Monday, March 30, 2020

UNESCO mobilizes 122 countries to promote open science and reinforced cooperation in the face of COVID-19

UNESCO Press Release No.2020- 30
UNESCO mobilizes 122 countries to promote open science and reinforced cooperation in the face of COVID-19

 
Paris, 30 March—UNESCO on 30 March hosted an online meeting of representatives of ministries in charge of science all over the world. Participants included 77 ministers, including governmental secretaries representing a total of 122 countries, as well as Mariya Gabriel, European Commissioner for Innovation, Research, Culture, Education and Youth, Sarah Anyang Agbor, African Union Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology, Moisés Omar Halleslevens Acevedo, former Vice President of Nicaragua and Dr Soumya Swaminathan, the World Health Organization's Chief Scientist. 

The objective of the meeting was to exchange views on the role of international cooperation in science and increased investment in the context of COVID-19.
The key issue of open science, for which UNESCO has been working on an International Recommendation since November 2019, was a major topic of discussion.
UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay called on governments to reinforce scientific cooperation and integrate open science in their research programmes to prevent and mitigate global crises.
"The COVID-19 pandemic raises our awareness of the importance of science, both in research and international cooperation. The present crisis also demonstrates the urgency of stepping up information sharing through open science. The time has come for us to commit all together," the Director-General declared. 
According to Ms. Swaminathan, Chief Scientist at WHO, "collaboration is really critical for knowledge and data sharing as well as in advancing COVID-19 research. At a time when trade and transport barriers are impeding the movement of critical materials, it is important to underline that science be allowed to lead the global response to this pandemic."
Ms. Anyang Agbor of the African Union stressed that "Africa needs a stronger research enterprise that mobilizes academia, and the public and private sectors. The African Union, at the end of 2019, acknowledged Open Science as a game changer in addressing inequalities."
The international scientific community has been mobilized around the emergency for several weeks, notably by sharing and making universally available the results of research and an unprecedented reform of their working methods (major scientific journals have made content regarding the virus accessible to all, more than 1,000 research articles have been published in open access in response to WHO's appeal, international research consortiums were established in a matter of days allowing for rapid progress including the sequencing of the virus's DNA over just a few weeks). 
"We all depend on science to survive", concluded Marcos Pontes, Minister of Science, Technology, Innovation and Communication from Brazil.

 
Regarding open science, the agenda of the meeting featured:
  • The pooling of knowledge, measures to support scientific research, and the reduction of the knowledge gap among countries
  • The mobilization of decision makers, researchers, innovators, publishers and civil society to allow free access to scientific data, research findings, educational resources and research facilities
  • The Reinforcement of links between science and policy decisions, to meet societal needs
  • The opening of science to society while borders are closed 
****
Media Contact:
Clare O'Hagan: c.o-hagan@unesco.org
+33 01456 81729




UNESCO, 7, place de Fontenoy, PARIS, NA FRANCE France

Friday, March 27, 2020

CfPs: "Causes and Symptoms of Socio-Cultural Polarization: Role of Information and Communication Technologies" | Abstract Deadline: 15 May

Causes and Symptoms of Socio-Cultural Polarization: Role of Information and Communication Technologies

for publication in a scholarly book and presentation in associated paper development workshop

December 24-25, 2020 at IIM Ahmedabad, India
Abstract Deadline - May 15, 2020


Editors
Israr Qureshi, Australian National University, Canberra
Babita Bhatt, Australian National University, Canberra
Samrat Gupta, Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad
Amit Anand Tiwari, Indian Institute of Management, Rohtak

The Information and Communication Technology (ICT) provide users unparalleled access to information from around the globe. In spite of demographic differences, people can communicate, express and evolve their opinions on topics ranging from politics to culture. The ICT enabled wide-ranging information exchange on digital media can lead to two scenarios viz. formation of public sphere or formation of echo chambers. While public sphere, which promotes greater diversity, is a well-researched domain, substantially less research has been conducted on the study of echo chambers in socio-cultural domains. The polarization induced by formation and evolution of echo chambers in socio-cultural realm such as around healthcare, vaccination, climate change, education, warfare is an emerging avenue of research due to its enormous impact in shaping of our society. Moreover, the scientific investigation of dynamics of polarization around cultural products such as movies, painting, literature, and cartoons also holds great relevance in the emerging socio-cultural context.

