Water Security and Climate Change Conference (WSCC) successfully connects global stakeholders

From November 21-23, 2023 the University of Cuenca in Ecuador played host to the Water Security and Climate Change Conference (WSCC), a pivotal event that brought together approximately 150 participants from over 24 countries. Among them were representatives of the Institute of Technology and Resources Management in the Tropics and Subtropics (ITT) at TH Köln.

The conference, established in 2016 as part of the cooperation between distinguished university networks arising from the DAAD’s ‘Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation – exceed’ program, successfully achieved its mission to facilitate networking and collaboration among stakeholders and decision-makers in the field of water security and climate change.

Rich programm

The 2023 edition was organized by the Sustainable Water Management in Developing Countries Network (SWINDON), the Centers for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD), the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), the University of Hohenheim, the SDGnexus Network, and the University of Cuenca. The conference featured a rich program including thematic sessions, workshops, keynote speeches, and panel discussions. The aim was to foster a high level of transdisciplinary interaction and provide a platform for meaningful discussions on critical topics.

Water Security and Climate Change Conference

For more information, including access to recorded keynotes and panel discussions, visit the WSCC website.

WSCC

Water and Climate

As part of the conference series, the WSCC 2023 focused on three main themes:

Water and Climate: Challenges, Opportunities, and Innovative Solutions
Water and Climate Resilience in Agri-Food Systems
Water Security: Science-Policy-Society Dialogue (Priorities and Implementation)

The program comprised a variety of sessions:

Keynotes featured thought leaders addressing issues such as co-producing climate adaptation strategies for mountain water security, strategies and challenges for soil and water management in Brazil, and the politics of water security.

High-Level Panels tackled crucial topics, including future-proof systems for a changing world and addressing the global climate and water crisis through consistent policy, effective action, and the role of academia.

Thematic Sessions delved into specific areas like water management and hydropower integration, ecosystem resilience, building climate resilience in water systems, innovation and technology for agri-food systems transformation, and societal and economic improvements for increased resilience.

Workshops covered emerging topics, providing a deep dive into subjects such as a toolbox for early career scientists, the water security index, policies for making agri-food systems resilient to climate change, decision-making for climate change adaptation, and financial mechanisms towards water security.

WSCC 2024 in Germany

The 2024 edition is already in the planning stages, scheduled to take place in Germany, promising further collaboration and the exchange of innovative ideas within the WSCC community.

+ Über die WSCC

The Water Security and Climate Change Conference (WSCC) is an annual event that serves as a global platform for scientists, policymakers, and stakeholders to discuss and address water security challenges in the context of climate change. The conference aims to bridge the gap between disciplines and foster collaboration for innovative solutions to ensure water and food secure societies.