Room 8

The reuse of wastewater has become an increasing trend over time as it’s one of the main non-conventional water resources. Moreover, maximizing freshwater use efficiently is needed to cope with water scarcity.

This session will bring evidence of the necessity to embed scientific knowledge and innovative solutions into governance mechanisms.

In Africa, the governance of several transboundary aquifers was enhanced through the application of innovative approaches to legal settings.

The session will call for a strong political will and commitment from decision makers to support science in the UN Global Accelerator Framework for SDG 6.

Conversations on water issues are often dominated by water sector, water experts and specialised civil society organisations. Our session aims to change this. We need to hear new voices. With young leaders emerging all over of the planet in business, media, technology, civil society, and governments, if they turn their leadership to water, it would be a powerful way of approaching, understanding problem and addressing causes of inequalities. We want to help the water community by bring in new leaders in an exciting way.

Bringing over testimonials from community leaders, women, youth and indigenous communities from different continents on how they deal with access to water, how they manage it, how they participate on decision-making processes related to water and how they would change in the water sector of today.

"Growing, and maximising the impact of urban sanitation investments and services in Africa."

Investing in nature-based solutions, such as preserving or restoring wetlands and natural flood management measures, is essential to enhance water security. These solutions can complement or substitute for grey infrastructure, such as built reservoirs and water treatment plants. Mobilising funding for those solutions raises specific challenges, as they generate multiple benefits for a diverse range of beneficiaries - and only some of these benefits can be monetised.

This section aims to discuss how multipurpose dams are adapting to changes caused by climate change and the increasing pressure from different water uses. This involves discussions on how different management approaches, including adaptative strategies, available instruments (standards) and other mechanisms can contribute to meeting future demands for energy security, sustainability and resilience of multi-purpose infrastructures and water security.

The objective is to share recommendations to maximize the economic benefits of multipurpose dams (generation, navigation and consumption) and present different financing options according to each project.

Maintaining water quality is crucial for efficient water resources management. Improving water quality can be achieved by more balanced and multidisciplinary approach to the research, policy-making, and practices. Sound governance, using an inclusive multi-stakeholder approach and knowledge-based policymaking, is a key to improve water security. The Session will provide elements for a better understanding of how governance, partnerships, inclusiveness and strong policies can make a significant change in water quality.

The Human Right to Water is a critical component of the international rights framework, and is a necessary component of the advancement of human society and development. Coming on the heels of the 10th anniversary of the UN General Assembly's adoption of Resolution 64/292's explicit right to water and with the 20th anniversary of the Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights' General Comment 15 recognizing the human right to water coming later this year, this panel asks: where are we now and where are we going?