It aims to support client countries in addressing the challenges of energy and water resources development, avoid unsustainable scenarios and break disciplinary silos that prevent cross-sectoral planning.
Where & when
Venue: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC)
Room: Conference Room A — Atrium
Background
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All who are interested are invited to attend the launch of "thirsty energy", a World Bank initiative which aims to support countries in addressing the inter-related challenges of energy and water resource development.
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Organized by the World Bank, the launch will take place during the World Future Energv Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on Januarv 20-22 Jan 2014.
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In strong collaboration with partners, the World Bank will participate in WFES with a series of events to launch "thirsty energy", lhe launch aims to increase awareness among key decision makers and the media on the importance of incorporating water constraints in the energy planning, especially in the context of a changing climate. Now is the time to plan together and build and implement tools that will quantify trade offs, identify synergies, and develop integrated solutions for sound and sustainable resource management.
A high-level panel discussion will take place on Januarv 21 from 3-5pm which will bring together government representatives, senior partners from the private sector, energy experts and World Bank senior management in a discussion focusing on how water can be integrated in energy planning and investments. The agenda is structured around expert presentations followed by a rich debate on the subject. The official launch if thirsty energy will take place during the joint WFES/lnternational Water Summit (lWS) closlng session on 22 Jan 2014·from 3:30-4:15pm
High-level Panel Discussion
The discussion will bring together high-level representatives from country governments, World Bank senior management, as well as senior representatives of partner agencies and the private sector. It will include non-water experts discussing the challenges of incorporating water into energy from the perspective of their disciplines and illustrate how designing energy plans without properly considering water can leave countries unnecessarily vulnerable to risks and compromise sustainability.
The agenda is structured around expert presentations followed by a rich debate on the subject. The program will start with a keynote speech by World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy on Climate Change Rachel Kyte, who will provide an overview of the serious challenges countries are facing and the proactive work the Bank is undertaking in this area. Following her remarks, a series of short presentations and debate among a panel of high-level speakers will focus on how governments can enhance integrated water-energy planning in a changing climate, what type of technical solutions exist, how the private sector is dealing with energy and water uncertainty, and how the World Bank and the global development community are stepping up efforts to help solve the problem. This session will be moderated to ensure a dynamic and fruitful discussion among the presenters and the audience.
Agenda
3:00 — 3:10 PM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
William Rex, Acting Manager, Water Anchor, World Bank
3:10 — 3:25 PM
Keynote Speech
Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change
3:25 — 4:00 PM
The Challenges of Water and Energy Management
-How governments can enhance integrated water-energy planning in a changing climate
-Water-related risks in the energy sector and options for managing future water use
-Recent developments in the water sectors, with emphasis on technical solutions that incorporate water into energy planning
-How the private sector is dealing with energy and water uncertainty in the future
-How the World Bank and the global community are addressing the water-energy challenge
Panelists:
-H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to IRENA and Director of Energy and Climate Change, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director, International Energy Agency
-Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute
-Guillermo Bravo, Vice President, Abengoa
-Loic Douillet, Vice President, Marketing, Alstom
-Vivien Foster, Manager, Energy Unit, World Bank
4:00 — 4:50 PM
Planning together, Empowering Solutions: A Panel Debate
Panelists:
-H.E. Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to IRENA and Director of Energy and Climate Change, UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs
-Rachel Kyte, World Bank Group Vice President and Special Envoy for Climate Change
-Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director, International Energy Agency (TBC)
-Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director, Stockholm International Water Institute
-Guillermo Bravo, Vice President, Abengoa
-Loic Douillet, Vice President, Marketing, Alstom
-Vivien Foster, Manager, Energy Unit, World Bank
4:50 — 5:00 PM
Closing Remarks
William Rex, Acting Manager, Water Anchor, World Bank
Documents
-{documents/organisations/w/world-bank/thirsty-energy/thirsty-energy_concept-note.pdf|"thirsty energy" concept note, PDF, #s}
-{documents/organisations/w/world-bank/thirsty-energy/thirsty-energy_introduction.pdf|"thirsty energy" introduction, PDF, #s}
-{documents/organisations/w/world-bank/thirsty-energy/thirsty-energy_launch-invitation.pdf|"thirsty energy" invitation, PDF, #s}
Contact
Antonia Sohns
{asohns@worldbank.org}
