WEF Nexus

CMRA 2021 Summer School
2021-09-05 08:00 - 2021-09-12 17:00 UTC
Modelling approaches for climate risk and climate change adaptions in the context of sustainable intensification in semi-arid West Africa
The Leibniz Centre for Agricultural Landscape Research (ZALF) and the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) invite applications for an international summer school that will take place at the ICRISAT regional headquarter in Bamako, Mali.
Applications are invited from highly-motivated middle stage PhD students and postdocs from West Africa and Germany with a background in agricultural or environmental sciences and some prior modelling experience.
The summer school aims to enhance awareness of the state of the art in crop modelling for addressing climate risk and sustainable intensification among the region’s next generation of researchers and agricultural policy makers. It is designed to provide students with a broad overview of system’s analysis, best practices in model application climate change impact assessments, as well as emerging applications and challenges for crop modelling to support sustainable intensification of smallholder farming systems. Students will be equipped with knowledge and skills to use crop models in the design and assessment of resilient and productive cropping systems.
Offered in French and English, the course will combine lectures with international experts, together with hands-on tutorials, and group work and discussions. The maximum number of participants is 26.
Date
The summer school has been planned for September 5–12, 2021 ( Please note that depending on how the COVID-19 situation evolves, the time and/or location might still need to be changed)
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Location
International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), Bamako, Mali
Fees
Travel costs, visa fees (if required), food and accommodation will be covered for successful applicants.
The Summer School is financially supported by the:

© 2020 by VolkswagenStiftung
© Leibniz-Zentrum für Agrarlandschaftsforschung (ZALF) e. V. Müncheberg
Copyright 2019 @ ICRISAT, All Right Reserved

AGRF Summit 2021: Pathways to Recovery and Resilient Food Systems
2021-09-06 - 2021-10-10
The eleventh Annual Summit of the AGRF, which brings together thousands of delegates from governments, the civil society, the private sector, research community, and development partners will be held virtually from 6-10 September 2021 and will be co-hosted by the Government of Kenya and the AGRF Partners Group. Events begin on Monday, September 6.
2021 is a critical year for recovery and food system transformation. This year’s AGRF Summit will explore the pathways and actions needed to accelerate this process and steer the continent towards food systems that: deliver sufficient and nutritious food, do not impact the environment negatively and create sustainable, dignified jobs, and shared prosperity for Africa.
The Summit aims to deliver the following outcomes:

Articulate an African vision on inclusive agricultural transformation
Reflect on emerging coalitions
Identify priority country-level areas for support and intervention
Complement public commitments with commitments from other stakeholders
Catalyze an action agenda towards the UN Food Systems Summit

Click here for further information and registration requirements.

The Nexus of Law and Water: Recent developments in the rights of nature and ecocide
2021-09-07 13:00 - 17:00 UTC
Holistic legal definitions for environmental concerns have proven elusive – but recent developments have pushed forward the acceptance of the Rights of Nature and a shared and accepted definition of Ecocide. These changes are driven by many factors including an escalation of litigation related to climate change in jurisdictions around the world and grassroots activist movements. As a result, we are witnessing a growing recognition at the national and international scale. The Right to Healthy Environment has been enshrined in a growing number of countries and cited in court filings and rulings. In June 2021 an independent expert panel led to a consensus on a core text of a definition of ecocide as an international crime.
This webinar, organized by the IWRA Water Security Taskforce, will address both the developments and the influences that the Right to a Healthy Environment and the definition of Ecocide have on each other and what it entails for the future. Our panel will consider the drivers for this movement and provide a clearer understanding as to what these developments mean for our rivers, mountains, forests, and the health of our planet at large.

Topics

The Evolution of Environmental Rights
Reshaping the human relationship with water: what happens when a river becomes a person
Rights of Rivers and Beyond
Re-mainstreaming rivers through advocacy (activism, media, and legal fight). Case Study- Turagh river
Climate Litigation in Brazil: is it enough?

Panelists:
John H. Knox – Professor, Wake Forest University, USA
Dr. Erin O’Donnell – Fellow, University of Melbourne, Australia
Shrishtee Bajpai – Founder, Rights of Rivers South Asia Alliance, India
Mohammad Azaz – Chairman, River, and Delta Research Centre (RDRC), Bangladesh
Guilherme Pratti – PH.D. Student, Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies Pisa, Italy
Moderated by: Dr. Amrisha Pandey, Assistant Professor of Law, Gujarat Maritime University.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Originally posted.

Wastewater and Emerging Pollutants: Unfolding A Toxic Story
2021-09-09 08:00 - 09:30 UTC
This webinar aims to discuss the matters of heavy metal contamination, microplastics, and nutrients with reference to wastewater. It will focus on case studies, projects, and examples that will present the current trends and ways to tackle these issues.
Registration is required. Click here.