The digital proliferation of debates/controversies around socio-cultural activities, products and services and their reinforcement through echo chambers needs to be investigated so as to evaluate its impact on society at large. For instance, recent controversy erupted around a cultural product such as Padmavat movie, resulting into serious social disruption in India. Another such example is that of increased cost of living, privatisation and inequality in Chile which brought polarisation of public perception through social media and escalated into widespread protests. A piece of information/misinformation related to socio-cultural activities/products or services and polarization of opinions around such information can lead to mass destruction of property and widespread human suffering. We believe this represents a mounting problem for society, one that is likely to intensify in the era of social media. Thus, understanding the dynamics, causes and symptoms of socio-cultural polarization is critical and would be valuable for developing interventions to reduce unhealthy societal and cultural polarisations.

The development of systematic knowledge is required to understand and address such a large scale and complex societal challenge so as to facilitate a deeper understanding and offer solutions to the growing issue of polarization in socio-cultural context driven primarily through echo chambers. In particular, systematic knowledge about the formation, evolution and/or normalization of such echo chambers is limited, and yet is much needed in current times when the societal and economic impact of socio-cultural activities, products and services around the world is rising. Furthermore, knowledge of echo chambers formed due to socio-cultural phenomena may exist in bits and pieces in multiple disciplines and sub-disciplines, and is in need of integration. 

As technology enabled social media usage increases and the complex structural outcomes such as echo chambers are likely to have an increasingly important role in shaping public opinion, we seek to better understand the factors that drive polarization in the socio-cultural domain and consequently the dynamics and evolution of the echo chambers. We believe that developing a systematic understanding of such issues and initiatives is important and would help both public and private decision-makers, policymakers to prevent and handle socio-cultural discourse/controversies with minimal damage.

In this call we are open to global phenomenon of ICT enabled polarization. We are open to submissions based on any socio-cultural context that may hold significance in developing and developed nations in terms of comparison and learning from challenges and solutions and may spark a broader conversation on the topic. Such research could focus on any aspect within the socio-cultural aspect such as people, festivals, organizations, industries or products such as books, films, media, performing arts, architecture etc. The potential audience for the book comprises those with an interest in developing deeper and broader understanding of issues and initiatives related to polarization of opinions on cultural products. These include scholars from various disciplines, along with engaged organizational leaders, activists, policy makers, and common citizens. The book will be published by an internationally respected publisher of scholarly work.
We invite papers on such inter-related questions as below (but not restricted to these questions):

  • What are the specific challenges of socio-cultural polarizations, such as those around movies, books, paintings, museums, architecture, etc?
  • What can we learn about the similarities or differences in socio-cultural polarization across regions/countries and what implications could that have for polarization in developing and developed nations? What can we learn from the developed countries and what insights we can draw from developing countries?
  • What are the different structures/platforms in which socio-cultural polarizations take place and how, such as around communities, workplaces, organizations, online, etc.?
  • Who are the actors - individuals, organizations, communities, or any others - involved in socio-cultural polarizations? What do we know about approaches to model echo chambers and polarization?
  • What are the different types of activities involved in socio-cultural polarization, such as language (writing, speaking, news media, entertainment media), personal interactions, events (e.g. festivals, dining, special bridging events and gatherings), social media interaction, etc.?
  • What are the dynamics of polarization and echo chambers i.e. how have these changed over time and what are the specific challenges and initiatives involved in dealing with these dynamics?
  • What are the challenges and initiatives involved in socio-cultural polarization in the connected world engendered by the digital age, such as cyberbalkanization, ghettoization, echo chambers, fake news and its rapid dissemination, anonymity-based incivility/bullying/threats, etc.? 
  • What theoretically innovative approaches can we leverage from across disciplines to curb cultural product related controversies and polarization?
  • What are the successful individual, organizational and governmental initiatives to address polarization?
  • How can we prevent divisive polarization?

