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Topic Report 2.2‐ Water for Energy, Energy for Water

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Executive Summary

The Water for Energy, Energy for Water topic (Topic 2.2) has been developed within the theme of “Advancing Human Development and MDGs” (Topic 2) of the Fifth World Water Forum.

The purpose of this report is to provide background on the development of Topic 2.2. It also serves as a bridge that conveys to the thematic report the substantive findings realized in the preparation of the sessions, together with some tentative recommendations.

Building on the original Scoping Paper, elaborated by UN Water, and after several preparatory meetings and considerable input through the Forum’s Virtual Meeting Space, the topic has evolved into three basic categories: technology, sustainability and policy.

Topic 2.2 looks, therefore, at (1) the reduction of energy and water footprints through innovative technologies, and barriers to their progress; (2) sustainability in a water/energy context, what tools exist to measure performance, and how to further embed sustainability in future development; (3) policy, with emphasis on avoiding negative consequences through greater integration; (4) observations to bring forward recommendations for future action.

The topic has been developed over a two‐year timeframe, involving several meetings and initiatives:

• March 2007 World Water Forum Scoping Workshop (Antalya);

• November 2007 Kick‐Off Meeting (Istanbul);

• February 2008 Preparatory Meeting (Istanbul);

• June 2008 Provisional drafting of recommendations to the ministerial process;

• August 2008 World Water Week (Stockholm);

• November 2008 UNESCO Water and Energy Nexus Symposium

• December 2008 Final review of proposal made through the Virtual Meeting Space of the World Water Forum and partial completion of session plans

• January 2009 Energy Contribution to the “Perspectives on Water and Adaptation“, an initiative of the Co‐operative Programme on Water and Climate, International Water Association, the World Conservation Union and the World Water Council

• January 2009 Briefing contribution to the World Water Development Report

• February 2009 Finalization of Session Situation Documents, confirmation of resources and programme participants and drafting of this Topic Report


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The preparation of the sessions has involved some 40 organizations; many of these will be represented in Istanbul, or have been involved in the nomination of other participants.

The table below describes the sessions in their final arrangement. Session Situation Documents, providing detailed descriptions for each, are included later in this report.

Topic 2.2 Sessions Venue: Amphitheatre 5

Date/Time Description

Opening session: Water for Energy, Energy for Water

18 March 14:30‐ 15 :30

Topic overview and session objectives: previews to the technology, sustainability and policy sessions.

Taming Bigfoot: What technologies can reduce the water and energy footprint?

18 March 15:30‐ 19:00

This session looks at the reduction of energy and water footprints through innovative technologies, and barriers to their progress.

Embedding sustainability in water and energy development

19 March 08:30‐13:00

Considering sustainability in water/energy subsectors, what tools exist to measure performance, and asks how to further embed sustainability principles.

Voltage and Volume: Can water and energy policies work hand in hand?

19 March 14 :30‐ 18 :00

An investigation of the interrelation of water and energy policies and seeks to recommend means to avoid negative consequences through greater integration, better governance and coordination of policies at different levels (international, regional, river‐basin, national, local).

Wrap‐up and Synthesis 19 March 18 :00‐ 19 :00

Pooling observations from the preceding sessions and bringing forward recommendations for future action.

The expectations for the Technology component are current reported as:


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The session should emphasise the relationship between water and energy at the decision making level in business and politics. Specifically, it should lead to a clear set of recommendations on how to reduce the water and energy footprint by enabling emerging technologies to reach the market. The knowledge gathered in this session will be summarised in a set of clear recommendations to deliver as policy input in the political process of the World Water Forum and other policy processes, specifically COP‐15 in Copenhagen, 2009.

The expectations for the Sustainability component are current reported as:

To advance human development and the MDGs, in both rural and urban settings, the most basic needs require water and energy. Therefore the broader social and economic parameters that must be considered when embedding sustainability principles within water and energy development practices must be considered, as well as the applicability of policies and strategies. Recommendations will be derived from a presentation of sustainability perspectives within the sub‐sectors of wastewater, hydropower, bioenergy and potable water supply. These will be cross‐checked by discussants on institutional capacity, environment, social and economic aspects.

The expectations for the Policy component are current reported as:

The session will include a stocktaking of the major issues regarding water and energy. It will nurture consensual but strong recommendations coming from the panelists and the participants. A follow up mechanism will be muted to monitor and evaluate the agreed recommendations and to promote tools and ways to improve water and energy management in all regions. The convenors pledge to ensure a wide dissemination of the session results; in particular, emphasis will be given to partnership agreements for water and energy security.

Contributing organizations

Organizations involved in the development of this Topic are listed below. Some have participated in the preparatory meetings, others have proposed contributions through the Virtual Meeting Space of the World Water Forum, and some have been approached by the organizers to assist with regional balance and the breadth of stakeholder involvement.

1. African Development Bank 2. Asociación Nacional de Empresas de Agua y Saneamiento (ANEAS) 3. Australian National University 4. CIEMAT, Spanish Research Centre on Environment & Energy


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5. CONAQUA 6. Degremont 7. DHI Water & Environment 8. DSI ‐ State Hydraulic Works, Turkey 9. European Water Partnership (EWP) 10. Food and Agriculture Organization 11. French Water Partnership 12. Global Water Partnership Africa 13. GTZ ‐Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit 14. International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage (ICID) 15. International Hydropower Association (IHA) 16. IUCN‐World Conservation Union 17. KWR Watercycle Research Institute 18. Ministry of Energy and Water Development, Zambia 19. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Norway 20. Ministry of Petroleum and Energy, Norway 21. Ministry of Sustainable Development, France 22. Ministry of Transport (etc), Japan 23. Ministry of Water and Energy, Lebanon 24. National Committee on Water, France 25. PIANC 26. Plan Bleu 27. RED‐Ethique 28. Society of Water and Energy of Gabon 29. Suez‐Environment 30. Suez‐Environnement, France 31. Technology Platform for Water and Irrigation (STPWI) 32. The Nature Conservancy 33. The World Bank 34. UNESCO‐IHP 35. Union of Black Sea Region NGOs 36. University of Santa Barbara California 37. University of Twente, Netherlands 38. UN Water 39. Veolia Water 40. World Energy Council (Turkey) 41. WWF Dams Initiative