Wastewater and Emerging Pollutants: Unfolding A Toxic Story
2021-09-09 15:00 - 16:30 UTC
Background:
Emerging pollutants is a term used by water quality professionals to describe contaminants that have been detected in water bodies. These may cause harm to human health and the ecological systems and are typically not governed under the current environmental laws, posing as a greater risk to our livelihood.
Heavy metal contamination is an issue of utmost importance as it has harmful effects on both, the environment and on humans. Some of these negative impacts include the death of aquatic life, algal blooms, habitat destruction from sedimentation, debris, increased water flow, other short and long-term toxicity from chemical contaminants. The main threats to human health from heavy metals are associated, for example, with exposure to lead, cadmium, mercury, and arsenic. Most of the plastic produced in the world is not recycled but ends up in landfills or open dumps which makes it more likely to reach rivers, lakes, and eventually oceans. Microplastics (MPs), defined as less than 5 mm in diameter, can be directly released in the water or formed by the degradation of bigger pieces. Many issues are linked to the presence of MPs in water, such as damage to airways and stomachs of animals, blocking canals and sewers, and creating breeding habitats for mosquitoes. Excessive nutrient loading is a major threat to aquatic ecosystems worldwide that leads to profound changes in aquatic biodiversity and biogeochemical processes. Nutrients in excess can come from various sources. They can occur naturally, however, human-related inputs are much greater than natural inputs.
This webinar aims to discuss these matters with reference to wastewater and will focus on case studies, projects, and examples that will present the current trends and ways to tackle these issues.
Join the webinar on Thursday, 9 September 2021, from 3:00 PM – 4:30 PM Nairobi time (EAT). Please register using this link.
Organizer:
The Global Wastewater Initiative (GW²I) is a multi-stakeholder platform that brings together UN agencies, international organizations, governments, scientists, the private sector, and non-profit organizations with the goal of information-sharing and cooperation for an effective and comprehensive response to the challenges posed by wastewater management.
The GW²I is chaired by Turkey and hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Together with its partners and through the Global Wastewater Initiative, UNEP seeks to enhance the understanding of wastewater as a resource and works on various issues related to sustainable wastewater management including policy guidelines, technology, knowledge generation, capacity building, and awareness-raising that contribute to the implementation of the sustainable development goal 6, target 6.3.1, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater discharged in our water bodies.
Do you want to join the Initiative? Please contact riccardo.zennaro@un.org and avantika.singh@un.org.
Speakers:
Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa – Programme Specialist, Division of Water Sciences, UNESCO
Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa is a Programme Specialist for water quality in the Division of Water Sciences—the Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP) of UNESCO in Paris. Working for UNESCO since 2007, Sarantuyaa leads IHP activities on water quality and wastewater management, including the UNESCO Project on Emerging Pollutants in Water and Wastewater, which aims to enhance and generate knowledge, promoting research, providing policy advice, and building human capacities on emerging pollutants. Sarantuyaa has a Postdoctoral Degree in Environment and Sustainable Development Policy and a Doctoral degree in Environmental Engineering. Before joining UNESCO, she worked at the United Nations University in Tokyo.
Javier Mateo-Sagasta – Senior Researcher and Coordinator on Water Quality, International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
Javier has 20 years of experience as an agricultural engineer and environmental scientist in programs and projects aiming at the control of water pollution, the safe use of marginal quality water in agriculture, integrated water resources management, and sustainable agricultural production in both developed and developing countries. In IWMI Javier is a senior researcher and coordinates IWMI’s work on water quality across research groups. Javier is the chair of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Global Water Quality Alliance, a member of the Steering Committee of the Global Wastewater Initiative, and a member of the Management Team of the CGIAR Anti-Microbial Resistance Hub. He currently leads the “ReWaterMENA project, and undertakes regional and global assessments on wastewater, water pollution, and resource recovery and reuse with UN partners.
Ramesh Ramachandran – Director, National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM)
As Former Chair of Future Coasts (formerly Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone; LOICZ) from 2011 to 2015, Prof. Dr. Ramesh implemented the LOICZ Nutrient Budget for major estuaries on the east and west coast of India among several other studies globally. For the past decade, Ramesh Ramachandran has been involved in coupled land-ocean interface studies, its management, to aid policy decisions of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change. As the Founder Director of the National Centre for Sustainable Coastal Management of the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, several trans-disciplinary research studies spanning coastal vulnerability, socio-economic development, coastal/ marine conservation, spatial planning, land-based pollution, island management, integrated coastal zone management, and climate change are being undertaken under his leadership. Currently, he is also chairing the steering committee of Global Partnership on Nutrient Management (GPNM)-UNEP.
The webinar will be moderated by Riccardo Zennaro, Associate Programme Officer, UNEP, and Avantika Singh, Intern, UNEP.
Riccardo is an Associate Programme Officer for wastewater management at UNEP in Nairobi, Kenya. He is passionate about wastewater management and sanitation and has experience working on environmental and water-related programmes and projects in Europe and Africa. He holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Technology and International Affairs.
Avantika is supporting the wastewater management portfolio at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya. She has recently completed her under graduation in Genetic engineering from Chennai, India. She has also interned with AstraZeneca in Bangalore, India, and has worked with wastewater during this period as well. She aims to be able to contribute effectively towards improving the current water management and sanitation scenario in developing countries and make an overall impact on the environment. Avantika looks forward to completing a Master’s degree in the associated fields to become an effective contributor.
The original webinar announcement is available here.

Advocating For Ecosystems and WASH: A Blended Learning Course - Call for Registration
2021-09-13 - 2021-09-30
Course Dates: September 13-30, 2021
Number spaces available: 15
Course registration form: https://forms.gle/fjEt12LykoZrjkfs6

Advocacy plays an important role in creating and sustaining momentum for progress on conservation and human health policies. While multi-sectoral initiatives have been gaining attention in recent years, there are still many policy platforms that fail to recognize the critical links between human and ecosystem health. This includes a comprehensive water policy that links freshwater ecosystem conservation with water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) planning and infrastructure maintenance.

In 2020, the African Biodiversity Collaborative Group, Conservation International, and IRC launched the Freshwater Conservation and WASH Advocacy Strategy Workshop Facilitator’s Guide. In addition, IRC launched WASH Systems Academy online, virtual course Advocacy for Universal WASH Services. These two resources combined inspired the creation of a blended learning course that combines facilitated virtual instruction with self-guided activities, group discussions, and feedback labs to build the capacity of individuals working on WASH and ecosystems implementing programs.

This course lays out steps for conservation, health, and development practitioners to develop an advocacy strategy to design messaging and activities to urge donors, policymakers, and colleagues of the need to unite and join forces for conservation and health. Advocacy is a critical step in enabling integrated freshwater conservation-WASH management and must be closely tied to ongoing stakeholder engagement and field implementation of freshwater management strategies. Click here to listen to a webinar recording that gives an overview of the course.

This is an application/expression of interest form for the upcoming blended learning course Advocating for Ecosystems and WASH which will take place September 13-30, 2021.

To apply for one of the 15 places in the course, kindly use this application form: https://forms.gle/fjEt12LykoZrjkfs6

Applications will be reviewed, and spaces confirmed on a first-come-first-served basis.

Contact Information
Please contact Colleen Sorto (csorto@conservation.org) or Elynn Walter (walter@ircwash.org) with any questions.

Disaster resilience and risk in the context on Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Insights from Africa
2021-09-14 13:30 - 15:00 UTC
This is the first session of the 2nd Round of Webinar on Water-Energy-Food Nexus. It focuses on NEXUS SOLUTIONS.
This session #1 covers the disasters such as droughts, floods, fires, pests, and diseases that expose millions of people in Africa to food, water, and energy insecurity that have been exacerbated by climate change. Disasters create huge humanitarian needs with impacts on household livelihoods and hamper long-term investments. All this is intensified by inadequate information to enable risk-informed decisions. This seminar discusses different approaches across Africa to prevent, mitigate and address disaster risk and resilience, specifically through a water-energy-food nexus lens with solutions in mind.
Registration is required. Click here now.
WORKSHOP AGENDA
1. Introduction by Michael Jacobson, Penn State University.
2. “Examples of the water-energy-food nexus as they appear in different regions across Africa and the multiple ways in which the nexus is manifested” by Arthur Chapman, University of Stellenbosch.
3. “Rainwater Harvesting for Water Security in Uganda” by Francesca O’Hanlon, postdoctoral researcher/CEO Blue Tap
4. “Household energy-related risk issues, fire risk, and resilience among low-income settlements in Cape Town South Africa” by Alberto Francioli, Stellenbosch University
5. “Nexus- DR3 linkages on a new mission for governance to achieve SDGs” by Catalina Spataru, University College London
6. Open discussion
To get information on the remaining webinar sessions, click here!
This webinar series is supported by the regional project, “Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Water Efficiency/Productivity and Water Sustainability in NENA countries” (WEPS-NENA) under the FAO-led Regional Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI).
RNE-WEPS-NENA@fao.org;
Website: http://www.fao.org/in-action/water-efficiency nena/webinars/nexus-webinars/en/
For more information about the Water-Energy-Food Nexus 2nd Round Webinar series organizations, please link to WEF Nexus in Africa
Initiative (wefnexus.org), WE4F (https://we4f.org), GIZ Nexus Dialogues(https://www.water-energy-food.org/resources/fact-sheetnexus-regional-dialogues-programme-phase-ii), and SEI (https://www.sei.org).