 

Submission Guidelines for Paper Development Workshop
The editors will organize a workshop on December 24-25, 2020 at IIM Ahmedabad, India. To be considered for the workshop, please submit an extended abstract (maximum 2000 words excluding references, figures, and tables) by the deadline May 15, 2020. Upon receiving an accept decision by June 15, 2020, full papers (maximum 10000 words excluding references, figures and tables) for the workshop will be due by October 20, 2020. Participation in the workshop is highly encouraged to develop the papers but is neither necessary nor a guarantee of acceptance for the book. All submissions must be made to sparc495pdw@iima.ac.in. Final revised submission after receiving feedback in the workshop (or directly by end of December, 2020, for those who may not be able to attend the workshop) will be due by January 31, 2021.

Acknowledgement
This workshop is related to a project supported by the Scheme for Promotion of Academic and Research Collaboration (SPARC) of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India, SPARC Grant No. SPARC/2018-2019/P495/SL

Further Details

Thursday, March 26, 2020

CODATA Early Career Essay Competition 2020 on “Open Data Challenges to Address Global and Societal Issues”

CODATA Connect Working Group: Early Career and Alumni Network

An Invitation to Take Part in the CODATA Connect – Data Science Journal Early Career Essay Competition

The first of its kind, CODATA Connect Early Career and Alumni Network in collaboration with the CODATA Data Science Journal (DSJ) is organizing an Essay Competition for Early Career Researchers (ECR), defined as university undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate students or early career researchers within five years of completing their highest qualification. CODATA Connect exists to ensure a structural and sustained collaboration and support for the activities of the alumni of CODATA-RDA Summer Schools, of the CODATA China and Trieste Training Workshops and other early career researchers and data professionals involved in the CODATA community and those of partner organisations.

Topic for the Essay: "Open Data Challenges to Address Global and Societal Issues"

Participants interested in disseminating information on research data in the sciences, humanities and the arts using essays as the medium are welcome to apply. Topics might include but not limited to human health, climate change, resilience, etc. Essays which discuss the necessary limits in openness are also in scope and are welcome (e.g. personal health information, indigenous sovereignty etc.) Essays that discuss the challenges in making data as open as possible and how such data can be used to address global and societal issues (Crime, Disease, Governance, etc.) Essays might discuss challenges at any point in the data lifecycle and in relation to any of a number of global and societal challenges.  We discourage essays that simply present well known and generic arguments in favour of open data.  Essays are encouraged to use local or specific examples for the benefits of open data and to discuss how challenges can be overcome in both specific circumstances and more globally. 

Rules and Instructions

The dates for the essay writing are: 1st April to 30th June 2020.

The Essay Writing Competition is open to all CODATA-RDA Summer Schools Alumni and any Early Career researchers. The essay writing time is 3 months and the length of the essay should be 2000-3000 words. References do not count as part of words limit. Each essay must contain the full name(s), affiliations and contacts details of the authors. Essay is accepted only in English Language.

The Judging Panel

The panel of judges consists of representatives from the CODATA Community and Editors of the CODATA Data Science Journal. The judges' decision is final and may not be appealed. The review process will be single blind. Judges will not know the identity of the authors.

Judging Criteria

Essays should be interesting, original and provocative but also clearly situated in a body of knowledge. It is important that authors show an appropriate knowledge of the chosen research area for discussions. Other criteria include but are not limited to:

  • Contemporary relevance of the topic to science of data
  • Demonstrated awareness of the state of discussion around the topic. Essays do not need to include a comprehensive literature review, but must illustrate where their argument fits into broader discussion in the field.
  • Strength and persuasiveness of the argument, underpinned by reference to literature, evidence and data.
  • Clarity of writing and appeal of the style.

Format: Essays cover topics and controversies of interest to the community and aim to stimulate discussion and debate. Essays may be provocative and less focused on reporting original research work but should still consist of original thoughts and ideas. Essays should be no longer than 3,000 words in length. The content of the essay should be at the author's preference. More information on the criteria for Essay submission at the DSJ can be found here: https://datascience.codata.org/about/submissions/

Prizes: The winning essay will be published in DSJ for free and the winner will receive a trip to the CODATA Symposium in October 2020 or future CODATA event as appropriate along with a formal certification of their achievement.