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Substantive inputs from preparatory work

November 2007 WWF Kick‐Off Meeting (Istanbul)

The kick‐off meeting’s objectives were to address issues and identify potential stakeholders in the pre‐defined framework of a topic on “Water for Energy, Energy for Water”, within the theme and context of “Advancing Human Development and the MDGs”. The issues identified are summarized below:

• Linkage with development (often same people lacking energy and water services) • Water Energy Health Agriculture and Biodiversity nexus • Role of energy pricing, finance and incentives • Differentiation between use and consumption of water in energy supply • Climate‐change impact and mitigation • Transport (optimizing navigation, water freight) • Economic drivers for multipurpose water uses • Impact of thermal power on water quality • Role of renewable energy (integration, decentralization, moving/treating/heating water) • Desalination • Sustainability criteria and performance indicators

The types of stakeholders that might be involved were categorized as:

• Utilities + private sector • Professional associations • Energy organizations (including Renewables) • Conservation + development NGOs • Financing agencies + development banks • Community cooperatives • All other ‘Major groups’

February 2008 Preparatory Meeting (Istanbul)

Following the November 2007 scoping initiative, further refinement was derived in a brainstorming exercise in February 2008. Here, work was first focussed on key observations relating to the topic:

• Water and energy policies often conflict (impact on reaching targets and MDGs) • Water and energy institutions, industries and markets are often disconnected • There is limited accounting for water in the energy sector, despite being a major user • Need to factor climate change impact on the water and energy nexus


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• Sustainability criteria (environmental, social and economic) required to address water and energy supply/demand

• Drivers for water and energy services are predominantly population growth and increasing living standards (before climate change)

• Communities without access to modern energy are likely to be those without access to water and sanitation also

• Water and energy resources are unevenly distributed, solutions are likely to be differentiated accordingly

• Delivery, maintenance and tariff collection methodologies can be common and integrated

This was followed by a review of the identified issues and then splitting these into clusters on

(1) water for energy:

• Appropriate (new) technologies can improve performance – new developments and synergies can reduce costs and impacts

• Water storage schemes also store energy – can influence mixed energy systems and multiple uses of water

• Bioenergy (linkage with agriculture energy crops, biogas, traditional biomass, waste, etc.) • Navigation – can significantly reduce energy consumption • Need to differentiate between consumption and use of water for energy (bioenergy versus

hydropower) • Water footprint different for each energy technology and service (transport, heating, power

production)

And (2) energy for water:

• Energy availability and reliability essential for water services • Energy can be 60‐80% of water treatment cost – efficiency and recovery key to reducing

costs • Irrigation – pumping can be significant energy user (role of new technologies) • Energy recovery from water processing (target of energy neutrality in modern sanitation

process) • Role of renewable energy in treating and distributing water • Reducing energy consumption in water recycling and desalination • Pricing water should incorporate the true (energy) cost

An overarching question was conceived to guide the further development of the topic: “How can we harmonize water and energy towards sustainable uses?” This was then broken down into three sub‐components:


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1) Appropriate technologies to reduce the water and energy footprint: • How can the water sector minimize its demand on energy? • How can the energy sector minimize its impact on water? • What role can renewable energy play in the water sector? • To what extent can in‐land navigation reduce energy use in the transport sector?

2) Sustainable use of water and energy resources • What criteria should be applied? • What are the key indicators and how can performance be measured? • What role markets play in guiding performance?

3) Integrating water and energy strategies and policies to meet human development needs and the

MDGs • Where are the conflicts in current policy? • What are the common drivers and solutions for better integration? • How can policy support community orientated initiatives?

The International Hydropower Association (IHA) was selected during this meeting as the main Topic Coordinator.

August 2008 World Water Week (Stockholm)

IHA organized a Water and Energy Side Event during the Stockholm World Water Week. The event proposed the following potential sessions:

• Integrating Water and Energy Policy • Sustainability Criteria for Water and Energy • Technologies to Reduce the Water / Energy Footprint • The Water‐Bioenergy Nexus • Inland Water Borne Transport – Potential and Outlook

IHA requested that each group of interested organizations supporting the above session categories should nominate lead organizations and a single point of contact for coordination. This resulted in the following arrangement for future management of the sessions’ development:


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• Policy: Ministry of Sustainable Development / French Water Partnership • Sustainability: World Bank / IHA • Technology: European Water Partnership • Bioenergy: International Commission on Large Dams / IUCN • Water‐borne transport: Japanese Ministry of Transport / PIANC

During consultation with the Thematic Coordinator, it was requested that the Bioenergy session might become a joint venture with Topic 2.3 (Water and Food), as the agricultural expertises presided mainly within this Topic. After further dialogue with the Topic 2.3 Coordinator, it became clear that it would be more straightforward for the Bioenergy session to be hosted exclusively by Topic 2.3.

Also, after some dialogue with the coordinators of the Water‐borne Transport session and the World Water Forum Programme Committee, it was decided that this session would become a standalone special event within the Forum.

A second side event on Water and Energy at the Stockholm World Water Week was organised by the European Water Partnership, the Danish Hydrological Institute, The Netherlands Water Partnership, the Cooperative Programme on Water and Climate and The University of Twente (The Netherlands). This Side‐Event, under the title “How to act responsibly in the face of growing demand for water and energy and the associated global environmental problems of climate change and diminishing freshwater resources?” attracted a large audience and the results of the debate will be fed in the sessions in Istanbul.

UNESCO Water‐Energy Nexus Symposium Conclusions

The Symposium was hosted in Paris in November 2008. Approximately 300 participants attended the three day event. During the Symposium, IHA held a meeting for the session coordinators dealing with Technology, Sustainability and Policy. Refinements to the session plans were discussed at the meeting, and supplemented by several telephone conference calls and regular email exchanges. A briefing on the Topic was made to the participants during the closing session of the Symposium. The following summary of conclusions and recommendation from the Symposium was drafted by UNESCO‐IHP and RED‐Ethique during the Symposium and subsequently distributed to all participants:


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Development

- Water and energy are closely linked as vital factors in development. They must be accessible to everyone to satisfy needs and services that are essential for humankind.

- Agriculture, in terms of its development and modernisation, also interacts closely with water and energy problems: water, energy and food are three basic human needs that cannot be considered independently of each other for sustainable development.