Water-Energy-Food Nexus Webinar series 2nd Round, 2021 on “Solutions Using Water-Energy-Food Nexus Approaches”
2021-09-14 13:30 - 2021-12-14 15:00 UTC
The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is a useful framework for addressing complex transdisciplinary natural resource and environmental challenges in integrated, innovative ways. This webinar series explores using and operationalizing WEF nexus approaches for finding solutions to these challenges. The series focuses on examples and solutions by linking and using WEF nexus approaches to timely interventions, technologies, and issues of importance, especially in the context of COVID-19 and climate change.

This webinar series is organized by FAO & WEF Nexus in Africa Initiative, WE4F, GIZ Nexus Dialogues, and SEI.

Session 1: Disaster resilience and risk in the context on Water-Energy-Food Nexus: Insights from Africa
Tuesday, September 14, 2021 | 13:30 – 15:00 Register Now!
A detailed description of session 1 is available here!

Session 2: Cooperation across borders and sectors: Experiences from the SADC region on institutionalizing the WEF nexus approach

Tuesday, October 19, 2021 | 13:30 – 15:00 Register Now!
A detailed description of session 2 is available here!

Session 3: Sustainable electricity production by integrated food, energy, and water systems: opportunities and challenges

Tuesday, November 16, 2021 | 13:30 – 15:00 Register Now!
A detailed description of session 3 is available here!

Session 4: Beyond traditional financing models for smallholders and other end-users in the water-energy-food nexus: challenges and innovative solutions
Tuesday, December 14, 2021 | 13:30 – 15:00 Register Now!

A detailed description of session 4 is available here!

This webinar series is supported by the regional project, “Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Water Efficiency/Productivity and Water Sustainability in NENA countries” (WEPS-NENA) under the FAO-led Regional Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI).

Email: RNE-WEPS-NENA@fao.org; Website: http://www.fao.org/in-action/water-efficiency-nena/webinars/nexus-webinars/en/

For more information about the Water-Energy-Food Nexus 2nd Round Webinar series organizations: WEF Nexus in Africa Initiative wefnexus.org – Water and Energy for Food https://we4f.org GIZ Nexus Dialogues https://www.water-energy-food.org/resources/fact-sheet-nexus-regional-dialogues-programme-phase-ii, and Stockholm Environment Institute https://www.sei.org/

Symposium on the Food-Water-Energy Nexus at the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences
2021-09-14 16:00 - 2021-09-15 17:00 UTC
A CityGML based shared urban platform development to maximize synergies in the food, water, and energy sectors is the focus of the FWE IN-SOURCE project. Coordinated at the HFT Stuttgart, teams in Vienna, New York City, and Stuttgart work jointly on technological and socioeconomic research questions. In this final event, the project team would like to present their own results as well as exchange experiences with other FWE Nexus projects. We look forward to welcoming you to this hybrid Symposium on 14 and 15 September.

Session 1
Tuesday, 14. Sept.: CityGML, Common Database Food-Water-Energy ADE & Case Studies
Stuttgart/Vienna 16.00-18.00 / New York 10.00-12.00 am

Welcome and Introduction
Rushikesh Padsala: Development and applications of the CityGML FWE ADE
Reiner Braun (guest): Using 3D CityGML for the Modeling of the Food Waste and Wastewater Generation—A Case Study for the City of Montréal
Florian Weidinger & Lisa Kaufmann: HANPP footprint of densly populated areas – insights from two case studies in Ludwigsburg and Vienna
Alfred Helble: The Food-Water-Energy Nexus: Influence and development of the water sector
Cecilia Dong, Roberto Rojas-Cessa and Ahmed Mohamed: Comparative Analysis of Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emission of Diesel and Electric Trucks for Food Distribution in Gowanus District of New York City

Session 2
Wednesday 15. Sept.: IN-SOURCE VisToolBox, Lessons Learned & Next Steps
Stuttgart/Vienna 13.30-17.00 / New York 7.30-11.00 am (with break)

Ernst Gebetsroither-Geringer: VisToolBox Introduction
Lisa Kaufmann, Barbara Smetschka & Anna Kozlowska: Analysing and presenting footprints of urban land-use and food supply in Vienna – the interactive HANPP Explorer
Keyu Bao: A comprehensive bottom-up simulation tool for assessing regional food, water, and energy demands and potentials
Ernst Gebetsroither-Geringer: FWE Land Use Simulator
Michael Bobker: a visual reference guide to urban FEW infrastructures
Jeffrey Raven: From Climate Research to Climate Action

Lessons learned and next steps

Michael Bobker: Gaining Infrastructure Agency Engagement

Participation is free of charge. On-site participation is limited (depending on the pandemic situation). The conference language is English. Participants who join the conference online will receive the access code by e-mail.
Click here to register.
Originally posted.

UN Food Systems Summit
2021-09-23
The UN Food Systems Summit has confirmed that the Summit will take place on Thursday, September 23, 2021. The event will be held during the UN General Assembly in New York and will take the form of a virtual event.
The Summit will follow the three-day Pre-Summit gathering in Rome last week (July 26-28), during which Amina J. Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General, outlined the expectations for the Summit, which include:

A statement of action from the UN Secretary-General
A compendium of the Summit’s two-year preparations
National dialogues and pathways for food systems to deliver the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030
Coalitions cutting across the five Action Tracks and incorporating the four Levers of Change around key areas
A follow-up and review process supported by the UN and its agencies

Details for media accreditation will be announced in due course.
Notes to editors
For more information, contact FSScommunications@un.org
About the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit
The UN Food Systems Summit was announced by the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, on World Food Day last October as a part of the Decade of Action for delivery on the SDGs by 2030. The aim of the Summit is to deliver progress on all 17 of the SDGs through a food systems approach, leveraging the interconnectedness of food systems to global challenges such as hunger, climate change, poverty, and inequality. More information about the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit and a list of Advisory Committee and Scientific Group members can be found online: https://www.un.org/foodsystemssummit
Click here to register for the summit.
The event announcement is originally posted here.

