Date: 14 January 2015
Time: 15:00-17:00
Location: Etopía. Avda. Ciudad de Soria, 8. 50010 Zaragoza
Convener: the Water Footprint Network

Side Event to 2015 UN-Water International Conference convened by Water Footprint Network
Rapid economic development, growing populations and climate change effects on the water cycle are placing greater stress on fresh water and threaten the sustainability nature and human life globally. Considering the growing multiple water demands, ensuring sustainable, efficient and equitable water use is more than ever a challenge. New tools and methods are therefore required to inspire, inform and broaden cooperation in river basins, across sectors and between countries. Water Footprint Assessment (WFA) provides a common language which builds a shared understanding for informed decision making and strategic action at local, regional and global scales. WFA opens up new insight and contributes to successful action. 

This seminar convened by Water Footprint Network will focus on how WFA contributes to sustainable development through fair allocation at local, regional and global scales; how it stimulates IWRM and reduction in water scarcity and pollution through integrated regulations; and how companies can support meeting social, economic and environmental goals engagement in water stewardship. Speakers from government, business, academia and NGOs will present the latest WFA applications which demonstrate how WFA is a tool for sustainable development.  This will be followed by a lively discussion on using WFA in multi-sectoral engagement in meeting the SDGs. 

Programme

Facing the world’s water crisis: how Water Footprint Assessment can help us achieve sustainable development goals
Keynote: Ruth Mathews, Executive Director, Water Footprint Network

Addressing fair allocation of fresh water resources locally and globally
Arjen Hoekstra, University of Twente  

Reducing water scarcity and water pollution through integrated regulatory reform
Giuseppe Frapporti, UK Environment Agency  

Reaching social, economic and environmental development goals through private sector engagement
Michael Spencer, Water Stewardship Initiative

Corporate water sustainability through Water Footprint Assessment
Maria José Amores and Antonio Carretero, CETAQUA-AENOR

Cross-Sector Panel discussion
Moderated by: Ruth Mathews, Executive Director Water Footprint Network

Panel includes speakers and representatives from: government, business, academia, civil society:
Alberto Garrido, CEIGRAM & Botin Foundation  
Lesha Witmer, World Wide Fund for Nature
Bimal Arora, Centre for Responsible Business (tbc)
Giuseppe Frapporti, UK Environment Agency  
Arjen Hoekstra, University of Twente
Michael Spencer, Water Stewardship Initiative

>> Side Event. Water Footprint Assessment in support of sustainable development