- Countries sharing common water resources must turn challenges into opportunities in an ecologically sustainable manner on the basis of the UN Convention of 1997. There is a need to adhere to common strategies that serve the development of the basin as a whole, and the people whose lives depend on the basin. Nations need to share the benefits and the costs of such strategies.

- Boosting water productivity and improving energy use efficiency through investment in relevant technologies and in infrastructure are the main pathways to achieve the “Millennium development Goals”. It is essential that the current financial crisis does not lead to a drop in this support; on the contrary, it should bring about investment in these fields.

Sustainability

- In shared rivers and aquifer systems building trans‐boundary cooperation over water and energy should develop through progressive processes whereby national sovereignties can coexist. Ethical considerations, as well as economic, political and human consideration, should be taken into account and given due attention.

- The inter‐dependency between water‐energy‐food is constantly increasing due to sustainable development constraints and constraints related to global changes (climate change, demographic growth, economic progress, urban migration and land use change).

- Due to an unprecedented rate of change of climate, water and energy cycles there is a need to adopt risk based management for delivery of services and conservation of natural resources.

- The development of bio‐fuels can only be considered in the context of the availability of and future requirements for water, energy and usable surface areas. From this point of view, climate change can only lead to a more difficult situation.

- The situation concerning water and energy resources and demand, as well as their quantitative and qualitative management must be monitored rigorously in relation to sustainability criteria. This monitoring involves the definition of sustainability indicators and the establishment of observation, monitoring and information tools.

Society - Increased food requirements due to escalating world population and changing diet

preferences will need more water and energy. There is a need for social awareness of the water and energy footprints of food consumption.


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- With rising energy prices groundwater pumping for agriculture in many parts of world may become unaffordable, leaving small holders dry and hungry.

- Higher use of irrigation water is almost always associated with higher energy input. Global surge in fossil energy consumption and geopolitical events and global economics impact energy prices, such that many of the drivers of water and energy footprints will come from outside the sector. The pathway to limiting the environmental footprints and ensuring food security is not a single neatly defined vector. Instead, the aggregate, global pathway may represent many smaller paths representing unified and integrated approaches seeking to ensure domestic food security and enhanced social welfare, with minimal environmental footprints both locally and globally.

- The vital mobilisation for responsible and balanced water and energy management requires a range of information and awareness actions to be targeted at society as a whole, with education from the very earliest age and strengthened training for the professionals concerned, in particular in the agriculture and industry fields. In addition, training areas must be expanded to deal with growing and increasingly complex interactions between water and energy. International Institutions, States and NGOs are called on to reinforce their activities in this area.

- Information, education and training must contribute to develop a better awareness of environmental and ecological issues: mankind has to (re‐)discover that it is part of nature and should set up appropriate tools (technological, legal, economic) to develop more understanding social solidarities.

- We will not find the answers to the questions that are posed by limiting technical progress. On the contrary, this progress is a necessary condition for development; research efforts must be significantly increased in the areas of water and energy – particularly renewable energies and their interaction with food.

Governance

- Essential development factors, interacting with all areas of human activity, water and energy must be taken into account at this highest level of political responsibility, both at national and international levels.

- Strengthening cross‐sector policies is essential to generate positive sum solutions for all stakeholders, including environment, but the links between water and other development‐related sectors such as population, energy, food, water and the environment remain poorly understood and require further research.

- The resolution of future water and energy requirements will require major investment efforts that cannot be implemented under traditional funding methods. Financing bodies must therefore take new initiatives in terms of financial innovation

- While water and energy management parameters are by their very definition local, the questions raised cannot find a solution in merely national contexts. International co‐


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operation is necessary to define global objectives and to develop local management guides, which most often have global impacts.

- The balanced management of water supply and demand and the essential concern which is water quality, along with the necessary establishment of an energy balance at world level justify the study of an international water and energy charter. The suggestion has been made that the World Water Council and the World Energy Council meet to draft a prior declaration together and launch a common discussion process.

- Access to water and energy and access to the services attached to them have a cost. Therefore, their use must be reasonable and avoid waste. The inevitable competition that arises between the different uses of this common property and the interactions they have with each other require us to design the implementation of economically balanced pricing policies, taking into account both positive and negative environmental and social “externalities”.

- Public authorities, civil society and private operators may each have a role in the implementation of water and energy policies. This partnership promises progress and, without any general rules being set, their roles and responsibilities should be balanced according to the context concerned.

Way Forward

- There is no miracle solution to address the water and energy sustainability, we need multi‐pronged approaches, involving technologies, institutions and policy measures. One size fits all approaches are unlikely to work; local actions are needed to address global issues.

- Sustainable development measures for water energy and food security must sequence and package technological measures with supportive policies and institutions, for true gains in water and energy use efficiency to boost overall resource productivity while minimising the negative impacts on the environment. Unremitting policy responses are needed for true progress towards global water, energy and food security; investments in modern infrastructure such as irrigation, drainage, transport, next generation renewable energy technologies, agricultural research, capacity development and market development are needed now.

Follow‐up The “Resolving the water‐energy nexus” symposium is not an end in itself: the work achieved over these three days opens up area for debate, debate around the relationship between water and energy, one which has been little discussed until now. This work must continue and be part of a lasting process.


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In particular, the resulting recommendations will be brought to the attention of the participants at the next World Water Forum (Istanbul, March 2009), into the political process, in addition to being addressed during the “Water for energy, Energy for water” topic.

This is just a beginning of resolving the complex water, energy and food nexus. Relevant organisations in the water and energy domains may act as a driving force in continuing the work that has been started.

Energy Contribution to Perspectives on Water and Adaptation

The Water/Energy Topic Coordinator was invited to contribute a paper to the “Perspectives on Water and Adaptation” initiative of the Co‐operative Programme on Water and Climate, International Water Association, the World Conservation Union and the World Water Council, to be delivered as a special publication at the Fifth World Water Forum. An executive summary of this contribution is presented below:

1) The water and energy sectors are intrinsically linked: one resource is needed to produce, transport and provide the other and climate change is affecting the supply and quality of both. Contrarily to common debate, climate change will not only result in water scarcity, but there is also the challenge to manage changing hydrological input (greater variability and intensity of precipitation). While past efforts have concentrated on mitigating climate change, future efforts need to provide measures for adaptation.

