Event: Water Crisis – conflicts and opportunities

Together with the Irrigation and Water Forum and Institution of Civil Engineers, King’s Water is hosting an event this Friday 11 November on “Water Crisis”. Speakers include experts from DFID, FAO, EA, GIZ, the UN, and others. Live streaming will be available for those not physically present in London. More details can be found on the event page.

 

There are growing concerns about the increasing frequency and severity of droughts and water scarcity remains high on international agenda. Water scarcity, together with climate, environment, and population stresses, compounds political instability and water conflict, and this requires emergency action both nationally and internationally. It is widely acknowledged that there are different types of scarcity (e.g. physical, economic) and the consequences of scarcity are context-dependent.

This seminar examines the relationship between water crises, particularly related to surface water, and conflict. It also looks at water crises through the lens of opportunity – exploring the interplay between conflict and cooperation in solving water crises, and exploring how water crises can act as a catalyst to improve water governance.

This one-day workshop will include presentations from IWF members, Kings Water, FAO and DFID among others. The full programme will be published shortly, and will include papers on characterisation and management of drought, challenging the war and water scarcity discourse; role of regional drought and climate change in contributing to conflict, and the use of water management as a tool for conflict resolution, amongst others.