Program

Water crisis within climate crisis – and ways out
The global water system is facing manifold crises, increasingly exacerbated by ongoing climate change. To reduce the pressure on the planetary boundary for freshwater change, strong efforts are required to unlock water saving potentials across sectors, including transformations in agri-food systems and urban environments.

The Economics of Water: Shaping a Sustainable Future with a New Paradigm for Water

• How can we redefine the economic value of water to reflect its true scarcity and importance?
• Can new economic models help create more equitable access to water resources globally?

From Global Vision to Action: Towards a Water-Secure World

• What role do international frameworks, such as the UN SDGs or the Paris Agreement, play in shaping global water governance? What additional measures can and should governments and the private sector take to accelerate progress?
• How can these commitments be transferred into action?
• How is water interlinked with energy, food, ecosystems and how can it positively influence the outcome of all the other SDGs?

Achieving Sustainable Development Goal #6: Progress, Pitfalls, and the Path Forward

• How can governments, industries, NGOs, and communities align efforts to address water and sanitation challenges globally?
• How can international frameworks and funding mechanisms better support progress toward SDG6?
• How does the way we communicate about sanitation and hygiene influence the success of WASH programs?
• What critical skills and resources are needed to build institutional resilience and capacity for sustainable water management?

Johannes Rück, German WASH Network & German Toilet Organization – in consultation

Water at the Heart of Global Policies: The Role of Legislation and Regulatory Frameworks

• Making water a priority within the Green Deal and aligning relevant EU policies to better integrate water considerations into the overall strategy
• How can policymakers encourage private sector involvement in water governance initiatives and vice-versa?
• What are the lessons from implementing water efficient solutions and what role can the housing and sanitation industry play in progressing sustainability goals?

Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, European Commission – invited
Hans Jürgen Kalmbach, CEO, Hansgrohe – in consultation
Further speakers currently in consultation.

Towards a European Blue Deal – Recognising the Socio-Economic Value of Water

• Paving the way forward to a water resilient Europe
• Blue diplomacy and the importance of integrating water into the EU’s foreign policy

Dr. Sibylle Pawlowski, Head of Department W “Water Management, Water and Soil Protection, Marine Protection, Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV) – invited

One Test, One Standard: The Successful European Harmonization of Materials in Contact with Drinking Water

• Goal: Making the European single market more sustainable and stronger
• Collaborative approach across countries

Moderator: Volker Meyer

Water and wastewater PPPs: Where and how are they being used?

Financing Water: The Key to Water Security?

• What are the key challenges and opportunities related to financing water?
• What are some key levers to raise the current investment levels?
• What is the role of public-private partnerships in water and sanitation projects and what are the potential benefits and risks?

Further speakers currently in consultation

Water in Corporate Sustainability – Priority or Afterthought?

• What measures are companies implementing to reduce water usage across their operations and production processes?
• How do innovative products and technologies contribute to corporate water-saving efforts?
• How can companies influence consumer behavior to support water conservation goals?
• What metrics are used to measure the impact of water conservation efforts, and how do companies report these to stakeholders?

Further speakers currently in consultation

Unlocking the Sanitation Market: How to Create an Ecosystem between Market Opportunities and Social Impact Initiatives

• How can businesses and institutions bring innovation and scalable solutions to underserved markets?
• What regulatory, financial, and infrastructural barriers prevent businesses from entering the sanitation market? How do the barriers differ between developed and developing markets?
• How can governments, international organizations, and NGOs work together to create a more conducive environment for private sector investment?
• What role can corporate social responsibility (CSR) and social business models play in creating long-term, sustainable sanitation solutions?

Bonifacio B. Magtibay, Technical Officer, Environmental/Occupational Health, WHO-Philippines – in consultation

Sacred Waters, Sustainable Futures: The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Ensuring Global Water Security in a Changing Climate

Ernst Bromeis knows all the tricks of the trade. He has been an expedition swimmer and water ambassador for years.
His water journey has taken him 1200km through the entire Rhine across Europe to the North Sea. His swimming adventures began in the springs of Graubünden and took him from Lake Victoria in Africa to the largest freshwater sea in the world, the mystical Lake Baikal in Siberia, where he immersed himself in unknown water worlds. Experience the existential resource of water from a unique perspective, from the water! Bromeis has been awarded the prestigious “Prix Eco” for his achievements. He has appeared as a speaker at the World Water Forum in Dakar/Senegal and at the Word Economic Forum in Davos. Ernst Bromeis embodies an independent, courageous and sustainable vision for the protection of water. His unique perspective and experience as a water philosopher and his pioneering spirit make him an ally of water, raising awareness, inspiring people and building communities. His latest project: building a world water library on the Rhine.

At the end of the first day of the conference, you can look forward to impressive pictures, exciting anecdotes that look beyond the horizon and musical highlights.