Two billion people around the world are living in water-stressed areas and the climate crisis is only serving to make this worse by prolonging droughts and intensifying floods. With water use and management accounting for up to 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it is imperative that governments and water companies work together to achieve net zero. This means transitioning to renewable energy, mitigating their carbon emissions and reducing the nitrous oxide and methane emissions that come from wastewater treatment.

In the UK in 2020, water companies spear-headed the industry’s low-carbon journey with the publication of the Net Zero 2030 Routemap – the world’s first detailed sector-wide plan to reach net zero on operational emissions by 2030.

In this event, Water UK will host a discussion with UK representatives and colleagues from around the world to discuss how they are tackling the dual challenge of reducing emissions and ensuring water resilience. The event will explore how water companies are tackling the race to net zero, how they are ensuring resilience is embedded into these plans and how they plan to progress once they’ve achieved the ‘easy wins’.

Water Pavilion launch event

The IPCC Working Group 1 report makes grim reading. Strong evidence from thousands of studies across the globe was brought together to detail how the climate is and will change. Floods, droughts and other extreme events like heatwaves and cyclones are the main ways in which people across the world are feeling the impacts of climate change, and it comes as no surprise that many of these impacts are water-related. Understanding the implications and regional variations highlighted by the IPCC report for future water management is crucial. In this session, the authors of the IPCC report will share insights about water-related changes, including extreme weather events due to climate change and panelists' will discuss the implications of the same for adaptation and mitigation. 

Further info at: 

https://www.waterforclimate.net/meetings/virtual/3Ttcn88wWzC427E3N

Freshwater-related mitigation measures in water systems, energy systems and ecosystems (such as wetlands and other inland water ecosystems, forest, croplands, rangelands); Mitigation within the water-sanitation-hygiene sector, including links to energy and cities-infrastructure; Educate on the water sectors collective GHG emission impact, celebrate those utilities who have already made a Net Zero commitment, and call other corporations and utilities to make their own commitment. 

Further info at:

https://www.waterforclimate.net/meetings/virtual/Ah6LpDqk9CJbL6geC

Introducing the Water Tracker for National Climate Planning! If climate action is to be effective, the vital role of water in mitigating and adapting to climate change must be recognized. Water is a critical resource for all sectors, understanding where and how water is needed for climate action is necessary now to avoid adverse outcomes, maladaptation, or outright project failure. This event will introduce a new tool for countries to assess water needs in their national climate planning and bring together leaders from around the globe to share good practices in adaptation and demonstrate the importance of placing water at the center of resilient climate planning. The Water Tracker for National Climate Planning is an initiative of the Egypt and UK-led Adaptation Action Coalition (AAC), and we will use this opportunity to showcase pilot country experiences applying the Water Tracker to their national climate plans and invite other countries to join the Coalition.

The first Water Pavilion at a COP - A celebration

18:45 - 19:00 High Level welcoming remarks

19:00 - 19:15 Performance by Låpsley

19:15 - 20:00 Water Pavilion Reception

According to the latest updates, developed countries are not on track to fulfil their Paris Agreement commitment to mobilize $100 billion a year in climate finance for developing countries that came into effect in 2020. Specific efforts to mobilize private finance in developing countries have also stalled. In addition, adaptation continues only receive approximately one quarter of total public climate finance. This leaves the Paris Agreement commitment to balance funding between mitigation and adaptation unmet while the impacts of climate change are felt now, particularly by the most vulnerable countries and communities. It is in these countries where access to basic services such as water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) are the lowest, especially in rural areas.

This conversation will position WASH where it belongs as a part of comprehensive resilience packages and plans. It will do that by highlighting the cost benefits of building the resilience of infrastructure assets and basic social services such as water supply, sanitation and hygiene in low- and middle-income countries, by explaining how climate-resilient WASH aligns with and feeds into broader climate rationale in countries, and by discussing new avenues to team up and work with financiers and the private sector.