Sustainable Futures speaker series
2021-09-23 16:00 - 2021-11-18 17:30 UTC
About the series:
The Sustainable Futures speaker series stimulates interdisciplinary collaboration around issues related to energy, the environment, and society. These lectures are sponsored by the Schatz Center, the Environment & Community graduate program, and the College of Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences at Humboldt State. View our list of previous talks and available recordings below. To learn about other webinars from the Schatz Center, visit schatzcenter.org/events/.
How to attend?
We’re holding the Fall 2021 Sustainable Futures Speaker Series online via webinar. Each lecture is streamed via Zoom, and will be followed by a Q&A discussion period. All events are free and open to the public, and live captioning is provided for all talks. To request additional support, please contact info@schatzcenter.org or call 707-826-4345 as early as possible before an event.
Fall 2021:
Download the fall 2021 series flyer
Registration is required for all series. Click here for the detailed information.

2021 Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems (WEFE) Nexus Science Advances Conference
2021-09-27 - 2021-09-29
Delivery type: Online from Nicosia (Cyprus)

Background:
Living within the budget of Nature requires reviewing the supply chains that nourish Mediterranean societies and economies. Yet, such a transformation of the rules of the game is still far from commonly accepted, especially when the proposed changes impinge on people’s lifestyle and challenge the current economic models. Increasing demand of water, energy and food due to population growth and urbanization aggravated by unprecedented extreme weather and climate conditions, are likely to undermine future livelihoods in the region, ultimately leading to increased insecurity, migration and possible local conflicts. The Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus is the system at the intersection of economic, health and ecological interests where the confrontation of diverse practices of market, governance, culture and knowledge take place. It follows that achieving sustainability, reducing inequality, promoting cooperation and restraining conflicts and migration flows in the Mediterranean region require the concurrent implementation of interconnected targets, many of which are embodied in the Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Answering the broad range of questions encompassed by the WEFE Nexus concept is a challenging process at regional and national level. Evidence of benefits for business and communities of a transformative change on how WEFE resources are managed has so far failed to elicit significant changes in behaviour. While people tend to agree on distant targets, acceptance of short-term actions is more difficult. In order to make a more convincing case for change, we need to fill the gap in the debate between experts and non-experts.
A science-driven approach to solving this problem should move beyond biophysical considerations and help design operational targets that reflect the predominant societal values and interests in the Mediterranean region. This requires broadening the toolkit with which experts approach the WEFE Nexus to provide clear demonstrations of the proposed solutions to policy designers. Learning from best practices worldwide can help convince social actors and decision-makers to adapt their thinking and behaviour. It is not the role of scientists to shape policies, since operational targets must be participatory, socio-political choices. But by providing evidence-based assessments on the benefits and trade-offs between the different elements of the Nexus, science can help inform the debate and provide a menu of possible solutions that societies in the Mediterranean can adapt to their own needs. Multi-disciplinary partnerships are therefore essential to tackle such cross-sectoral challenges.
Delivering Conference content:
There are no purely sectoral solutions to the sustainable management of Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystem resources in the Mediterranean region. Moreover, as the COVID 19 pandemic and the migration flows in some parts of the region are dramatically showing, a transformation of our current thinking and approaches is no longer an option, but a necessity. The key concept of the 2021 WEFE Nexus Science Advances Conference is “addressing interdependencies”. The Conference will analyse the role of science as driver of innovation and its interfacing with the policy and decision-making processes. It will recommend workable measures on how to integrate novel paths in the research and planning of WEFE supply chains through a collaborative response across the Mediterranean region. Participants in the Conference will be scientists and practitioners, as well as social actors and decision makers from diverse WEFE sectors from the entire Mediterranean area, all brought together with the following common objectives:

Survey new approaches and modes of practice that can be applied to inform decisions, choose priorities and incentivize the cross-sectoral management of water, energy, food and ecosystem resources.
Promote the collection and documentation of WEFE Nexus best practices in the Mediterranean region and incorporate lessons learned in hands-on guidance for the development of sustainable operational targets, in line with the SDGs.
Elaborate on the role of a WEFE Nexus Community of Practice to stimulate cross organization collaboration and knowledge-sharing around demonstration projects in the Mediterranean region.

The Conference focuses on the Mediterranean dimension, but it is of broad interest to participants from outside the region sharing the same interests and wishing to learn from the Mediterranean
experience. It is organized by the Joint Research Centre and the Directorate General Research and Innovation of the European Commission, the UfM-Union for the Mediterranean, the PRIMAPartnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area, and the Cyprus Institute. The outcomes of the Conference will contribute to the objectives set out in the UfM Ministerial Declaration on Water, to the UfM Water Agenda, to the Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda of PRIMA and the actions proposed by the European Commission in the roadmap of the EU Green Deal.
Format:
The Conference will be held entirely online with successive high-level panel sessions and group work smoothly spread over three days. It will be highly interactive with discussions at the science-to-policy interface triggered by keynote speakers tasked to review the state-of-the-art in specific areas of the Nexus (Nexus Talks). Participants and panelists will be asked to provide inspiring evidence of mutually beneficial solutions based on the co-production of practical and scientific knowledge. Breakout Groups and poster sessions will offer opportunities for networking.
At the Conference, the launch of the report “Gateway to the Future of the Mediterranean: Water, Energy, Food and Ecosystems” will provide examples for substantive discussions on sustainability (Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem Nexus in the Mediterranean – Seeking examples of best practices | EU Science Hub (europa.eu)). Furthermore, the 2021 PRIMA WEFE Nexus Awards (instructions for application at https://prima-med.org/the-prima-wefe-nexus-contest-opensapply-by-15-june/) will be conferred during the Conference.
Registration:
Participants are requested to fill in the online registration form by following the instructions on the Conference website or by clicking here. The deadline for registration is 30th June 2021.
By submitting posters, attendees are offered the opportunity to share their work and views on how science can address the challenge posed by the implementation of a WEFE Nexus approach.
The associated abstracts can be submitted as explained in the registration form.
The detail program agenda is available here.
WEFE Breakouts sessions and zoom link available here.

Water-Food-Energy-Ecosystems Nexus: Operationalising solutions, strengthening transboundary cooperation
2021-09-27 14:00 - 15:30 UTC
This is a side event on the WEFE nexus and transboundary collaboration ahead of the Ninth Session of the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Water Convention, on September 27.
Stories from practitioners and a panel discussion will illustrate field experience regarding the potentials in using the nexus approach to operationalize solutions for advancing transboundary cooperation and sustainable water resources management. The session is a side event organized as part of the Ninth Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention.
Date and time: Monday, 27 September, 14:00-15:30 (CEST)
Click here to register for the program.