Shortlisted essays will be invited for submission to the CODATA Data Science Journal (the usual peer review, article processing charges and waiver terms will apply).

Submitting Essays: The deadline for submitting the essays is 23:59 UTC on Tuesday 30 June 2020. Essays should be submitted at Click Here or sent by e-mail as pdf attachments to asha[@]codata.org

Please make sure that you write "Essay Writing Competition April 2020: Your Name [Surname, Firstname]" in the subject of your email.

Please ensure that the PDF of the essay does not include any information about the author.

Please provide your Name, Degree, Address and Institutional Affiliation in the covering email or in an accompanying document BUT NOT ON THE PDF OF THE SUBMITTED ESSAY.

If you are in the ECR category please provide the date of completion of the last degree with the pdf of the essay in one email.

Announcement Of Winners: The selected essay winner will be announced on the CODATA website https://www.codata.org/  by Saturday 15 August 2020. The winner will also be contacted through the CODATA Connect email.

CODATA reserves the right to publish the winners' name and affiliation, as well as the winning essay on the CODATA Data Science Journal: https://datascience.codata.org/

Enquiry: For further enquiries and information, contact: codataconnect[@]codata.org

 


Further Details

Saturday, March 21, 2020

Water resources an essential part of the solution to climate change : Launch of the UN World Water Development Report on 22 March

Water resources an essential part of the solution to climate change

Launch of the UN World Water Development Report on 22 March

Paris/Geneva, 22 March — Climate change will affect the availability, quality and quantity of water needed for basic human needs, thus undermining enjoyment of the basic rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for billions of people, warns the latest UN World Water Development Report. The authors call on States to make more concrete commitments to address the challenge.

Such a deterioration of the situation would only hinder achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 which is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to which access to safe drinking water and sanitation must be guaranteed for all within ten years. This will be a considerable challenge – 2.2 billion people currently do not have access to safely managed drinking water, and 4.2 billion, or 55% of the world's population, are without safely managed sanitation.

Water use has increased sixfold over the past century and is rising by about 1% a year. However, it is estimated that climate change, along with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events – storms, floods and droughts, will aggravate the situation in countries already currently experiencing 'water stress' and generate similar problems in areas that have not been severely affected. Furthermore, the report highlights the fact that poor water management tends to exacerbate the impacts of climate change, not only on water resources but on society as a whole. 

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, stresses "that water does not need to be a problem – it can be part of the solution. Water can support efforts to both mitigate and adapt to climate change."

The Chair of UN-Water, and President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Gilbert F. Houngbo, says : "If we are serious about limiting global temperature increases to below 2°C and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we must act immediately. There are solutions for managing water and climate in a more coordinated manner and every sector of society has a role to play. We simply cannot afford to wait."

Health effects, threat to biodiversity

Indeed, water quality will be affected by increased water temperatures and a decrease in dissolved oxygen, leading to a reduction in the self-purification capacity of freshwater basins. We will see increased risks of water pollution and pathogen contamination caused by floods or higher concentrations of pollutants during periods of drought. In addition to the impact on food production, the effects on physical and mental health – linked to disease, injury, financial loss and the displacement of people – are therefore likely to be considerable.

Many ecosystems, particularly forests and wetlands, are also under threat, reducing biodiversity. Water supplies will be affected, not only for agriculture – which accounts for 69% of freshwater withdrawals – but also for industry, energy production and even fisheries.

Areas most at risk: archipelagos, mountains, tropics and Far North

Much of the impact of climate change on water resources will be manifested in the tropics, where most developing countries are located, with potentially apocalyptic consequences for small island states, some of which could be wiped off the map. Mountainous areas are also exceptionally vulnerable through impacts on mountain glaciers and snowcaps, which show a decreasing trend almost everywhere in the world. The authors recognize, however, that a number of uncertainties remain, particularly at the local level and due to the seasonal variability of rainfall patterns.

Suggested solutions: adaptation and mitigation

In the face of these threats, the report highlights the two complementary strategies to be implemented – adaptation and mitigation: 

  • Adaptation encompasses a combination of natural, technical and technological options, as well as social and institutional measures to mitigate damage and exploit the few positive consequences of climate change. It is likely to have very rapid benefits, mainly at the local level.