Further info at:

https://www.waterforclimate.net/meetings/virtual/payzBcgNatrJo24dE

The demand for information on the implications of physical climate risk is increasing. Demand is particularly driven by burgeoning environmental, social, and governance (ESG) funds and investor scrutiny of material climate risks, particularly in the power generation sector. However, quantifying physical climate risks in loan and equity portfolios of power generation assets in a cost-effective way remains challenging. In this event, we will introduce a cost-effective yet comprehensive framework for assessing physical climate risks for power generation project portfolios, that is co-developed by the World Resources Institute (WRI) and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). Additionally, we will share a pilot study where we apply the framework over EBRD’s current power generation portfolio, and demonstrate how investors can leverage portfolio-level physical climate risk assessment to inform their financial and investment decision making and shift towards a climate resilient future.

Further info at:

https://www.waterforclimate.net/meetings/virtual/K3cebC37d5PvW7QDJ

Water investments can and must deliver better for both mitigation and adaptation, and for both people and nature. We know what needs to be done, and the time to act is now. Climate finance for water must support and enhance national climate plans – nearly 90% of NDCs prioritise water among their adaptation actions.[1] It must be better targeted to the most vulnerable countries – many of which get only $1 per person, per year in international climate finance for water-related adaptation.[2] It must protect and restore nature: investing in nature-based solutions where they can reduce exposure to flood risks and help retain water in the landscape, thereby reducing the impact of intra-year water variability.[3]

The water community must also help grow the climate finance pot, by demonstrating investable solutions, at scale, and making all water finance flows consistent with low-emissions, climate-resilient development pathways.[4] At the critical juncture at COP26, this session will bring together state and non-state representatives as countries raise ambition and turn to implementable solutions. Together, we will show we have the tools and imagination to ensure climate finance for water is transformative, for both our communities and our environment.

Further info at:

https://www.waterforclimate.net/meetings/virtual/3QQ3QxNdJ2aeL2ueM

Join us to learn how offshore wind is supporting Scotland’s aspirations for a just energy transition.

This event will showcase real-world examples of just transition principles being put into practice in Scottish offshore wind, and how they could serve as a blueprint for other sectors and international markets.

Register to attend

Register to attend these events on eventsair - a Scottish Government partner website. You'll need to create an account to attend.

People and nature experience climate change through water- by droughts, floods, and extreme weather and their impacts. Ensuring water security is the most effective way to address climate vulnerability and inequalities, and that means that climate financing must flow towards comprehensive water security solutions for all. The Resilient Water Accelerator will support climate-vulnerable communities to secure clean and reliable water resources and services by unlocking new sources of financing and enabling the design of climate-resilient water security programmes, that address threats to resources, ecosystems, access to water and the risks from extreme weather.

Further info at:

https://www.waterforclimate.net/meetings/virtual/KYgdGLoKJexuxHP6s

How can we plan for national economic resilience? In most countries, we lack effective, coherent, and credible strategies for economic resilience across sectors, regions, and levels of governance. Water resilience is one approach to negotiate tradeoffs and avoid traps, even under climatic, pandemic, and economic change and uncertainty.

Over the past decade, many institutions have developed powerful risk and economic assessment tools for investments in infrastructure, ecosystems, and communities that can guide us towards greater local-scale resilience. Recognizing the special roles and risks associated with the water resources embedded within those investments has been key to this progress. We know that resilience has a cost, and that different approaches to resilience will vary in efficacy, reach, coherence, and their resilience dividend. We have choices in how we pursue resilience.

However, these lessons have not scaled up to national levels, even though the global pandemic has provided both global and national stress testing for economic resilience comparable to other extreme threats such as ongoing climate change.

This session will explore how countries can develop national economic resilience strategies that reflect the insights gained from the practice and policy of water resilience, building upon insights from the Dasgupta review on the economics of biodiversity. Organized by the Water Resilience for Economic Resilience (WR4ER) partnership, we will discuss the merits of and need for developing an evidence-based quantitative framework to guide economic planners and decision-makers as they manage social, climatic, economic, and pandemic change and uncertainty.

Further info at: https://www.waterforclimate.net/meetings/virtual/srWXXQDRndtnuor9C 

Find out how Scotland is helping to pioneer floating offshore wind power and make it a viable commercial option.