2) While there is no single prescription, progress in climate adaptation at the water‐energy interface hinges on addressing several imperatives. Therefore, the multiple inter‐linkages between the water and energy sectors need to be explored. Water‐energy linkages encompass conventional, traditional and emergent energy forms, where each energy system or technology has a unique water footprint (e.g. fresh water impoundment and regulation for hydropower, water to grow bio‐fuel crops, water for steam and cooling at geothermal, fossil‐fuel and nuclear schemes, wind and other emerging renewables relying on hydro storage for back‐up, and groundwater for traditional biomass energy). Furthermore, it is shown that there are numerous options for fuel switching and financing in order to adapt traditional water and energy systems to climate change.

3) To address climate change it is important to:

a) reconcile demand and supply to provide climate “headroom” by relieving pressure on natural resources systems already under stress

b) recognize that electricity will play a dominant role in low‐carbon energy systems.


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c) facilitate adaptation to climate change by action to “climate‐proof” water, energy and ecosystem services

d) better understand the water footprint of energy systems and reconcile the role of water storage within water, environment and energy security frameworks, and

e) build appropriate capacity with knowledge‐sharing, technology, industry and finance to move adaptation from policy to practice.

4) Beyond these concerns, global society must: curb the current appetite for narrow, ideological policy prescriptions (especially those limiting developing country access to international finance and shared learning); reverse maladaptive policies in land use and catchment management; and, seek to optimise hydrological services of ecosystems and integrate national adaptation strategies for the water and energy sectors, already called for under the UNFCCC – but driving them with coalition approaches to overcome lack of progress to date.

5) The energy sector is uniquely central in framing local to global strategies for mitigation and adaptation. Synergies need to be captured at all levels if political calls to meet the MDGs and climate‐related targets have any chance of success. The same is true to make genuine progress in necessary measures for adaptation. There is room for optimism. Water, energy and environmental security concerns are already linked in policy and planning in some countries and regions.

Energy Briefing to the World Water Development Report

The Water/Energy Topic Coordinator was also invited to contribute Messages from the energy sector to the World Water Development Report of the UN World Water Assessment Programme. Presented here is a summary of the contribution:

The goals for the delivery of sustainable water services require similar good management, policies and practices as those required to meet the goals for energy – yet there is a sectoral disconnect. The conditions which frame decision‐making are dynamic; for example, changing hydrological patterns will have an impact on energy security, and different energy options will influence water demand and availability. A further dynamic involves decision‐making itself, including the increasing number of bodies that influence decisions. The rights, risks and responsibilities of such actors: civil society, private‐sector, financing agencies, etc., have different drivers, just as diverse (and interrelated) as the services demanded for water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity.

The abundance of global energy resources is recognized, and we cannot afford to demonize or outlaw any of the established energy technologies at this stage. What can be done is to optimize benefits through integrated systems which support water and climate objectives. Actions will relate to both mitigating change as well as adapting to it.


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As energy production becomes more water intensive and the use and reuse of water resources requires energy, the two sectors should no longer be considered separately. This interdependence is even more pressing since both sectors are affected by global issues such as climate change, growing population and sustaining economies. Moreover, the demands for water and energy tend to grow in parallel, and people deprived of clean water supply and sanitation services are often the same people that lack safe and modern energy services.

Climate change will bring about stresses on water resource availability and energy demand in many countries. Issues will not only centre on water and energy scarcity. Some places will have to manage extreme hydrological events and an abundance of water. The perceptions and realities of water footprints for energy technologies in one region is unlikely to be the same as another.

1. Knowledge – the fourth pillar of sustainability Energy is required for heat, transport and power, and water services demand a great deal of energy. The development of renewable energies in order to counter GHG emissions and fossil fuel dependence has had further impacts on the water and energy sectors. Therefore, there is an urgent need for knowledge sharing between the water and energy sectors as well as between countries and policy makers. However, we have little or no complete knowledge or monitoring tools to assess our use of water and energy. Data collection methods and terminologies vary from country to country, are often poorly implemented, and a lot of information is not in the public domain. Traditionally, agencies and utilities have kept to their core activities, which has limited knowledge and missed opportunities. The private sector is being encouraged to close some of the knowledge gaps for example in the processes of desalination and reuse of water.

2. What is the energy reality? An increase in fuel demand and extraordinary price volatility has increased pressure to exploit new resources. Some of these, such as tar sand oil extraction and energy crops, can be very water intensive. To demonize one technology, however, is to miss the point. All have specific services, advantages, costs, limitations, and impacts. The challenge is to assess where the comparative advantages of each source of energy and technology are and how the external impacts can be internalized.

Beyond traditional dependency on biomass, hydropower presents the largest global supply of renewable energy. While in many developed countries the majority of potential sites have already


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been developed, hydropower still has much untapped potential in developing countries. Because of its operational flexibility, energy stored in hydro reservoirs can provide the necessary back‐up for the greater deployment of more variable supply from other renewable technologies. It is this synergy which will enable a greater level of deployment for the complete family of renewables.

Figure: WWDR, Section7.4.3, p.54

3. Water for energy Energy and water are inextricably linked. Decision‐makers must take this aspect into account in a more integrated approach. Water is involved in the provision of most energy services such as thermoelectric cooling, circulating water in district heating, or water use in coal or biofuel production. Moreover, the impacts of the energy sector on water can cause thermal, physical, chemical and biological pollution. Effects can be local, regional (acid rain), or global (greenhouse gases).

There has been a debate on the water footprint of several forms of energy. The water demand for the extraction of Canada’s tar sands, for example, is reported to be between 20 and 45 m3/MWh,


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nearly ten times higher than that required for conventional oil extraction. More recently, energy crops have also been demonized as a major threat to water and food security. An estimated 1000 to 4000 liters of water are needed for the production of one litre of fuel. Hydropower has also been accused of being a high water consumer, with one recent publication claiming a global figure of 63 m3/MWh. The consumption is attributed to evaporation. However, this approach is considered to be flawed on the following grounds:

1. Evaporation from a water surface varies dramatically from site to site and region to region; it is not possible to allocate a meaningful global evaporation rate per unit area;

2. When investigating a man‐made impoundment, the prior conditions of evaporation and transpiration that existed before the storage must be taken into account.