  • Mitigation consists of the human actions needed to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions while exploiting carbon sinks to reduce the amount of CO2 and other GHGs in the atmosphere. It can involve large geographical areas, but with gains that may spread over decades. However, the possibilities for mitigation in water management remain largely unrecognized.

Improved wastewater management

Wastewater treatment also contributes to climate change as it generates GHGs, accounting for an estimated 3% to 7% of all emissions. These emissions arise from both the energy required for wastewater treatment and the biochemical processes used. But because of the decomposition of the organic matter it contains, untreated wastewater is also a major source of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The report points out that wastewater harbours more energy than is needed for its treatment, provided, of course, that it is harnessed. It is estimated that worldwide, between 80% and 90% of wastewater is discharged to the environment without any form of treatment. 

In concrete terms, the optimal management of water resources means investing in modern treatment techniques that allow for the extraction of methane from organic matter and then use this biogas to generate the energy needed to run the process, as is already done in water-scarce countries such as Jordan, Mexico, Peru and Thailand. These techniques have enabled the public utilities concerned to reduce emissions by thousands of tonnes of CO2, while making financial savings and improving the quality of the service.

The report also mentions innovative water management interventions such as fog capture, or more traditional ones such as wetland protection, as well as proven 'conservation agriculture' techniques. These make it possible to preserve soil structure, organic matter and moisture, despite lower rainfall. Similarly, the 'reuse' of partially treated wastewater for agriculture and industry, without necessarily making it safe to drink, is another interesting approach.

Prioritizing water

Unfortunately, note the authors, while the need to combat climate change through better management of the water cycle is well recognized, it is not being translated into reality. "The word 'water' rarely appears in international climate agreements," observes Audrey Azoulay. The 'nationally determined contributions' submitted by States under the Paris Agreement remain general in nature, without proposing specific plans for water. While a majority of countries recognize water in their 'portfolio of actions', few of them have actually calculated the costs of these actions and even fewer have put forward specific projects. Meanwhile, the possibilities for synergies between adaptation and mitigation measures are often neglected.

Accessing climate funds

The question of finance is obviously crucial. The authors point out that water resources management and water supply and sanitation services are underfunded and require greater attention from States. They argue that there are increasing opportunities to systematically integrate adaptation and mitigation planning into water-related investments, in order to make them more attractive to donors. 

A good example of this is a Green Climate Fund project in Sri Lanka. This aims to improve irrigation systems in vulnerable village communities and promote climate-smart agricultural practices in three river basins, offering both climate adaptation and mitigation benefits, while conserving water and protecting drinking water sources.

Various water and climate change initiatives can also bring co-benefits such as job creation, improved public health, poverty reduction, promotion of gender equality and improved livelihoods, further enhancing their attractiveness to donors.

The adoption of integrated adaptation and mitigation measures is a win-win proposition, conclude the authors of the report. They are clearly beneficial for the sustainable management of water resources and for the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. They also directly address the causes and consequences of climate change, including in terms of the response to extreme weather events. Finally, they contribute to the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations World Water Development Report is UN-Water's flagship report on water and sanitation issues, focusing on a different theme each year. The report is published by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. Launched in conjunction with World Water Day, the report provides decision-makers with knowledge and tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies.

 

****

Media contact for UNESCO: Bernard Giansetto, b.giansetto@unesco.org +33 (0)1 45 68 17 64

UN-Water: Daniella Bostrom Couffe, daniella.bostrom@unwater.org

+41 79 159 92 17

 

The report is available on request.



If you would rather not receive future communications from UNESCO, let us know by clicking here.
UNESCO, 7, place de Fontenoy, PARIS, NA FRANCE France

Thursday, March 19, 2020

NPC Webinars on Implementation of Industry 4.0 in SMEs (25 March) & Role of Energy Management in Indian Industry (20 March)

NPC Webinar: Role of Energy Management in Indian Industry
Date: 20th March 2020 at 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Organized by National Productivity Council (NPC), India
Register to learn: The webinar session would cruise over the initiatives taken by our country and the tangible benefits reaped thereof by the various stakeholders and indeed the large scale transformation affected in the marketplace by way of implementing these programs.
Register Online

