Introduction
To address the challenge of climate change and ensure sustainable livelihoods globally a thorough knowledge of existing and future water resources is a prerequisite.
The Water and Climate Coalition (WCC) provides a platform for an integrated water and climate approach focusing on data, information, monitoring systems and operational capacity. This action-focused collaborative platform is called the Activity Marketplace. The Activity Marketplace is a unique endeavour to bring together stakeholders from disparate fields in a bid to galvanize momentum on the water and climate agenda.
Objectives
- Raise awareness of the importance of collaborative water and climate action
- Introduce Activity Marketplace of the Water and Climate Coalition as a collaborative platform for joined water and climate action
Watch the session
Run of the show
Welcome and Introduction of the Water and Climate Coalition (WCC) | Johannes Cullmann | 10 |
Introduction of the Activity Marketplace of the WCC | Michael Schwab | 5 |
Panel Discussion: Challenges and Opportunities of interdisciplinary cooperation on concrete action for interlinking water and climate activities.
| Moderator: Johannes Cullmann Panellists: Valentin Aich Lis Mullin Bernhardt Eddy Moors Tom Williams Silvia Gaya | 30 |
Interactive Q+A with the Audience |
| 10 |
Conclusions | Michael Schwab | 5 |
Moderator
Dr. Johannes Cullmann
Director Water and Cryosphere of the World Meteorological Organization
Biography
Mr Cullmann joined the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) in 2015 as the Director of the Climate and Water Department. From 1 January 2020, he is the Director for Water and Cryosphere. Mr Cullmann was Director of the IHP/HWRP division (science and international cooperation) of the German Federal Institute of Hydrology from 2007 to 2015. He was involved in formulating the Institute’s research strategy, delivering the first climate change impact analysis of German water-ways and took part in harmonising data for assessing hydrological futures for the Rhine river basin. He helped coordinating international water affairs within the German government and with international partners. From 2012 to 2014, he was President of the Intergovernmental Council of UNESCO’s water programme. In this function he has been negotiating implementation plans for UNESCO with Governments and other UN Agencies. Mr Cullmann was the German representative in the Commission for the Hydrology of the Rhine River, one of the important features of European transboundary water cooperation.
Keynote Speaker
Dr. Michael Schwab
Coordinator for Members and Activities of the Water and Climate Coalition
Panellists
Dr. Valentin Aich
Senior Water and Climate Specialist of the Global Water Partnership (GWP)
Dr Joakim Harlin
Chief, Freshwater Ecosystems Unit and Chief Manager, UNEP-DHI Centre on Water & Environment
Biography
Dr Joakim Harlin is a water resources and international development professional, manager and leader. A citizen of Sweden, raised in Zimbabwe, with a more than 30-year long career spanning the areas of international policy, business and organizational development, partnerships and all forms of water related projects.
He has held positions with research institutions, government agencies, private companies and for the past fifteen years within the UN system. In his current position heading up both the Freshwater Unit of UN Environment and the UNEP-DHI Centre on Water & Environment he is responsible for the overall coordination and implementation of global policy and programmes guided by UNEP’s Freshwater Strategy. This includes, among others, monitoring and reporting on Sustainable Development Goal 6 targets on ambient water quality, water resources management and water-related ecosystems, and supporting countries to address water-related risks and disasters stemming from climate change and the degradation of freshwater ecosystems.
He serves as UNEP’s representative on UN-Water and leads its Expert Group in support of Agenda 2030.
Prof. Dr. Eddy J. Moors
Rector of IHE Delft Institute for Water Education
Biography
Prof. Dr. Eddy J. Moors is Rector of IHE Delft Institute for Water Education. He also holds the position of professor “Water and Climate” at VU University, Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Moors started his career at the World Meteorological Organization working in the Africa and the Caribbean. Before coming to Delft, he worked at Wageningen University and Research.
Moors is among others chair of the IGRAC foundation, president of the Global Network of Water Museums, member of the board of trustees of the Just Digit Foundation and member of the SENSE research school. He is associate editor of “Environmental Science and Policy” as well as member of the editorial board of “Climate Services”.
Dir. Tom Williams
Director, Nature Action & Water of the World Business Council for Sustainable Development
Ms. Silvia Gaya
Senior Adviser for Water and Environment, WASH Programme, UNICEF Headquarters
Biography
Engineer with advanced degree in Politics and International Relations, with 10 years’ experience working with private sector and over 20 years’ experience managing UNICEF large programmes in several countries. She has worked in climate resilience and adaptation programmes in developing and fragile countries as well as in as in high profile emergencies and conflict contexts. Presently working in NYHQ/PD as Senior Advisor on Water and Environment.