This event will tell the story of Scotland's role in supporting the journey of floating offshore wind, from research and development, to test and demonstration, to commercial scale deployment.

Register to attend

Register to attend these events on eventsair - a Scottish Government partner website. You'll need to create an account to attend.

Bringing together Scotland’s world-leading wave and tidal developers as well as speakers from utilities, finance and the supply chain. Join these sessions to find out more about how we are the global leader in sustainable marine energy generation and our plans for the future.

Session 1: Scotland, world leader in marine

Explores how Scotland’s marine sector got to where it is now. Join us on a journey through time and discover where we want to be in the future.

Chaired by Claire Mack, CEO Scottish Renewables. A full list of speakers to be confirmed.

Register to attend

Register to attend these events on eventsair - a Scottish Government partner website. You'll need to create an account to attend.

Bringing together Scotland’s world-leading wave and tidal developers as well as speakers from utilities, finance and the supply chain. Join these sessions to find out more about how we are the global leader in sustainable marine energy generation and our plans for the future.

Session 2: Marine world leader debate

A panel of experts from across the marine sector will debate ‘Where ocean energy fits in the race to net zero’.

Chaired by Judith Paton, MBE. A full list of speakers to be confirmed.

Register to attend

Register to attend these events on eventsair - a Scottish Government partner website. You'll need to create an account to attend.

After a year’s break in 2020, the Macaulay Development Trust and the James Hutton Institute are delighted to announce the return of the TB Macaulay Lecture. Coinciding this year with the 26th UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26) in Glasgow, the 43rd TB Macaulay Lecture will be delivered on Tuesday, November 2nd (19:00 UK time) by Christiana Figueres, an internationally recognised leader on global climate change, in conversation with BBC broadcaster Laura Goodwin.

The lecture is held traditionally in Edinburgh but this year it will move to Glasgow to take place alongside COP26. It will be delivered with an in-person audience from Strathclyde University’s Technology and Innovation Centre and streamed live around the world from a bespoke event platform.

Strathclyde University  
Technology & Innovation Centre 
16 Richmond St 
Glasgow, G1 1XQ 

Click here to register and join the live lecture.

Join speakers from

@nature_scot, @HighlandCouncil,@ThinkUHI and @RSPBScotland to discover the history and future of Scotland's Flow Country, one of the most important places for nature and climate on the planet. #COP26

 Watch online here: https://cities-and-regions.org/register/

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

Our green investment showcase will begin with opening keynotes and discussion by a senior Scottish Government minister and a key industry thought leader addressing 'Investing with purpose: a values-led approach to Investment'. More detail to be announced shortly.

After the opening keynote, Scottish Enterprise Board Member Peter McKellar will host a lively discussion on the 'Innovation required in the finance sector to unlock the net zero transition'. Speakers include:

• Chris Stark, Chief Executive, Climate Change Committee
• Kate Murray, Group Chief Financial, NatWest Group
• Chitra Hepburn, Head of APAC ESG and Climate, MSIC
• Jim Barry, Chief Investment Officer of BlackRock Alternatives Investors

Register to attend

Register to attend these events on eventsair - a Scottish Government partner website. You'll need to create an account to attend.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

Make the world a better place by addressing tomorrow’s greatest challenges today.

Get an insight into Scotland’s investment ecosystem by joining our showcase of some of the country’s most innovative green companies. Our panel of investor experts will discuss the need to accelerate the financing of sustainable projects and opportunities.

They’ll also describe the role the presenting companies, and other innovative start-ups, will have in the race to net zero.

Register to attend

Register to attend these events on eventsair - a Scottish Government partner website. You'll need to create an account to attend.

Scotland’s green investment portfolio will showcase £3 billion of investable opportunities by 2022. Hear from the sponsors of three of our current investment opportunities as they present their ambitious growth plans and demonstrate their low carbon attributes. We'll also outline Scottish Government policy and initiatives to support investment aligned to our 2045 net zero ambition.

