweta Tyagi
Dr. Mohd. Farooq Azam, Senior Cryosphere Specialist at ICIMOD and Associate Professor at IIT Indore, is a leading glacio-hydrologist advancing Himalayan cryosphere research. He earned his PhD from the University of Grenoble and a master’s from JNU. He established key monitoring stations at Chhota Shigri and Drang Drung glaciers and has over 50 peer-reviewed publications, contributing to reports like HIMAP, HI-WISE, and IPCC. He received the IUGG Early Career Scientist Award (2023) and holds leadership roles at IACS, GTN-G, and WGMS. A strong science communicator, he raises awareness about cryospheric challenges through media collaborations.	Ms. Shweta Tyagi is Chief Functionary, India Water Foundation. She is results-focused development sector professional with a 23 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.