Join us on 15 March 2022 for a small-scale** but high level “Water Summit for Global Development 2022” in the Delft University of Technology Aula. We invite researchers, practitioners, policy makers, students, and volunteers to discuss how multidisciplinary science, technology, policy and innovation can improve access to water, and how we can achieve this together.
** Due to the local COVID-19 policies, spots for this event are subject to the rules in place at the time of the event. This could mean you are required to show a valid corona entry pass. Check our website for the latest info: watersummitdelft.nl.
Theme – Catching Up With Urbanisation
Water is a basic human right and should be available to all. The less we have to worry about the availability, quality and cost of water the better human lives and human societies become. Yet in many areas around the world, urbanisation has outpaced the supply of public services such as water and electricity. Aging infrastructure and water resources are coming under increasing pressure. New technologies and sustainable water management practices are needed to ensure that current and future water demands for all can be met. During the Water Summit will we discuss how multidisciplinary science, technology, policy and innovation can improve access to water and how we can achieve this together.
New inclusive paradigms
The UN 2023 Water Conference, which will be held in a year’s time, is an excellent opportunity to make the connection between water and all kinds of other areas. There is also an urgent need for upscaling. Henk Ovink conveyed this message during the Water Summit for Global Development held today in Delft.
That was the end of the successful water meeting that took place at TU Delft. The colorful international company was presented with a full-day program under the heading of ‘catching up with urbanization’, including thematic sessions, speeches and a water dialogue (see the visual summary). There was also a separate symposium for students. The Water Summit was organized by the Global Initiative of TU Delft, Water for Impact TU Delft, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development (Utrecht University) and IHE-Delft, with support from the International Water Conferences Foundation.
Kalanithy Vairavamoorthy (International Water Association), Elizabeth Tilley (ETH for Development in Zurich) and Nick van de Giesen (TU Delft) gave the three keynote speeches. According to Vairavamoorthy, the countries of the Global South are experiencing a paradigm shift. Precisely because in contrast to the Netherlands, for example, they have done less in the past in the field of water, there is more room to do things differently. This provides all kinds of opportunities, such as the reuse of waste water as drinking water, according to the IWA director. The countries are leapfrogging towards new inclusive paradigms for water.
Tilley calls higher education a key to the success of sustainable development goals associated with water. She talks about the many restrictions Africans face. Based on their experiences, Tilley emphasizes the importance of, among other things, open access to publications, open science and good research funding. Van de Giesen discusses ‘feeling water’. The Deftse professor presents an intriguing thesis: if you love water and live in a water-scarce environment, you’d better learn to feel water!
