SIC ICWC PARTICIPATED IN THE INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
The International scientific and practical conference “Water Security – the Basis for Sustainable Development” was held in a hybrid format in Dushanbe on 5-6 October 2022.
The main objective of the conference was to contribute to addressing water security challenges and achieving sustainability in such areas as sound water use in the context of climate change, protection and use of watercourses, hydropower and clean energy sources through enhanced cooperation, information exchange, knowledge and best practices.
Dr. Dinara Ziganshina, Director of SIC ICWC, made a presentation on "The Role of Water Diplomacy and Science in Sustainable Water Management in Central Asia." She presented lessons of water diplomacy learnt over 30 years of cooperation under umbrella of ICWC of Central Asia. Among the tasks for the future, she suggested paying special attention to legal awareness, science, education and collective efforts of the states in achieving common goals to further promote cooperation through water diplomacy mechanisms.
The Deputy Director of SIC ICWC Dr. Shavkat Kenjabaev reported on "Territorial Water Security Assessment: a practical tool". He briefly outlined the methodology, which represents the first quantitative and qualitative assessment of water management at the level of administrative territories of the Republic of Uzbekistan, and the main results on water security of households, economic sectors, infrastructure, ecosystems and social sphere using the case study of the Khorezm province, Uzbekistan.
On 5 October 2022, a seminar of the Joint Expert Group on Water and Industrial Accidents “Emerging risks in accidental water pollution: focus on natural hazard-triggered accidents” was held in a hybrid format in Budapest. The participants discussed the lessons learned from the past in preventing accidental water pollution triggered by natural hazards, prevention by design to ensure safe industrial installations in a changing climate, as well as innovative approaches to limit the consequences of accidental water pollution events.
Dr. Dinara Ziganshina made a report "Adaptation of critical infrastructure to the effects of climate change." In particular, she noted the importance of understanding both physical climate and other related economic, social and environmental risks. For example, in Central Asia, vulnerability of water infrastructure is related not so much to climate change impacts as to depreciation of infrastructure and the lack of funds to its maintenance. The true resilience to climate risks can be achieved only when all actors clearly understand sectoral and risk interdependencies and work together in riparian countries. It is important to take a life-cycle approach to building and operation of resilient water infrastructure.
The Ninth Environment for Europe Ministerial Conference was held under the motto “Transforming Planet” in Nicosia from 5 to 7 October 2022.
The conference was comprised of the following sessions:
- From Dobris to Nicosia: 30 years of environmental cooperation in the pan-European region.
- Environment in the pan-European region: visions of 2030 and beyond.
- Third High-level Meeting of Education and Environment Ministries.
- Greening the economy in the pan-European region: working towards sustainable infrastructure.
- Applying principles of circular economy to sustainable tourism.
- Reporting on the outcomes of the thematic sessions.
Dinara Ziganshina, Director of SIC ICWC participated online.
On 6-7 October 2022, the Subregional Office for North and Central Asia of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) organized the Sixth North and Central Asia Multi-Stakeholder Forum on Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) "Accelerating the recovery from COVID-19 and the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Agenda at all levels.”
The main objective of the Forum was to facilitate an inclusive dialogue among multi-stakeholder groups in North and Central Asia on strengthening SDG implementation.
The Forum sessions corresponded to SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation), SDG 7 (affordable and clean energy), SDG 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), SDG 11 (sustainable cities and communities) and SDG 17 (partnerships for the goals).
During the session "Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” (SDG 6) the participants discussed the current status, trends, emerging issues and interlinkage in implementing SDG 6; transboundary cooperation for environmentally sound management of freshwater resources and for peaceful regional integration and required capacity development interventions; means to secure required investments to progress in clean water and sanitation supply in underserved regions; innovative technologies and technology-based entrepreneurship for efficient water use; good practices to facilitate inclusivity in access to clean water and sanitation.
Speaking at the session, Dr. Dinara Ziganshina told about achievements and challenges of transboundary water management in Central Asia on the example of ICWC acitivities.
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