Agricultural Research for Development (Agri4D) Conference 2021
2021-09-28 08:00 - 2021-09-30 17:00 UTC
Join us for three days of dynamic conversations at the virtual Agri4D conference 2021 to advance agriculture research for development.
Every two years, the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) and the Swedish International Agriculture Network Initiative (SIANI) bring together researchers and professionals dedicated to agriculture research for development in the Agri4D conference. With the impacts of the pandemic, climate change, and other global challenges rapidly changing the fundamentals of society, the need for evidence-based development is greater than ever, and we look forward to contributing to it together with you. Read more about Agri4D conferences here.
Please save 28-30 September 2021 for the Agri4D 2021.
Hosted by: SLU and SIANI as co-organisers
Contact: agri4d@slu.se

6th International Climate Change Adaptation Conference
2021-10-04 - 2021-10-08
The Energy and Resources Institute will co-host the Adaptation Futures 2020 with the World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP) in Delhi from 4 – 8 October 2021. It is the sixth in the Adaptation Futures international conference series on global adaptation and the first to be held in Asia. Adaptation Futures is the flagship event of the World Adaptation Science Program, which is one of the four components of the World Climate Programme (WCP) based on the World Meteorological Organisation Congress XVI Resolution 18. As a premier event in the global adaptation spectrum, Adaptation Futures is a unique platform to facilitate dialogues towards action-oriented solutions from a diverse range of stakeholders that includes academia, practitioners, scientists, and policymakers from across the world.
Conference Themes

Governance of Adaptation
Limits to Adaptation
Fairness and Equity in Adaptation
Knowledge for Action
Nature-based Solutions
Financing Adaptation

Click here to register.
Originally posted.

2021 UNC Water And Health Conference: Science, Policy, And Practice
2021-10-04 - 2021-10-08
The 2021 UNC Water and Health Conference: Science, Policy, and Practice will be held October 4 – 8, 2021 virtually from the comfort of your home or office. The Conference will explore drinking water supply, sanitation, hygiene, and water resources in both developing and developed countries with a strong public health emphasis.
Click here to register.

From Research to Resilience: Climate-smart solutions to enhance ecosystem health and strengthen food, nutrition and water security for all
2021-10-05 08:00 - 2021-10-28 21:00 UTC
About the webinar series:
Informed by the experience and insights of WLE and its partners, and the solutions the program has developed and refined over the past decade, eight webinars will promote promising scientific innovations designed to protect climate-vulnerable ecosystems, communities, and livelihoods. The tools and approaches to be discussed – which also prioritize the inclusion of women, youth, and other marginalized groups – target critical challenges across the Global South such as land degradation, water scarcity, and climate variability.
Held strategically between the UN Food Systems Summit (UNFSS) and the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26), the webinars will identify evidence gaps, capture lessons learned, and consolidate thinking on the future direction of research for development to sustainably transform our water, land and food systems. Themes include accelerating clean energy access, inclusive and gender-sensitive land restoration, resilient urban food systems, sustainable water management, disaster risk management, and innovative approaches to evaluate ecosystem health and monitor landscape restoration.
Venue:
Zoom Webinar (videos will be made available on the WLE website after the sessions)
Hosts:
CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land, and Ecosystems (WLE)
Program:
Webinar #1 – Tuesday, October 5, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Accelerating clean energy access in rural areas
Presenting WLE energy research that can help countries enhance smallholder access to clean energy, address climate adaptation/mitigation challenges, and transform food, land, and water systems.
Register for the webinar
Webinar #2 – Thursday, October 7, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Drought and flood risk reduction strategies
Introducing several WLE-supported risk management initiatives and solutions that have been implemented across South Asia. The webinar will enhance the knowledge and awareness of disaster risk management professionals and provide an opportunity for south-south learning.
Register for the webinar
Webinar #3 – Tuesday, October 12, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Towards resilient city-region food systems
This webinar will introduce key tools developed with RUAF to assess the climate resilience of urban areas. It will outline the action plans, policies and programs required to develop innovative and resilience-strengthening water and food solutions.
Register for the webinar
Webinar #4 – Thursday, October 14, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Innovation investment for impact
The WLE-supported Commission on Sustainable Agriculture Intensification (CoSAI) will present insights on enabling behavior change in innovation investors and policymakers – and how this can be used to underpin the investment approach for innovation of future food systems.
Register for the webinar
Webinar #5 – Tuesday, October 19, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Managing water for climate adaptation and mitigation
Exploring integrated approaches to water management that enhance climate adaptation and mitigation. The session will outline an evidence-based framework to help decision-makers understand and remove the technical, economic, social, financial, and institutional barriers that prevent the adoption of sound water adaptation options.
Register for the webinar
Webinar #6 – Thursday, October 21, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Increasing biodiversity in food systems
Our climate, biodiversity, and food systems are inextricably linked. This webinar discusses evidence, actions and lessons learned on how to leverage biodiversity in our food systems for people and the planet.
Register for the webinar
Webinar #7 – Tuesday, October 26, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Securing inclusive land restoration
Referring to WLE research and experiences in India and Ethiopia, this webinar explores who sets restoration agendas, and why, how, and for whom. It also discusses whether plural and unequal local voices and knowledge systems are valued or ignored and whether these voices can influence how degraded landscapes are restored.
Register for the webinar
Webinar #8 – Thursday, October 28, 2021, 8.00 AM EST, 2:00 PM CEST, 5:30 PM IST (1 hour)
Innovative approaches to evaluate soil health and monitor land restoration
This webinar will present research by WLE to develop innovative approaches to evaluate soil health and monitor land restoration.
Register for the Webinar
Who should attend?

Policymakers, decision-makers, and planners
Donors and investors
Private sector representatives
Development professionals from national and international organizations, NGOs, CSOs, etc.
Researchers are interested in water, land, ecosystems, food, and agriculture, sustainable development, and climate change.

Objectives

Capture lessons learned on the application of proven innovations to enhance the management of land and water resources, protect fragile ecosystems and sustainably intensify food production.
Identify knowledge gaps to influence the direction of future research programs and initiatives.
Consolidate thinking on the systematic changes needed to secure more sustainable, inclusive, and equitable food systems amid a changing climate. Inform policies and investment decisions to enhance the sustainable management of ecosystems and water and land resources.

Originally posted.

Cooperation across borders and sectors: Regional experiences of WEF Nexus institutionalization and governance
2021-10-19 13:30 - 15:00 UTC
The second session of the 2nd Round of Webinar on Water-Energy-Food Nexus SOLUTIONS focuses on NEXUS governance. This session will give insights into the successful mainstreaming of the water, energy and food security Nexus approach into governance structures. It will present different approaches for WEF Nexus transboundary cooperation and governance from three different regions: Southern Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean and the Niger Basin.
Key questions that will be addressed are:
– What are the necessary steps to establish and endorse a Nexus governance framework/ structure?
– How can the benefits of the WEF Nexus approach initiate or intensify transboundary cooperation?
– What are the lessons learnt?
Registration is required.