3. The context of water availability, especially during dry seasons, makes any depletion through evaporation irrelevant, as the water would not have been available without the storage.

The ways in which the water is used for the various sources of energy production can be more or less consumptive and more or less polluting. During the production of biofuels, the water is in fact used for irrigation and consumed by the plants. Furthermore, groundwater may suffer pollution from fertilizers pesticides. On the other hand, during the production from other forms of energy, water can be used for steam (to drive turbines or to supply heating systems), as cooling water and for cleaning. In many cases, it cannot simply be re‐injected into the aquatic system. It is clear that energy planning will be increasingly influenced by the water resource availability. Increasingly, water and energy storage will play a fundamental role in adapting to climate change.

Water consumption for various power generation technologies [US Department of Energy, 2006)] (CL: Closed loop cooling; CC: combined cycle)


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4. Energy for water

The water sector is an important user of energy. For example, water collection (including pumping), treatment and distribution are all energy intensive. The production of drinking water through desalination is perhaps the most energy‐intensive process. Energy demand is driven by many of the same drivers that are putting direct pressure on water resources: demographic, economic, social and technological processes, including changes in consumption patterns and land use. Efficiency and conservation are, therefore, not only good for water resources; they are also a means to conserve energy. New technologies, such as nanotechnology, hold promise to make desalination and waste water treatment less energy intensive and more cost efficient at some stage in the future.

5. Climate change As climate change and resource scarcity have become global issues, it is impossible to consider water, energy or climate separately. Pressure on the international political system as well as on the private sector is growing. Technologies need to become less water intensive and GHG emissions have to be reduced. A big challenge for the renewable energy sector remains storage. Hydropower storage reservoirs are benefiting from being a technology that can store and release energy in very short time intervals. Much potential for deployment remains in developing countries where hydropower could contribute to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and allow for flow regulation and flood management, availability of water for irrigation and drinking water supply during dry seasons.


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It is unrealistic to outlaw coal and therefore great effort is being expended on carbon capture and sequestration. Likewise, a report on the French energy system has indicated that a hypothetical switch from the current hydropower/nuclear mix to a 100% solar power system could increase GHG emissions by several times if the energy storage capacity relied on batteries. Flexible environmental regulations and standards can be a driver to enhance environmental R&D efforts in the energy storage challenge.

6. The WEHAB footprint? Water footprints and carbon footprints have been adopted, especially in the private sector, since many recognize the need to understand and measure the environmental impact of their supply chains. This equally presents a tool for cost control and risk management and as well as for preserving the goodwill of the public. Combining all the WEHAB (water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity) elements into a single footprint could be an interesting option to make goods and services environmentally comparable and to manage global risks. How all the necessary data can be collected, combined and monitored, however, has yet to be determined. A possible route for such evaluation is the development of sustainability labelling systems.

7. National security versus regional security As needs for water and energy grow, countries will source these increased needs locally first by exploiting domestic water and energy resources. But water and energy are never evenly distributed between countries and resource basins are often multinational. Therefore ownership debates over the exploration rights for scarce resources may result in conflict. Moreover, the choice of energy and the method of wastewater treatment are also crucial since pollution rarely stays within national boundaries. Especially acid rains and polluted rivers are likely to affect the security of entire regions.

8. Can virtual energy help? The concept of “virtual water” has gained popularity as a tool to determine the movement of water through international trade. Goods and services, such as agricultural and industrial commodities, are seen to have a virtual water content, which might orientate locations of production. Virtual energy could be seen in a similar way; that is, positioning power‐intensive industries and processes in areas where there is a concentration of clean energy resources, leading to a global benefit. This could help


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save energy and keep GHG emissions lower. An example might be the siting of internet server stations in locations where there are abundant renewable energy resources.

9. Life‐cycle approach to pricing

A life‐cycle approach calls for the inclusion of all external costs in the provision of a service or product. This would create a level‐playing field, provided all costs can be monetized. Even a partial effort would likely change planning trends and markets dramatically. A step in this direction is GHG footprinting and carbon taxation. However, the difficulty with the life cycle approach on a global scale is its implementation. How would such a pricing impact on food and water services? The current policy is more orientated to the removal of subsidies to particular technologies, which have led to distortions in investment and the unwillingness to evolve from unsustainable practices. Under the current economic crisis, it is unlikely that any policy‐maker would have the courage to advocate full life‐cycle costing in the energy and water sectors.

10. We have to get smarter – plans can’t be made in silos Even though a lot of negotiating is done on a global scale and the problems of climate change, water scarcity, rising needs of energy and environmental stewardship have been recognized as common issues, policy is often developed in response to a single issue. Major steps are being taken, for example, to reduce carbon emissions. Carbon capture and sequestration is a priority throughout the fossil‐fuel sector. Previously, sulphur and nitrous oxide removals were a priority because of contamination leading to acid rain. Also the management of particulates emitted from fossil‐fuel plants was previously receiving a high‐level of attention, and the thermal and chemical pollution of water used for cooling has been a driver of environmental concern. From a ‘WEHAB’ perspective all these issues are of importance, but there is a danger of simply displacing one problem with another while directives are developed in ‘silos’. This more integrated approach, that is, more ‘joined‐up’ strategy, policy and action, is essential if we are to truly address the main theme to which this topic reports: “Advancing Human Development and the MDGs”.

European Regional Process

The European Regional Process for the fifth World Water Forum, coordinated by the European Water Partnership, is based on 8 themes. One of these themes is “Water, Energy and Climate”. The results


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of the Regional Process are described in the European Regional Document. Below the paragraph on water, energy and climate from the executive summary is copied:

Water and energy: Improving efficient use of resources

Water plays a critical role in sustainable energy production, and vice versa, but current technologies and management approaches are poorly coordinated across sectoral boundaries and inadequate to solve the world’s water and energy problems – problems which climate change will only exacerbate. New and innovative technologies and coordinated policies are needed to reduce the energy footprint of water supply and treatment, and to reduce the water footprint of energy production.

