International Conference // "Symposium on Infrastructure Solutions in the Water-Energy-Food Nexus", Beijing/China

The Nexus Dialogue on Water Infrastructure Solutions has focussed on developing renewed attention on major infrastructure development for water, energy, food security and climate change resilience. Since 2013, IUCN and IWA have successfully organized a series of regional workshops in Africa, Latin America, Asia (with UNESCAP) and Central Asia (with EastWest Institute) on the role of infrastructure in the nexus. The organisers plan to invite approximately 60 outstanding international and regional professionals, from both public and private sectors, to work together on developing a series of evidence-based policy recommendations and help move the existing policy concepts into actionable programmes and investments. Through technical sessions, debate and discussion the Beijing Symposium aims to enable new partnerships that will commit on implementing best practices for water infrastructure for water, energy and food security.

Symposium Themes

In order to bring together sectoral and integrated best practice, and to make insightful connections between the sectoral components of the nexus, the Symposium will primarily focuses on five themes.

Clean technology (Cleantech) for water, energy and food infrastructure solutions

This theme focuses on the use of Cleantech across water infrastructure systems that support the water, energy and food sectors, which involves topics likes wastewater treatment, hydropower, natural infrastructure, closed loop technologies, and environmental engineering — mobilising rapidly growing areas as providers of nexus solutions.

Using the nexus to accelerate social development and support water stewardship and corporate engagement

Rapid economic growth and development in emerging economies presents an opportunity to guide and influence the trajectory of planning and construction of infrastructure and technology. This theme focuses on social and economic development approaches, including corporate sector engagement in linking water, energy and food security and accelerating infrastructure development across scales.

Influencing pathways of investments for in the nexus

This theme examines money flows channelled into infrastructure and technology especially in emerging economies, and the factors influencing the pathway of these investments to resource water-energy-food nexus solutions.

Natural infrastructure/ecosystems in the nexus

Nature is an indispensable part of the infrastructure needed to manage the water-energy-food nexus and its resilience. This theme seeks to promote better understandings of the importance of healthy ecosystems in well-functioning infrastructure built for irrigation, hydropower or municipal water supply, and in achieving the economic returns necessary to justify investments.

Power dynamics (policy and institutional change/collaboration) across the nexus

This theme will give special attentions to current and future policies for sustainable water infrastructure operation, management and optimization in the nexus, with the expectation of moving cross-sectoral discussions to implementation mode, focusing on improving the enabling environment to ensure that collaboration and joint solutions lead to shared benefits. During the Symposium, these five themes will guide discussions and build shared knowledge. The Dialogue will hold a final event at the 7th World Water forum in Daegu and Gyeongbuk, South Korea, 12-17 April, 2015.

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Contact

• Damian Crilly