“Click here now”

WORKSHOP AGENDA

Welcome by FAO and Mariana Rodriguez, GIZ, Moderation: Tina Schmiers, GIZ
Introduction by Didier Zinsou, Director of the Niger Basin Observatory, NBA
Presentation: SADC WEF Nexus Governance Framework by Kidanemariam Jembere, GWP-SA/African Coordination Unit
Presentation: Methodological Guidelines on WEF Nexus transboundary governance in Latin America and the Caribbean by Silvia Saravia, Economic Affairs Officer, ECLAC; Lisbeth Naranjo, Consultant, ECLAC
Panel discussion by Claudia Ringler, IFPRI; Kidanemariam Jembere, GWP-SA; Silvia Saravia, ECLAC; Didier Zinsou, Director of the Niger Basin Authority (NBA)
Closing by Tina Schmiers, GIZ

To get information on the remaining webinar sessions, click here!
This webinar series is supported by the regional project, “Implementing the 2030 Agenda for Water Efficiency/Productivity and Water Sustainability in NENA countries” (WEPS-NENA) under the FAO-led Regional Water Scarcity Initiative (WSI).
Contact: RNE-WEPS-NENA@fao.org;
Website: http://www.fao.org/in-action/water-efficiency nena/webinars/nexus-webinars/en/
For more information about the Water-Energy-Food Nexus 2nd Round Webinar series organizations, please link to WEF Nexus in Africa
Initiative (wefnexus.org), WE4F (https://we4f.org), GIZ Nexus Dialogues(https://www.water-energy-food.org/resources/fact-sheetnexus-regional-dialogues-programme-phase-ii), and SEI (https://www.sei.org).

FutureDAMS Webinar: Nexus Planning for Climate Adaptation and Resilience
2021-10-19 15:00 - 16:00 UTC
Tuesday 19 October 2020, 15:00 – 16:00 UK
This is an invitation to the second in FutureDAMS’ four-part keynote webinar series, ‘Integrating water-energy-food-environment planning for climate adaptation and resilience’, taking place online next Tuesday. Research Director Professor Julien Harou will be presenting the FutureDAMS toolset for linked water-energy system planning, followed by a panel discussion between leading experts in water resource management, food policy and renewable energy on resource system design and decision making, to facilitate people, economies and the environment adapt and prepare for the impacts of climate change. It would be great to see you there.
Registration is required. Click here!

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Support to the 22nd WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium under the Building River Dialogue and Governance (BRIDGE) Project
2021-10-20 - 2021-10-22
The 22nd WaterNet/WARFSA/GWP-SA Symposium will be held in Victoria Falls and virtually/online, Zimbabwe 20th – 22nd October 2021 under the theme Integrated Water Resources Management for Sustainable Development in East and Southern Africa. The National University of Science and Technology is the lead host of the 22nd Symposium.
IUCN under its BRIDGE Project will be supporting prizes for at least two best presentations by young scientists, i.e. >35 years (and below) in the Water governance for sustainable, equitable, and affordable water services theme. The total prize money that will be contributed by IUCN from its BRIDGE project is USD1250.00.
The Symposium Organisers are, therefore, appealing to young scientists interested in the water governance theme to submit abstracts on
https://easychair.org/conferences/?conf=22wnsymp.
For more information, please contact Dr. Krasposy Kujinga,
kujinga@waternetonline.org

Water, Energy, Food and Environment (WEFE) Nexus Autumn School
2021-10-21 - 2021-11-12
Description:
Around one-seventh of the world’s population lacks a secure food supply and has only limited access to clean water, sanitation or modern energy sources. To tackle this challenge, resources need to be managed and more integrated to avoid over-exploitation and allow more inclusive access for all. The WEFE Nexus provides an innovative framework that captures the interrelationships, synergies, and trade-offs between water, energy, and food in different environmental contexts. This Autumn School will introduce junior scholars to the interdependencies of the Nexus elements at different geographic scales (global, basin, national, and local) with a focus on Africa. At each level, the integration of the nexus elements will be investigated.
21 – 22 October 2021 (Module 1)
27 – 29 October 2021 (Module 2)
04 – 06 November 2021 (Module 3)
11 – 12 November 2021 (Module 4)

Keywords: Nexus, Water, Energy, Food, Environment
Application Deadline:
Applications are still possible in specific cases. If you have not yet managed to apply please write to wefe@sirop.org before September 20th.

Click here to apply.

Format:

Due to the world-wide restrictions concerning Covid-19, IDEA League is offering this school in an online format.

Participants:

MSc and/or PhD researchers from IDEA League or African partner universities are welcome to apply.

Requirements:

Curriculum vitae & publication list
Letter of motivation
Optional letter of recommendation

Expenses:

There are no registration or tuition fees for selected participants.

The WEFE Nexus School offers students the possibility to gain a comprehensive understanding of the interconnections between water, energy, food and the environment and to develop new ideas for sustainable solutions. In addition to acquiring theoretical knowledge, a focus is placed on practical solutions and case studies that enable participants to apply their knowledge and foster interdisciplinary collaboration between people from different backgrounds.
The WEFE Nexus School brings together students and faculty of European and African universities for a unique learning experience. Students will benefit from the wide range of expertise and diverse perspectives on pressing challenges and emerging solutions. The diversity of case studies allows students to explore the WEFE Nexus in different geographic contexts.
Selected participants must attend all live sessions as outlined in the program.

Goals:

Preparing junior researchers to deal with the scarcity of resources
Understanding the interrelationships between water, energy, food and environment
Understanding the WEFE challenges and solutions at different geographical levels
Getting introduced to different tools necessary to deal with WEFE challenges
Bringing researchers from different backgrounds to foster teamwork for solving multidisciplinary problems

Organizers:

This program is a collaboration between IDEA League member universities and the following African universities:

University of Johannesburg
Addis Ababa University
Eduardo Mondlane University
Stellenbosch University
University of Ghana
Detail program agenda is found here.

Leapfrogging or treading water? Utilities picking up the pace at the water-energy-food nexus
2021-10-21 13:00 - 15:00 UTC
This session will look at examples of the ‘circular economy’ paradigm being adopted by water and sanitation operators in different contexts. Worldwide water operators have been implementing wastewater reclamation. A host of technological options from “high” to “low” tech and centralized to decentralized technologies exists, but most are yet to be tested. Still, a host of technical, socio-cultural, economic, governance, financial instruments etc. need to be understood. As such, water reclamation with integrated resource recovery can be a key element in enhancing water, energy and food security. Further, visualizing revenue streams emerging from this process can form the basis for an innovative governance model geared towards more effective resource management and supporting resilience and transition to a circular economy. It will discuss how the imperative to reduce and reuse water and related energy and material resources is changing water and sanitation utilities’ modus operandi - their economic models, structure, governance and collaborations. The session will explore the challenges and opportunities for leaping forward.
Registration is required and free.
“Click here to register”.
The original announcement is available here.