NPC Webinar: Implementation of Industry 4.0 in SMEs
Date: 25th March 2020 at 3:30 – 4:30 pm
Organized by National Productivity Council (NPC), India
Register to learn:
  • How to assess I4.0 level based on the existing facility design.
  • How to analyze the current working scenario for the Industry(s)/MSME(s)
  • What interventions are required to take from one level to another?
Register Online

Webinar on Designing Computer Vision Algorithms to Describe the Visual World to People Who Are Blind or Low Vision | 26 March

Webinar on Designing Computer Vision Algorithms to Describe the Visual World to People Who Are Blind or Low Vision
Date: Thursday, March 26, 2020
Time: 10:00 AM PDT (10:30 p.m. IST)
Summary: A common goal in computer vision research is to build machines that can replicate the human vision system (for example, detect an object or scene category, describe an object or scene, or locate an object). A natural grand challenge for the artificial intelligence community is to design such technology to assist people who are blind to overcome their real daily visual challenges.
In this webinar with Dr. Danna Gurari and Dr. Ed Cutrell, learn how computer vision researchers are working to create vision systems adapted to the needs of those who use them. By creating new dataset challenges, the researchers aim to empower the artificial intelligence community to work on real use cases.
To encourage the larger artificial intelligence community to collaborate on developing methods for assistive technology, we introduce the first dataset challenges with data that originates from people who are blind. Our data comes from over 11,000 people in real-world scenarios who were seeking to learn about the physical world around them. More broadly, this dataset serves as a great catalyst for uncovering hard artificial intelligence challenges that must be addressed to create more robust systems across many contexts and scenarios.
Together, we'll explore:
  • Creating tools for people who are blind or have low vision that match their needs and complement their capabilities
  • Key challenges of teaching computers how to automatically describe pictures taken by people who are blind or low vision
  • Several potential solutions to make computers more accurately address the needs of people who are blind or low vision.
Dr. Danna Gurari is an assistant professor as well as director of the Image and Video Computing Group in the School of Information at University of Texas at Austin (UT-Austin). Her research interests span computer vision, machine learning, human computation, crowdsourcing, human computer interaction, accessibility, and (bio)medical image analysis. She and her work have been recognized with the 2017 Honorable Mention Award at CHI, Researcher Excellence Award from the Boston University computer science department in 2015, 2014 Best Paper Award for Innovative Idea at MICCAI IMIC, and 2013 Best Paper Award at WACV.
Dr. Ed Cutrell is a Senior Principal Researcher at Microsoft Research where he explores computing for disability, accessibility, and inclusive design in the MSR Ability group. Over the years, he has worked on a broad range of HCI topics, including input tech, visual perception and graphics, intelligent notifications and disruptions, and interfaces for search and personal information management. Ed has worked in the field of human-computer interaction (HCI) since 2000; he is trained in cognitive neuropsychology, with a PhD from the University of Oregon.

Wednesday, March 18, 2020

CODATA Webinar series on Smart and Resilient Cities | Topic: Sustainable and Resilient Urban Ecologies: Possible lessons from recent Australian Bushfires | 31 March

Webinar on Sustainable and Resilient Urban Ecologies: Possible lessons from recent Australian Bushfires

Date & Time: Tuesday, 31 Mar 2020 at 11:00 UTC (15:30 New Delhi, 07:00 New York, 12:00 London, 22:00 Sydney)

Who should join?

This webinar is brought to you FREE of charge by the CODATA Connect Alumni and Early Career Network. If you're interested in the topic of "Smart and Resilient Cities", "SaRC" or "Open and FAIR Data" you should definitely join.

