“Water in a Changing World”: the University of Montpellier’s next roundtable discussion!

[Press Release] - Published on November 30, 2023 in the Press Room

On Wednesday, December 6, 2023, the University of Montpellier is hosting a roundtable discussion on “Water in a World in Transition,” moderated by Olivier Biscaye, editor-in-chief of Midi Libre. This roundtable is part of the “National Day of Ecological Transition for Sustainable Development in Higher Education and Research,” organized at the University of Montpellier by the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.

This roundtable discussion will take place starting at 6:00 p.m. in the Charles Flahault Auditorium at the University of Montpellier’s Institute of Botany, with Philippe Augé, President of the University of Montpellier; Jacques Mercier, Vice President Research the University of Montpellier; and Eric Servat, Director of the UNESCO ICIREWARD International Center, in attendance.

By registration only

The roundtable discussion in a nutshell

Recent news about water resources and extreme weather events, both in France and around the world, starkly underscores the critical 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—and 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 water resources—the issue of water is clearly a topic whose importance will only grow in the coming years and decades, 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 must address all issues related to water resources—their evolution, accessibility, and quality; existing constraints on their use; major challenges to be met (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 effectively.

It is with the aim of meeting 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 identify adaptations, changes, and innovations commensurate with the challenges we face. 

Keywords: Conference, water, Environment