Cairo Water Week Conference 2021
2021-10-24 08:00 - 2021-10-28 17:00 UTC
The fourth edition of the Cairo Water Week (CWW) series of conferences, CWW 2021, will take place during the period from October 24 to 28, 2021 in Cairo – Egypt, and will address the main theme “Water, Population and Global Change: Challenges and Opportunities”. The event will discuss population issues and the impact of overpopulation on common management of transboundary rivers and climate change for the first time in this series as they have a direct impact on the water sector. The five related sub-themes (water and global change, advances in water management, water, and society, regional and sectoral cooperation for water security and innovation in Hydro-Sciences) and a number of sub-topics will be addressed during the event through various plenary and technical sessions that will be organized by reputed international and regional organizations, which have an interest in such topics. The key events, at which activities associated with the topic will be proposed, are several recent events and discussions that would highlight the links between water, population, and global changes.

Click here to register.
Check the Cairo Water Week website for more information.
Download Cairo Water Week 2021 Concept note here.

Mediterranean Innovation Agrifood week | CIHEAM Bari, 25-28 October 2021
2021-10-25 - 2021-10-28
CIHEAM Bari in collaboration with MIP – Mediterranean Innovation Partnership, within the project WATERMEDYIN, funded by the Italian Cooperation, is hosting a week-long event on the theme of innovation and creation of start-ups in the Mediterranean area.
The initiative, that will take place from 25 to 28 October 2021, is gathering about 100 guests among startuppers, trainers, agricultural entrepreneurs – from Italy and from the Mediterranean region – as well as renowned international experts in the field of innovation, with the following objectives:
• contribute to the identification of strategies for the creation of an environment conducive to the sustainable development of the agri-food sector in the Mediterranean, by leveraging on young people and on the combination of innovation and competitiveness;
• support 15 successful start-ups from Lebanon, Palestine and Tunisia (selected in the framework of WATERMEDYIN project by an international panel) which will present their business idea to a diverse audience of investors, senior companies and public institutions;
• deepen strategic aspects on the strengthening of the innovation ecosystem;
The week’s program will be divided into the following sessions:

From 25 to 27 October: Seminars on strengthening the services and ecosystem of ISOs – Innovation Support Organizations, provided in the framework of a capacity building programme started last July and addressed to the representatives of the MIP network and the ISOs of the Mediterranean region.

Link to register: https://events.iamb.it/p/event/wmwebinar2021
Programme

October 27 (3pm-5pm): MIP-Mediterranean Innovation Partnership Annual Meeting, for the discussion and approval of the 2021-22 action plan. Establishment of the WATERMEDYIN network, an international working group dedicated to innovation and sustainability in the agri-food sector, with the participation of Business Med, Mediterranean Innovation Hub and several ISOs from Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon.

Programme

October 28 (10am-1pm): INVESTOR DAY & BUSINESS MATCHING – brokerage event, dedicated to 15 start-ups, selected in the framework of WATERMEDYIN project, from Tunisia, Palestine and Lebanon.

Programme

October 28 (4 pm): International workshop “DIALOGUES ON INNOVATION IN THE MEDITERRANEAN AGRI-FOOD SYSTEM”. Purpose of the conference is to contribute to the identification of strategies for the creation of an environment conducive to the sustainable development of the agri-food sector, a pillar for the socio-economic growth of many Mediterranean countries, by leveraging on young people and on the combination of innovation and competitiveness.

Link to register: https://events.iamb.it/p/event/medagrweek
Programme
Complete Agenda
The original announcement is available here.

UNC DR3 Workshop 2: Vulnerability, Disasters, and Metrics
2021-10-26 18:00 - 20:00 (America/New_York)
DESCRIPTION: The UNC DR3 (Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience) Workshop: Vulnerability, Disasters, and Metrics is a virtual 2-hour workshop as part of the research study Re-Energize DR3. Re-Energize DR3 is a multi-university stakeholder engagement project regarding natural disaster risk management, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation. The research team for this project is based out of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, led by Felix Dodds at the Water Institute, and is the US-component of the Belmont Forum-funded Re-Energize DR3 consortium (https://www.govdisasters.com/). The UNC team is focusing on the federal, state and local governance levels in United States, with North Carolina as a case study.
The workshop will focus on:
(1) identifying, characterizing, and classifying vulnerable groups, and
(2) disaster/emergency management indicators/metrics for flooding and drought.
In order to participate, please take the following actions, preferably by Friday October 22nd.
“Click here to register”
COMPENSATION: As an expression of our appreciation for your time, participants will be compensated with a $20 digital gift card following the workshop, unless you choose to decline.
CONSENT TO BE RECORDED: By participating in this workshop, you will be consenting to be recorded. Information will be used only for research purposes. No identifiable information nor recordings will be shared beyond the research team. We will distribute and request you to sign an IRB consent form by email.

COP26 Water-Energy Nexus: Fueling Synergies through the Water-Energy Nexus – Honouring Energy Day at the Water Pavilion
2021-11-03 05:00 - 06:30 (America/New_York)
Event Description:
Water and energy are inextricably linked, both in their relationship towards one another as well as in the fight against climate change. Both resources are greatly affected by climate change, however are, in their interface, necessary to mitigate its effects and allow us to adapt to them effectively. In order to successfully harness their potential for the latter, we need an integrated and holistic approach to their management, avoiding silo strategies and focusing instead on maximizing synergies where possible. In this session, we kick-off the Water-Energy day at the Blue Pavilion with four different perspectives of this powerful nexus. The Nexus Regional Dialogues programme is excited to announce that we will be hosting two sessions at the first ever Water Pavilion at COP26! The speakers will shed light onto the different challenges and opportunities inherent to the Water-Energy intersection, present ambitious national plans from the Middle East to East Africa and explore the important role of the private sector to bring about innovation and investments.
The first session is titled “Fueling synergies through the Water-Energy Nexus – honoring Energy Day at the Water Pavilion”.
Speakers:
• Cate Lamb, Global Director of Water Security at Carbon Disclosure Project and UFCCC COP 26
• Eng. Bashar Bataineh, Secretary General of the Water Authority of Jordan
• Beatrice Cyiza, Director General of Environment and Climate Change of the Ministry of Environment of Rwanda
• Claudia Ringler, Deputy Division Director & Senior Research Fellow at the International Food Policy Research Institute, IFPRI
• Michael Webber, University of Texas
The session will be moderated by (including welcoming and concluding remarks): Molly Walton, Energy and Transport Manager at “We Mean Business” Coalition Scene setter on Water-Energy Nexus: Fueling Synergies through the Water-Energy Nexus – Honouring Energy Day at the Water Pavilion

Please find more details here. The session will be free of charge and livestreamed on YouTube. The link will be embedded on the Water Pavilion page, under ‘Watch Live’ on the top right.