Our speaker:

Theresa Dirndorfer Anderson (Associate Professor, Sydney Australia Social Informaticist; Ethics for AI & ADM)

About the Webinar: The horrific bushfires experienced recently in Australian have laid bare both ecological and urban vulnerabilities. The impact on Australia's unique flora and fauna is profound. For the communities affected by these fires, the long road to recovery is physical, economic and emotional. While metropolitan Sydney was spared from the most cataclysmic of the firestorms, the fallout of smoke, haze, and ash shrouded the city and surrounding communities for weeks on end, leading to this region having some of the worst air quality on the planet during that period. And as the summer heat persisted, water catchments already strained by years of drought were stretched further by the fire crisis and communities found themselves facing severe water restrictions. In the aftermath of the fires, drought and economic impact, the resilience of both the community and the land is already apparent. But there is no denying that the impacts of these ecological disasters of recent times have accelerated calls for fresh thinking about ways to prepare for and stave off similar crises in the future. Calls for community co-design initiatives and sustainable practices have also gained greater traction as Sydney-siders used to blue skies and cool ocean breezes during the balmy summer months, unexpectedly found themselves on the front line of a climate crisis. Has this most recent disaster introduced greater urgency for active community engagement in urban planning? Is there a greater climate of readiness to deliberately and collectively pursue sustainable development goals?

About the  Speaker: A data and information ethicist passionate about shaping future digital and data infrastructure, Theresa is building an international network (Humanising Data Science) within the international information science community. Theresa's award-winning work as an educator and as a researcher for the past twenty years engages with the ever-evolving relationship between people and emerging technologies through transdisciplinary and value-sensitive lenses. Her early professional career included work as a political research analyst in research centres and think tanks, service as a diplomat and environmental education officer.

Register Online

Download the Poster


Monday, March 16, 2020

EMBARGOED UNTIL 22 MARCH 00:01 a.m. GMT Water resources an essential part of the solution to climate change

UNESCO and UN-Water Press release N°2020-2x

 

EMBARGO UNTIL 22 MARCH 00:01 a.m. GMT

 

Water resources an essential part of the solution to climate change

Launch of the UN World Water Development Report on 22 March

Paris/Geneva, 22 March — Climate change will affect the availability, quality and quantity of water needed for basic human needs, thus undermining enjoyment of the basic rights to safe drinking water and sanitation for billions of people, warns the latest UN World Water Development Report. The authors call on States to make more concrete commitments to address the challenge.

Such a deterioration of the situation would only hinder achievement of Sustainable Development Goal 6 which is part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, according to which access to safe drinking water and sanitation must be guaranteed for all within ten years. This will be a considerable challenge – 2.2 billion people currently do not have access to safely managed drinking water, and 4.2 billion, or 55% of the world's population, are without safely managed sanitation.

Water use has increased sixfold over the past century and is rising by about 1% a year. However, it is estimated that climate change, along with the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme events – storms, floods and droughts, will aggravate the situation in countries already currently experiencing 'water stress' and generate similar problems in areas that have not been severely affected. Furthermore, the report highlights the fact that poor water management tends to exacerbate the impacts of climate change, not only on water resources but on society as a whole. 

The Director-General of UNESCO, Audrey Azoulay, stresses "that water does not need to be a problem – it can be part of the solution. Water can support efforts to both mitigate and adapt to climate change."

The Chair of UN-Water, and President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Gilbert F. Houngbo, says : "If we are serious about limiting global temperature increases to below 2°C and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, we must act immediately. There are solutions for managing water and climate in a more coordinated manner and every sector of society has a role to play. We simply cannot afford to wait."

Health effects, threat to biodiversity

Indeed, water quality will be affected by increased water temperatures and a decrease in dissolved oxygen, leading to a reduction in the self-purification capacity of freshwater basins. We will see increased risks of water pollution and pathogen contamination caused by floods or higher concentrations of pollutants during periods of drought. In addition to the impact on food production, the effects on physical and mental health – linked to disease, injury, financial loss and the displacement of people – are therefore likely to be considerable.

Many ecosystems, particularly forests and wetlands, are also under threat, reducing biodiversity. Water supplies will be affected, not only for agriculture – which accounts for 69% of freshwater withdrawals – but also for industry, energy production and even fisheries.

Areas most at risk: archipelagos, mountains, tropics and Far North

Much of the impact of climate change on water resources will be manifested in the tropics, where most developing countries are located, with potentially apocalyptic consequences for small island states, some of which could be wiped off the map. Mountainous areas are also exceptionally vulnerable through impacts on mountain glaciers and snowcaps, which show a decreasing trend almost everywhere in the world. The authors recognize, however, that a number of uncertainties remain, particularly at the local level and due to the seasonal variability of rainfall patterns.