The session will be chaired by Neil Francis, Interim MD, Scottish Development International. Speakers include:

• Kat Feldinger, Deputy Director Finance, Scottish Government
• Chris Milne, CFO & Andrew Scott, CEO, Orbital Marine Power
• Mark Wilson, CEO, ILI Group

Register to attend

Register to attend these events on eventsair - a Scottish Government partner website. You'll need to create an account to attend.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

An expert-led panel discussion and inspiring film, spotlighting how source to sea management, coastal habitats and the open ocean offer humanity's last best hopes to avert the climate crisis.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

https://globalpeatlands.online/PeatlandPavilionCOP26Registration 

The aim of this session is to stimulate the discussion about scaling up investment in Building with Nature as common practice in water infrastructure planning.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

Aim: to raise awareness of the opportunities with (importance, impact and immediate and long-term value of) integrating water management in forests and landscape restoration in addressing climate change.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

Organisers: Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), OECD, IWMI, WMO, GWP 

Hybrid event

Registration page - Contact Details (eventsair.com)

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

SSE will premiere Hydro: Powering a Net Zero Future, a film celebrating the rich heritage of hydro power and looking ahead to its vital role in combating climate change. 

Green zone: Cinema Auditorium

Watch live: Hydro: Powering a Net Zero Future | #COP26 - YouTube

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

This session will bring together key stakeholders from the public, private and NGO sectors. The discussions will center on the challenges and opportunities for mitigation and adaptation that exist in addressing the water-climate nexus as well as considerations of biodiversity and the environment.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

This COP26 session, hosted at The Water Pavilion in the Blue Zone in Glasgow, took the opportunity to highlight the young leaders that have been creating their own paths in advocacy, innovation and policy connecting water and climate. 

Report and Video: Today’s Choices, Tomorrow’s Impact - Youth Action In The Water And Climate Nexus | OOSKAnews

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

The emphasis will be on sharing concrete ways in which engaging and empowering young people can help achieve better, more sustainable outcomes.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

International youth share their stories and solutions in their work on climate and water issues in their communities.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

This roundtable discussion will highlight an important message that inclusive ocean governance is essential to ensure that resilience and adaptation to climate change is sustainable and just.

Join us on the live stream, as we discuss innovation and adaptation strategies that can support the sustainability of the oceans and improve communities’ resilience.

This event will be streamed live from the Scotland Climate Ambition Zone and available for you to watch.

www.netzeronation.scot/event/ocean-and-climate-justice-impact-adaptation-and-mitigation 

Building long-term resilience to the increasing risk of drought and flood – and doing so immediately – is crucial for cost-effective climate change adaptations as well as unlocking wider prosperity. In this interactive event, we will bring together leading experts from around the globe in the fields of water management, social and environmental prosperity, and finance to discuss how integrated water management, combined with strategic financing, is driving crucial change. It will showcase how nature-based and community-led solutions are making a real difference around the globe in the face of a warming climate and act as a spur to future international collaboration

Blue zone

This session will take the opportunity to highlight the young leaders that have been creating their own paths in advocacy, innovation and policy connecting water and climate.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

2050 Climate group 

Green zone: Tower base

Watch Live: Visions of tomorrow for a sustainable future in Scotland and Malawi | #COP26 - YouTube

The international collaboration between Malawi Scotland Partnership and 2050 Climate Group was announced by the First Minister Nicola Sturgeon in 2018 at the 2050 Climate Group Youth Summit. We’ve been supported by the Scottish Government since then and we are thrilled to have Màiri McAllan, Minister for Environment and Land Reform join our session to discuss the importance of supporting collaborations between Scotland and Malawi young leaders.

Our partnership is based on the premise that young people are at the forefront of climate action. We believe that the urgent work of addressing the climate crisis is one that needs collaboration and a global mindset.

Our session will cover the work that we do in our respective countries, our visions for the future and our key asks out of COP26. You will hear from leaders in Malawi and Scotland. Come and hear our stories.

Water experts from across the Canadian and International water networks to discuss the monumental creation of the Canada Water Agency (CWA).

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)

In this highly interactive and engaging event we will explore through a collaborative climate board game how we can rewrite the narrative of water and climate change.

Water Pavilion: Virtual Meeting Details (waterforclimate.net)