BACK TO THE NATURE: Exploring the potential of nature-based solutions to face the effects of climate change on water
2021-11-09 03:30 - 06:30 (America/New_York)
In its latest report, published in August 2021, the IPCC rings the alarm on the predicted consequences of global warming of 1.5C, which is expected to be reached by 2040, including on water with the increase of extreme events, more intense rainfall and droughts. Effects have already been seen throughout the summer of 2021 with fires and floods devastating Europe.
With increasing rainfall, the question of rainwater management must be addressed. Water operators have been at the center of discussions, as they manage sewer networks and treat works to prevent pollution of water bodies. However, as existing systems are showing their limits in the face of new challenges, it is critical to seek new long-term looking solutions.
Particularly relevant in the context of the revision of the European Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive, the conference will aim to discuss the consequences of climate change on the water cycle and the role that nature-based solutions can play in addressing storm water and strengthening the resilience of cities and towns. Speakers, including policymakers, NGOs, water operators and scientists, will review the opportunities and challenges of the increased use of nature-based solutions.
Registration is available here.

Together for the Planet: ENI CBC Med Programme at European Union side event during COP26 Climate Change Conference
2021-11-09 12:30 - 13:30 (America/New_York)
Join us on 9 November (6.30 pm-7.30 pm, CEST) for a session on climate & energy action organised as part of the European Union official programme of side events at COP26, the 2021 edition of the United Nations (UN) global climate summit.

We are happy to announce that the ENI CBC Med Programme will be featured at COP26 as part of the digital side events to be held in the framework the European Union Pavilion at the UN climate change conference which is taking place from 31 October to 12 November 2021 in Glasgow, under the presidency of the United Kingdom. The ENI CBC Med Programme will be involved in the session “Racing to 1.5°: cities implementing evidence-based climate & energy action in Europe & Mediterranean”, scheduled on 9 of November (6.30 pm-7.30 pm, CEST), which aims to highlight the efforts of local governments and stakeholders in Europe and across the Mediterranean in accelerating climate action. The discussion will showcase impact-driven success stories of cities and local actors in climate and energy plans and concrete measures towards a resilient, climate neutral future.
The session is organized in partnership with the Global/Europe Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy – the largest alliance for city climate leadership across the globe; Clima-Med – the EU-funded project which supports the transition of eight partner countries in the Southern Neighbourhood towards sustainable, low-carbon and climate-resilient development; and the Italian Municipality of Segrate, a town of over 35,000 inhabitants located in the Metropolitan City of Milan. Speakers include representatives of European Commission’s Directorate General for Neighbourhood and Enlargement Negotiations and Joint Research Center, cities and regions part of the Global/Europe Covenant of Mayors, the Clima-Med project, the Mayor of Municipality of Segrate.
ENI CBC Med Programme will be represented by Ms. Sorina Mortada from the Lebanese Center for Energy Conservation (LCEC), the organization in charge of leading the efforts of Lebanon in the development of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to increase energy security and de-carbonization levels. In particular, Ms. Mortada will share the results of energy-efficiency related ENI CBC Med projects in which the LCEC is partner, namely BEEP (Building Information Modeling for Energy Efficiency in the Public sector), ESMES (Energy Smart Mediterranean Schools Network) and the newly funded capitalization project ‘SEACAP 4 SDG’ (Med SE(A)CAP integration through uniform adapted assessment and financing methods, mainly targeting buildings in education and health sectors, for sustainable development goals in a smart society).
Register now on the platform of the EU side events at COP26 – https://www.cop26eusideevents.eu/ – and look for the session 8.O.6 as shown below:

Register now to join us at COP26 Climate Change Conference
View the programme of the EU side events at COP26
This announcement is taken from here.

2nd Postdoctoral Research Conference of Southern Africa: Beyond The Pandemic: Research Now and In the Future
2021-11-10 - 2021-11-12
You are invited to submit your abstract for a symposium within your field of research. Postdoctoral research fellows doing research in Southern Africa are invited to submit an abstract for a symposium within their field of research.
Abstract submissions are open until 15 October 2021, 17:00 CAT/GMT+2.
Submit an abstract!

The 2nd Postdoctoral Research Conference of Southern Africa will be a fully virtual experience. Online registration is now open!

REGISTRATION CATEGORY
FEE
CLOSING DATE

Early bird registration
R 1 000
15 October 2021

Postdoctoral fellows Stellenbosch University
R 1 500
3 November 2021

Postdoctoral fellows outside Stellenbosch University
R 1 800
3 November 2021

Registration Fee includes:

Virtual attendance to all sessions
Access to sponsor lounges
Access to on-demand sessions for one month after the event
Presentation slide downloads (where applicable)

Registration is required. Click here.
Originally posted.

2021 Annual International Symposium- Towards Urban Sustainability
2021-11-15 08:00 - 2021-11-17 12:00 (America/Kentucky/Louisville)
The symposium aims to strengthen academic business government partnerships for developing sustainable urban systems that have robust resilience in the context of global environmental; change. Specific objectives are to:

Identify challenges and opportunities for achieving urban system sustainability regionally and globally
Develop international academic-business networks to promote collaborative actions for decarbonization and sustainability
Stimulate transdisciplinary ideas for decarbonization and sustainability projects encompassing research, education, outreach, and policy development

Registration is required and is free. The symposium is happening online from Knoxville, TN | United States of America.
Program agenda:
Monday, Nov. 15: Opening ceremony, Keynote Sessions & Panel Discussion
Tuesday, Nov. 16: Concurrent Workshop and Breakout Panel Discussion
Wednesday, Nov. 17: Concurrent Workshop, Breakout Panel & Closing Ceremony
Detail symposium information is available here.
In addition to this, the University of Tennessee, Institute of Agriculture is inviting university students across the globe from all academic disciplines to participate in our annual video competition. The competition aims to showcase students’ scientific journalistic skills while highlighting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6, 7, 11, and 12 and its relationship to food-energy-water (FEW) nexus.
Students are asked to create videos that highlight initiatives within their campuses, cities, municipalities and/or communities to address urban sustainability. They may also explore challenges and/or opportunities in relation to urban sustainability. This can be done individually or in groups of no more than three. Participants are asked to create a 60 –180 second video responding to this challenge. Entries must have a designated team faculty leader (from students’ institution) for communications about technical and administrative issues and, where applicable, for finalist and winner notification. There are no restrictions about how you make your video – you can talk to the camera, use props, incorporate animations, etc. The goal is to demonstrate scientific journalistic skills and creativity. Participants will be evaluated based on the relevance to SDGs and FEW nexus, messaging and communication, creativity, and video and editing quality.
All video submissions must be received by 5:00pm EST on Monday, November 8, 2021. They must be submitted through the link below. If you have any questions regarding your submission please contact Sara Mulville smulvill@utk.edu.
Videos will be displayed at our Fall 2021 Annual FEWSUS Research Conference website. UT communication professionals will select a first round of videos that will be shown during breaks throughout the three day event. Judges will consist of invited speaker and event attendees that will vote for best video online by midnight of Nov. 16. The awarded video will be announced and displayed at the closing ceremony on Nov. 17. Additionally, each member from the winning team will receive an Amazon gift card (US$75/each).

Click here to entry the video competition and learn about submission guidelines!