European governments need to apply an integrated decision‐making and management approach to address the water‐energy nexus, making use of assessment tools such as water and energy footprinting. Quantitative knowledge about the links between water and energy is still insufficient. In the future, the complex interactions and tradeoffs between water, energy, agriculture and climate change will become increasingly important as countries make difficult choices on alternative energy resources such as biofuels and hydropower. Businesses, governments and the public need to be better informed. In particular, well‐informed consumers can be a driving force for positive change.

Session Situation Documents

Technology Session

Session reference number 2.2.3

Media‐friendly title Taming Bigfoot: Reducing Water and Energy Footprint

Working title Implementing emerging technologies and policies that reduce Water and Energy footprints

Duration 3 hours

Key question Which technologies and policies are available to reduce the water/energy footprint and which are still needed in particular


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problem areas?Which barriers limit the development and implementation of these technologies and which policies and incentives are needed to remove these barriers?

Media‐friendly session summary (3‐5 sentences)

Innovative technologies can minimize the water consumers need for energy and vice versa. This need can be measured by using “footprinting”, an easy to use tool for improving water and energy management. This session will discuss actions to be taken to enable emerging technologies to reach the market to reduce the water and energy footprints.

Session description (approximately 2 paragraphs)

In order to cope with the current challenges it is time to act responsibly in the face of growing demand for water and energy and the associated global environmental problems of climate change and diminishing freshwater resources. Owing to the scarcity of both resources, impacts on the economy are large and largely underestimated. An integrated and sustainable approach for water resource planning and energy usage is urgently needed.

One of the important elements of this approach should be the more rapid development and implementation of innovative technologies to reduce the water and energy footprint. This session and the process leading up to it will define the problem areas and technology gaps; discuss how to bring the water and energy sector together and which policies and incentives are needed to ensure the technologies to reduce the water / energy footprint are rapidly implemented.

Confirmed convening organization(s) and contact information

European Water Partnership (EWP): Harro Riedstra ([email protected])

Other associated organisations

- CIEMAT, Spanish Research Centre on Environment & Energy

- Suez‐Environnement, France - KWR Water Cycle Research Institute, The Netherlands - DHI Water & Environment - Australian National University


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- University of Twente, The Netherlands

Session outline and time allocation

Moderator: Andrea Tilche (European Commission DG Research Environmental Technology (tbc)

Introduction (EWP) (4 minutes)

Keynote “General setting of the global water and energy nexus scene.” (Unver Olcay (tbc) (12 minutes)

Part 1 ‐ Identification of technology gaps

Which areas contain present the main challenges? Which technologies and approaches are available to address these challenges and in which areas new technologies and approaches are needed?

- Technology‐ perspective (Mr. Miguel Lopez – President, Spanish Technology Platform for Water and Irrigation (STPWI) (8 minutes)

- Management‐perspective (Mr. Thierry Mallet – CEO Degremont) (8minutes)

Presentation of the results of the Brisbane International River Symposium’s Dialogue on Water, Energy and Climate (8 minutes)

Official Presentation of Voluntary Agreements improving the energy efficiency of the water sector in Turkey and The Netherlands. (12 minutes)

Coffee Break

Part 2 ‐ Policy recommendations to reduce energy and water footprints (80 minutes)

- Water Footprint as a tool for achieving good water management. (Professor Arjen Hoekstra, University of Twente, The Netherlands) (8 mins)

- Water Footprint of Energy (Jose Antonio Rodriguez Tirado, CONAQUA)(tbc) (8 mins)

- Energy Footprint of Water (Henrik Larsen, DHI, Denmark


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and Adriana Hulsmann, KWR Watercycle Research Institute, The Netherlands) (16 mins)

- National and regional policies that limit the development and implementation of new, innovative technologies and further exacerbate the energy‐water nexus. Report on the Policy Session 2.2.1 (Jamie Pittock, Australian National University) (8 mins)

- Which policies and approaches are needed to remove these barriers in the short term and which drivers and incentives could be used to improve behaviour? (Heather Cooley, Pacific Institute ) (8 mins)

- How can innovative technologies help balance the rising costs and scarcity of water and energy and thereby contribute to the MDG’s (Jean Boroto, Africa Programme, WWC) (8 mins)

Intermezzo

Part 3 ‐ Conclusion and recommendations’ proposal and approval (35 mins)

Over the coming weeks, a process will be set up to draft the recommendations that will be proposed during this session. The key questions on which the session is based are guiding in this process. This process will connect to the many workshops and conferences taking place on Water and Energy as described above and, furthermore, will make use of the VMS of the World Water Forum. The process will be established in consultation with the other topics in the World Water Forum to achieve consistency and avoid overlap.

This part will consist of a presentation of and panel / audience discussion on these recommendations. The panel will consist of representatives of each of the regions identified by the World Water Forum

Panelists:

- Africa: African Development Bank ‐ Teferah Woudeneh


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(tbc) - Asia‐Pacific ‐ National Development and Reform

Commission China ‐Dr. Shi Lishan (tbc) - America’s – US Department of Energy (tbc) - Europe (tbc) - Special Regions: Professor Walid Abdulraman

Contributions received that will be included in the session (with a word or two about how they are included)

Apart from the contributions already brought in into the set up of the session by the consortium, the following contributions received via the VMS are included:

- “Initial Submission of African Regional Perspectives” by including Mr. Teferah Woudeneh in the concluding panel (tbc)

- “Optimising interactions between water and energy for the MDGs: small scale cases in Southern Africa” by asking Mr. Boroto to give a presentation on “How can innovative technologies help balance the rising costs and scarcity of water and energy and thereby help achieving the MDG’s” (tbc)

- “Proposal for a presentation concerning on the Technologies involved in Water and Energy relationship by Ms. Couchoud” by asking Mr. Lopez to present the technology perspective under part 1

- “Water ‐ Energy ‐ Climate: Critical Links” by asking Ms. Cooley to present the corporate policies and approaches needed under part 2. (tbc)

A number of proposals on presenting specific technologies and projects where received and they will be invited to present their project or technology in the background material (CD) or in a poster session.

Missing stakeholders (Those that you would like to include for greater balance but for whom you have no contacts)

- Sectoral representation: We do include representatives of all sectors: business, ngo’s, research and policy.

- Some major groups are still missing. However, due to the focus of the debate, not all the major groups have to be present in the presentations and panels. Due to time


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constraints it will not be possible to include all major stakeholder groups either. Of course we would welcome their comments in the discussions with the audience.