Suggested solutions: adaptation and mitigation

In the face of these threats, the report highlights the two complementary strategies to be implemented – adaptation and mitigation: 

  • Adaptation encompasses a combination of natural, technical and technological options, as well as social and institutional measures to mitigate damage and exploit the few positive consequences of climate change. It is likely to have very rapid benefits, mainly at the local level.

  • Mitigation consists of the human actions needed to reduce greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions while exploiting carbon sinks to reduce the amount of CO2 and other GHGs in the atmosphere. It can involve large geographical areas, but with gains that may spread over decades. However, the possibilities for mitigation in water management remain largely unrecognized.

Improved wastewater management

Wastewater treatment also contributes to climate change as it generates GHGs, accounting for an estimated 3% to 7% of all emissions. These emissions arise from both the energy required for wastewater treatment and the biochemical processes used. But because of the decomposition of the organic matter it contains, untreated wastewater is also a major source of methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. The report points out that wastewater harbours more energy than is needed for its treatment, provided, of course, that it is harnessed. It is estimated that worldwide, between 80% and 90% of wastewater is discharged to the environment without any form of treatment. 

In concrete terms, the optimal management of water resources means investing in modern treatment techniques that allow for the extraction of methane from organic matter and then use this biogas to generate the energy needed to run the process, as is already done in water-scarce countries such as Jordan, Mexico, Peru and Thailand. These techniques have enabled the public utilities concerned to reduce emissions by thousands of tonnes of CO2, while making financial savings and improving the quality of the service.

The report also mentions innovative water management interventions such as fog capture, or more traditional ones such as wetland protection, as well as proven 'conservation agriculture' techniques. These make it possible to preserve soil structure, organic matter and moisture, despite lower rainfall. Similarly, the 'reuse' of partially treated wastewater for agriculture and industry, without necessarily making it safe to drink, is another interesting approach.

Prioritizing water

Unfortunately, note the authors, while the need to combat climate change through better management of the water cycle is well recognized, it is not being translated into reality. "The word 'water' rarely appears in international climate agreements," observes Audrey Azoulay. The 'nationally determined contributions' submitted by States under the Paris Agreement remain general in nature, without proposing specific plans for water. While a majority of countries recognize water in their 'portfolio of actions', few of them have actually calculated the costs of these actions and even fewer have put forward specific projects. Meanwhile, the possibilities for synergies between adaptation and mitigation measures are often neglected.

Accessing climate funds

The question of finance is obviously crucial. The authors point out that water resources management and water supply and sanitation services are underfunded and require greater attention from States. They argue that there are increasing opportunities to systematically integrate adaptation and mitigation planning into water-related investments, in order to make them more attractive to donors. 

A good example of this is a Green Climate Fund project in Sri Lanka. This aims to improve irrigation systems in vulnerable village communities and promote climate-smart agricultural practices in three river basins, offering both climate adaptation and mitigation benefits, while conserving water and protecting drinking water sources.

Various water and climate change initiatives can also bring co-benefits such as job creation, improved public health, poverty reduction, promotion of gender equality and improved livelihoods, further enhancing their attractiveness to donors.

The adoption of integrated adaptation and mitigation measures is a win-win proposition, conclude the authors of the report. They are clearly beneficial for the sustainable management of water resources and for the human right to safe drinking water and sanitation. They also directly address the causes and consequences of climate change, including in terms of the response to extreme weather events. Finally, they contribute to the achievement of several of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The United Nations World Water Development Report is UN-Water's flagship report on water and sanitation issues, focusing on a different theme each year. The report is published by UNESCO, on behalf of UN-Water and its production is coordinated by the UNESCO World Water Assessment Programme. Launched in conjunction with World Water Day, the report provides decision-makers with knowledge and tools to formulate and implement sustainable water policies.

 

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Media contact for UNESCO: Bernard Giansetto, b.giansetto@unesco.org +33 (0)1 45 68 17 64

UN-Water: Daniella Bostrom Couffe, daniella.bostrom@unwater.org

+41 79 159 92 17

 

The report (under embargo until 22 March) is available on request.

 

 



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