With the first meetings of two bodies of experts in Bonn, preparations have kicked off for the international conference on sustainable water, energy and food security. The Bonn conference is planned for 16-18 November 2011. A dialogue between experts from the fields of politics, business and civil society is to produce recommendations concerning the future distribution of scare water resources.
Population growth and climate change are increasing the pressures on water as a resource. Particularly large amounts of water are consumed in agriculture and in the production of energy. Indeed, we are already seeing the resulting water shortages in many regions of the world.
In order to come up with solutions to this global challenge, Germany's Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU) and Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) are jointly organizing an international conference. Taking place in Bonn, from 16 to 18 November 2011, it will address sustainability issues in the closely related sectors of water, energy and food security. The results of this conference shall represent a major contribution by Germany to the next World Summit on Sustainable Development, scheduled for the end of 2012 in Rio de Janeiro. Moreover, the positions developed in Bonn will provide the foundation for advancing an independent process. Two expert committees are assisting in preparations for the Bonn conference: the German Advisory Group (Deuscher Beraterkreis) and the International Steering Committee (Internationaler Lenkungsausschuss). Each body met for the first time in December 2010.