- Regional representation: The panel in part 3 will consist of one representative from each of the regions identified in the World Water Forum to ensure a balanced regional perspective.

Expected outcomes, impacts and follow‐up linkages with events and initiatives after the Forum

The session should emphasise the relation between water and energy at decision making level in business and politics. Specifically it should lead to a clear set of recommendations on how to reduce the water and energy footprint by enabling emerging technologies to reach the market.

The knowledge gathered in this session will be summarised in a set of clear recommendations to deliver as policy input in the political process of the World Water Forum and other policy processes, specifically COP‐15 in Copenhagen, 2009.

Sustainability Session

Topic 2.2 Water for Energy, Energy for Water

Session reference number Session 2.2.2 “Sustainability”

Session title Embedding Sustainability Principles within Water and Energy Development

Date of the session March 19

Time of the session 8:30 – 12:00, Amphitheater 5 Room (Capacity 250)

Main convening organizations GTZ ‐Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit

IHA ‐ International Hydropower Association


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IUCN ‐ International Union for Conservation of Nature

NORAD ‐ The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation

Suez‐Environment

WB ‐ The World Bank

Contact person(s) ‐ WB: Daryl Fields: [email protected] or Martha Jarosewich‐Holder: [email protected] ‐ ‐ IHA: Richard Taylor [email protected] Michael Fink: [email protected]

Short description of what the session intends to discuss and the key questions that have been identified. Preliminary responses to these questions should be provided during the course of the session (max 200 words)

The objective of this session is to provide a forum for dialogue on the opportunities and shortcomings in maintaining water‐energy sustainability. Water security and energy security are both critical to economic and social development. Emerging analysis indicates an increased understanding of the strong linkages between water management and economic stability, while energy security has taken on a new urgency within the context of escalating energy prices and the challenges of nurturing a low carbon future. In discussions about sustainability, the water and energy sectors – and their converging activities– often have been the subject of criticism and protest. However, the imperative to address sustainability and the recognition of the value of sustainability in the water‐energy sectors has become as pervasive as it is challenging. This session reviews approaches, innovations and issues of development within four inter‐related water‐energy sub‐sectors: (i) industrial water use/wastewater; (ii) energy/hydropower; (iii) agriculture/bioenergy, and (iv) water supply/potable water; and through a prism of sustainable development parameters (i) environment‐ecosystem balance; (ii) economics‐eco‐efficiency; (iii) governance‐institutional capacity, and (iv) social, stakeholder engagement. The session draws together lessons and actions for further advances in embedding sustainability in water and energy development. Questions include: 1. Are sustainability principles influencing water and energy development? 2. What tools are available for guiding sustainable development in water‐energy sectors? 3. What are the key issues and challenges in embedding sustainability? 4. What innovations can be shared? 5. What new solutions/aids/ideas can be pursued? 6. What are the key policy recommendations for embedding sustainability in the water‐energy nexus?


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Wider context of issues: Why is the question important to improving water challenges in the world today? And how does it relate to issues outside the water sectors? (max 200 words)

Within the broader context of develpment, none of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) can be achieved without major improvement in the quality and quantity of energy and water resource stability and services in developing countries. And while sustainability in development seeks to meet the needs and aspirations of the present without compromising the ability to meet those of the future, the conflict of disparate purposes is often encountered during discussions of sustainability. However, within the context of the water‐energy nexus, the disparate purposes nonetheless are based on basic sustainability principles, which are: sustain the environment, engage stakeholders, achieve efficiency and practice good governance. The water‐energy nexus is complex and multi‐dimensional. Extraction industries, integral to the economic deveolopment of many countries, require immense energy expenditures and the use of tremendous amounts of water. Water is needed to produce energy such as hydropower, in turn, efficient energy use can benefit potable water supply systems. In developing countries, in both rural and urban settings, even the most basic needs for survival require water and energy. Therefore the broader social and economic parameters that must be considered when embedding sustainability principles within water and energy development practices will be considered, as well as the replicability of policies and strategies. Discuss the development of session questions and its role on the relevant topic

i. Identify common issues and priority problems

In line with the questions posed for the session, the common issues and are related to addressing how sustainability principles influencing water and energy development; then what tools are available for guiding sustainable development in water‐energy sectors? The key issues will be identified and discussed through the panel forum and through this discussion the practices and innovations to date elaborated upon and shortcoming identified. This will enable identifying key policy recommendations for embedding sustainability in the water‐energy nexus

ii. Discuss the future evolution of the topic, in the short‐, medium‐, to long‐term based on changing political climates and other foreseen socio‐economic/ecological factors

The expecation and demands to embed sustainability principles within the water energy development will require identifying the key common principles to optimize sustainable development. Though once identified the foremost important parameter for sustainability is the political will of decision makers, policy makers, stakeholders, and private sector to make tough choices necessary for optimization and cooperation within the water energy nexus.


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Differing Perspectives( Regional , Stakeholder, Others...)

The perspectives of those managing or effected by water/energy development in general terms: include: ‐ At the National/Regional level stakeholders/decision‐makers require good governance skills and tools for the decision making process, they are in a posistion to optimize benefits and minimize impacts ‐ social environmentla and economic. ‐ At the local level stakeholders interests would focus to maintain personal well‐being and economic livelihood, protect social fabric of the communities and benefit from the resource development. ‐ Private sector perspective should focus on the sustainable resource development, with focus on ecosytem management, eco‐efficient production, and social benefit sharing with communities.

