Water in a World in Transition

An event organized by the University of Montpellier and its UNESCO Icireward International Center as part of the National Day of Ecological Transition for Sustainable Development in Higher Education and Research.

Recent news about water resources and extreme weather events, both in France and elsewhere in the world, sharply highlights the crucial importance of water-related issues and their universal nature.

Water is present in every aspect of human life and activity: industry, agriculture, energy, recreation, and more—it is a constant part of our daily lives.

Climate change, which is leading to increasingly severe water stress in many regions of the world, along with population growth and rapid—and sometimes uncontrolled—urbanization, is causing profound upheavals and often undermining existing water resource management practices.

Thus, in a world in transition that faces numerous challenges—both in terms of the quantity and quality of this resource—the issue of water is clearly a topic whose importance will only grow in the years and decades to come, potentially generating additional tensions or conflicts at all levels across the globe.

As a result, engaging in a comprehensive and collaborative discussion on this topic is now an urgent necessity. This reflection must address all issues related to water resources—their evolution, accessibility, and quality; the constraints on their use; the major challenges to be overcome (agriculture, contamination, sanitation, appropriate infrastructure, etc.); as well as existing avenues for improvement and innovation (reuse of wastewater, storage, etc.)… Not to mention the issue of resource sharing and the need to revitalize multi-stakeholder dialogue to address it most effectively.

It is in order to meet this ambitious yet essential goal that the roundtable discussion“Water in a World in Transition”will seek to contribute to the need for a clear-eyed assessment that compels us collectively to define adaptations, changes, and innovations commensurate with the challenges we face. 

Opening Remarks by Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier

In the presence of:

• Julien Baroni, co-founder of DV2E;
• Jean-François Blanchet, CEO of BRL;
• Hélène Fenet, Professor at the University of Montpellier;
• Eric Servat, Professor at the University of Montpellier, Director of the UNESCO Icireward International Center and of OSU-OREME;
• Régis Ingouf, Head of the Water, Aquatic Environments, and Risks Division, Directorate of Ecological and Energy Transition, Occitanie Region;
• Patricia Licznar, associate professor at the University of Montpellier;
• Noé de Bonnaventure, Veolia, Regional Director for the Hérault region at Veolia Water.