26 August 2024 | 11:00 - 12:30 CEST | Location: C1, Level 2 at World Water Week
This event presents why and how to invest in water to enable resilient low emission development. It will present solutions across agriculture, water, sanitation, energy and nature based solutions; policy triggers to overcome barriers and mainstream water into climate actions; and financing; including high integrity carbon credits and more.
This event will present why and how we can invest in improved water management to curb emissions and ensure low emission pathways are resilient in a shifting climate. Solutions will cover immediate win-win strategies to reduce methane and carbon emissions in nature, agriculture, power and water sector; policy triggers, including improving integration of water into net-zero standards and measures in national and corporate governance; and financing mechanisms, such as high integrity voluntary carbon credits, that can and are implemented today.
The event will include presentations of latest research on water linkages to climate mitigation and highlight opportunities to expand commitments to net-zero water utilities, methane reduction in rice production, and hydropower development while mobilizing water organizations to promote wetland and peatland conservation. Following presentations of actionable solutions and means to scale implementation, lively debate and discussions will be held on priorities to overcome barriers for investment in water as well as to mainstream water resilience within public and private sector decarbonization.
Agenda
Welcome and Introduction
Keynotes
Decarbonizing the Water Sector - Learnings from the Asian Development Bank
Representative from Asian Development Bank
Developing a national water-energy-carbon strategy
Mike Rinker, Senior Technical Advisor, US Department of Energy
Solution Showcases
Five minute presentations outlining available, implemented solutions, scope of opportunity and next steps for investments at scale. Presentations will be followed by panel discussion.
Net Zero Water Utilities
Austin Alexander, Vice President, Sustainability and Social Impact, Xylem
Smart Irrigation Solution for Rice
Amod Kumar Thakur, Principal Scientist for Plant Physiology, Indian Council for Agricultural Research-Indian Institute of Water Management (ICAR-IIWM)
Fulfilling the promise of the Freshwater Challenge
Francesca Antonelli, Programme Head, Rivers and Lakes, Wetlands International
Carbon Credits for Water Solutions
Evan Thomas, University of Colorado
Panel Discussion: Scaling Solutions and investment at scale
Tanya Huizer, Senior Water Resources Specialist, Asian Development Bank
Sandra Ruckstuhl, Senior Researcher, IWMI
Mike Rinker, Senior Technical Advisor, US Department of Energy
James Dalton, Director of Global Water Programme, IUCN
Closing Remarks & Recommendations
Convenors
Alliance for Global Water Adaptation
Asian Development Bank
International Union for Conservation of Nature
International Water Management Institute
United States Department of Energy
Water Initiative for Net Zero