List of Speakers / Panellists and Timing

The presentation, discussion and open forum session is designed to cross pollinate the energy‐water subsector practices and experience with the driving principles of sustainability 1) Introduction: (15 minutes) Define the water‐energy nexus, outline session objective and structure, introduce presenters and discussants, introduce rapporteur and instruct the audience on the open forum session 2) Speakers: (Presentations (15 minute * 4 presenters = 60 minutes) Each subsector will identify the water‐energy linkage and approach towards embedding sustainability principles and identify (i) the current sustainability assessment tools, (ii) issues and challenges to embed sustainability principles within the sub‐sector; and (iii) innovations being used, presented through specific examples: (i) industrial/wastewater water use: Recovering energy from industrial effluents : the case of Chinese industrial parks" (SPEAKER NAME) SinoFrench ‐ Shanghai, China (ii) energy/hydropower: Hydropower Sustainability Assessment Protocol, Helen Locher, IHA, London (iii) water/energy in agriculture/bioenergy: (TITLE) Nadine McCormick, IUCN, (iv) water supply/potable water (TITLE) (SPEAKER) Jordan Water Authority, Jordan 3) Panelists (Cross‐sectoral feedback: (50 minutes; 10 minutes * 4 discussants) The key principles of sustainability (i) environment, (ii) economics, (iii) governance and (iv) social; will identify how and why the specific principle is important and necessary within the water‐energy development. The intent is to fertilize cross‐sectoral thinking, the selected discussants. The discussants will address commonalities, lessons from their own experiences, and perplexing or notable differences. Reflecting on the sub‐sector presentation, they will conclude with recommendations for action to continue and /or to encourage sustainability; and identify a key policy approach for their specific principle: (i) Environment/ecosystem balance dimension: Peter Bosshard, International Rivers Network, Global


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(ii) Economics/eco‐efficiency dimension: Washington Mutayoba, Director Water Resources Ministry of Water and Irrigation, Tanzania (iii) Social/stakeholder dimension: (TBD) (TBD) (iv) Institutional capacity/governance: Vahid Alavian, World Bank, Global. 4) Open forum: 40 minutes This time is dedicated to encourage a dialogue with session participants. Participants will be asked to respond to the specifics from the presentations or add to the cross‐sectoral feedback, with a focus on actions and ideas for promoting sustainability across or within a sub‐sector. 5) Summary: 15 minutes The rapporteur will summarize the session proceedings, with a focus on lessons learned and policy recommendations for action

Policy Session

Session reference number 2.2.1

Media‐friendly title (suggested by the co‐organizers)

Voltage and Volume: Can water and energy policies work hand in hand?

Alternative proposed title: “Water & energy nexus: how to build fair policies to serve all”

Working title Water and energy security for all: How to build new integrated policies?

Duration 3 hours

Key question How to build new integrated policies between water and energy?


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Media‐friendly session summary (3‐5 sentences)

In recent months, the rising cost of energy and the food crisis have received much media attention all over the world. Recognizing that both water and energy are fundamental to economic development in the coming decades, new policies must be developed to take into account the interrelatedness of water and energy.

Session description (approximately 2 paragraphs)

The objectives of this session are to create awareness on the interrelation of water and energy policies and discuss the interest and the means to integrate them better. Illustrate the obvious conflicts between these two policies and their impact on food security and environment sustainability. Present success stories; propose tools of planning and recommendations to harmonize water and energy policies.

This session will gather worldwide representatives coming from academics, governmental agencies, banks, NGO and water operators to debate and find solutions for the enhancement of water and energy policies integration. Panelists will have the opportunity to share experiences with the assembly and to build strong recommendations and commitments to be disseminated.

Confirmed convening organization(s) and contact information

French Water Partnership: Nathalie Chartier‐Touzé

Jean‐Paul Rivaud, Ministry of Sustainable Development:

jean‐paul.rivaud@developpement‐durable.gouv.fr,

Other associated organisations

UNESCO‐IHP: M. J. Alberto Tejada‐Guibert

WWF Dams Initiative – Germany: Dr Joerg Hartmann

Session outline and time allocation

Time Speaker / Issue

Stakeholder Region

5’ Nathalie CHARTIER‐TOUZE – Executive Secretary ‐ French Water Partnership ‐

Civil society


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Chairperson : opening and welcome, presentation of the frame of the session

10’ Michaël E. WEBER – Director ‐ Center for International Energy and Environmental Policy – University of Santa Barbara California

Keynote speech : Thirst for power: the global nexus for energy and water (tbc)

Academics (USA)

Americas

5’ Ruhiza jean BOROTO – Global Water Partnership Africa

Optimizing interactions between water & energy for the MDGs : small scale cases in Southern Africa

Regional NGO (South Africa)

Africa

5’ B. Gül GOKTEPE – KASTOB (Union of Black Sea Region NGOs)

The role of NGOs for the sustainable development plans of water in the Black Sea region

Regional / International NGO (Turkey)

Turkey and surroundings

5’ François OMBANDA – CEO Society of Water and Energy of Gabon

How to integrate the management and the pricing

Water & energy private operator (Gabon)

Africa


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of water and energy in order to ensure to the populations a better access to the service? The Gabonese experience.

15’ Break with intermezzo (film)

5’ Henri‐Luc THIBAULT – Plan Bleu

Water, energy and climate change in the Mediterranean: current situation and prospective

NGO Mediterranean

5’ Tefera WOUDENEH – African Development Bank

African regional perspectives (needs to be detailed)

Regional Development Bank (Tunis)

Africa

5’ Joerg HARTMANN – WWF Germany – Dams initiative

Freshwater limits to energy growth ‐ a global perspective

International NGO (Germany)

Global

5’ André FLAJOLET – French parliamentary, President of the National Committee on Water

Negotiating the French agreement for a sustainable hydropower (tbc)

National Government (France)

Europe


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30’ Panel discussion with the audience

Moderators

15’ High level round‐table :

‐ Simon D’ujanga, Minister of State for Energy of Uganda (tbc)

‐ Chantal Jouanno, State Secretary of Ecology of France (tbc)

‐ Dogan Altinbilek, former Director General of the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) and former president of International Hydropower Association

‐ Dr. Georges Fadi Comair, General Director of Electrical & Water Resources, Lebanese Ministry of Water and Energy

Chairperson or Dr Dogan Altinbilek

20’ High level panel discussion with the audience

Moderators

15’ Break with intermezzo (poster session)

10’ Draft formulation of recommendations

Chairperson

20’ Discussion on the recommendations

Moderators


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5’ Dogan Altinbilek, former Director General of the State Hydraulic Works (DSI) and former president of International Hydropower Association

Synthesis and conclusions on recommendations

Expected outcomes, impacts and follow‐up linkages with events and initiatives after the Forum

• A stocktaking of the major issues regarding water and energy

• Consensual but strong recommendations coming from the panelists and the participants

• A follow up mechanism to monitor and evaluate the agreed recommendations and to promote tools and ways to improve water and energy management in all regions

• Wide dissemination of session results • Partnership agreements for water and energy security