Water 'for a sustainable and secure future' international conference to be held in January 2004

Posted 12/27/03

2004 Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment

Vision....To develop a series of specific strategies to achieve water-related goals and objectives as stated by the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the Word Summit on Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, and the 2003 Kyoto World Water Forum. Motivated by a deeper understanding of water for a sustainable and secure future, conference participants will forge new partnerships and develop new science-based solutions. Strategies developed at the conference will be widely publicized and presented at briefings to U.S. Congress, federal, state, and local governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, educational and academic institutions, and the general public.

 

The National Council for Science and the Environment is holding the 4th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment: Water for a Sustainable and Secure Future on January 29-30, 2004 at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, DC.

Featured speakers include:

Jared Diamond, Professor, University of California at Los Angeles; Pulitzer Prize-winning author of the national bestseller Guns, Germs and Steel. Professor Diamond will deliver the 4th Annual Chafee Memorial Lecture on Science and the Environment: Lessons from Environmental Collapses of Past Societies.

Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary of the Interior and Former Governor of Arizona

Mohamed El-Ashry, CEO and Chairman Emeritus, Global Environment Facility

William K. Reilly, President & CEO, Aqua International Partners; Chairman of the Board of Directors, World Wildlife Fund; Former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Maurice Strong, Under Secretary General, United Nations; Secretary-General, 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro

Klaus Toepfer, United Nations Under-Secretary-General; Executive- Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Plenary Speakers include:

Jared Diamond, Professor, University of California at Los Angeles; Pulitzer Prize-winning author of
the national bestseller Guns, Germs and Steel and The National Medal of Science Recipient.
Professor Diamond will deliver the 4th Annual Chafee Memorial Lecture on Science and the
Environment.

Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary of the Interior and Former Governor of Arizona

Mohamed El-Ashry, CEO and Chairman Emeritus, Global Environment Facility

Gen. Gerald Galloway (ret.), Vice President, Titan Corp.; Chair, National Water Policy Dialogue;
Past President, Universities Council on Water Resources

Peter Gleick, President, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and Security

William Graf, Professor, University of South Carolina; Past President, Association of American
Geographers

Robert Hirsch, Associate Director for Water, U.S. Geological Survey; Co-Chair, National Science and
Technology Council Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality

Karin Krchnak, World Resources Institute; Co-Chair, UN Commission on Sustainable Development
Water Caucus

Harry Ott, Director of Global Environmental Assurance, The Coca-Cola Company; Co-Chair, Water
Sustainability Working Group, Global Environmental Management Initiative (GEMI)

Jeremy Pelczer, President, American Water; Deputy Chief Executive Officer, RWE
Thames Water

William K. Reilly, President & CEO, Aqua International Partners; Chairman of the Board of Directors,
World Wildlife Fund; Former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Klaus Toepfer, United Nations Under-Secretary-General; Executive Director, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

Barbara Sheen Todd, Commissioner, Pinellas County Board of Commissioners, Florida; Past President,
National Association of Counties

Maurice Strong, Under Secretary General, United Nations; Secretary-General, 1992 Earth Summit in
Rio de Janeiro

Jane Valentine, President, American Water Resources Association; Associate Professor, UCLA

Vision Statement:

The 4th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment will explore the role of science in achieving sustainable relationships among water, people, and the environment. The conference will address the many essential roles water plays in our lives today – maintaining human health and survival, protecting sensitive ecosystems, producing an ample food supply, promoting overall economic prosperity, enhancing recreation and aesthetics, and providing long-term security of individuals and nations.

Water issues are diverse and complex. Different water needs compete with each other – between the needs of ecosystems and the needs of human communities; or between upstream and downstream users. Freshwater, estuarine and coastal water resources are particularly under pressure from growing populations. Water supplies are often contaminated with microbial and chemical agents that impact human health. Moreover, water resources and issues transcend political boundaries.

The conference will examine the consequences of these and other water-related issues, help participants recognize common areas of concern, and identify scientific and technological strategies to achieve far-reaching solutions. Participants will assist in developing science-based strategies for policymakers in order to attain broad societal goals and to develop a framework for future dialogue and collaboration. The conference will:

Bring together diverse stakeholders – scientists, engineers, managers, planners, policymakers at the local, state, tribal, national and international levels, leaders from the business community and non-governmental organizations, educators, and concerned citizens;

Address major questions, such as access to safe drinking water and adequate sanitation, transboundary issues, ecological and societal conflicts on water use, management of watersheds and river basins, and provision of water supplies to low-income rural and urban inhabitants;

Examine the roles of science, technology, and education in addressing water-related challenges facing society in different regions of the world in the next few decades;

Explore the diversity of approaches in implementing solutions to water-related issues, while at the same time allowing participants to discover shared concerns and common ground for conducting water resource projects at the local, national, and international levels;

Develop a series of specific strategies to achieve water-related goals and objectives as stated by the United Nations Millennium Declaration, the Word Summit on Sustainable Development, Agenda 21, and the 2003 Kyoto World Water Forum. Motivated by a deeper understanding of water for a sustainable and secure future, conference participants will forge new partnerships and develop new science-based solutions. Strategies developed at the conference will be widely publicized and presented at briefings to U.S. Congress, federal, state, and local governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, educational and academic institutions, and the general public.

Agenda:

Keynote Address - William Reilly, President & CEO of Aqua International Partners, Chairman of the Board of Directors, World Wildlife Fund, Former Administrator, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Roundtable Sustainable Water Use: Overcoming Barriers to Change
Moderator:
Maurice Strong, Under Secretary General, United Nations
Speakers:
Bruce Babbitt, Former Secretary of the Interior; Former Governor of Arizona
Mohamed El-Ashry, CEO and Chairman Emeritus, Global Environment Facility
Barbara Sheen Todd, Commissioner, Board of Commissioners, Pinellas County,
Florida; Past President, National Association of Counties

Roundtable Managing Water in the 21st Century - Towards a Comprehensive Water Vision
Moderator:
Jerry Delli Priscoli, Senior Policy Analyst, Army Corps of Engineers
Speakers and Respondents:
Gen. Gerald Galloway, Vice President, Titan Corp.; Chair, National Water Policy Dialogue;
Past President, Universities Council on Water Resources
Peter Gleick, President, Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment and
Security
William Graf, University Professor, University of South Carolina; Past President, Association
of American Geographers
Robert Hirsch, Associate Director for Water, U.S. Geological Survey; Co-Chair, National
Science and Technology Council Subcommittee on Water Availability and Quality
Karin Krchnak, World Resources Institute; Co-Chair UN Commission on Sustainable
Development Water Caucus
Harry Ott, Director for Environment and Water, The Coca-Cola Company; Co-Chair of the
Water Sustainability Working Group of the Global Environmental Management
Initiative

Breakout Sessions - 17 concurrent sessions

Sessions on Sustainable Water Management and Institutions

1. Allocating water between people and ecosystems
Session Chair: Robert Hirsch, United States Geological Survey
Session Co-Chair: Brian Richter, The Nature Conservancy

This session will address conflicts between human and ecosystem water needs. How can we better balance human demands with the water needs of rivers? Discussion will include the importance of biodiversity, the economic value of ecosystem services, restoration to some degree of natural river flow patterns, and dams and reservoirs. How can an ecosystem and watershed-based approach help resolve conflicts among water users? What can river managers and other local leaders do?

2. Integrating surface and ground water management
Though surface and ground water issues are interconnected in nature, these water resources are often managed separately. This session will explore ways of ensuring that water is managed holistically, as a finite resource. Sample questions may be: How can surface and underground water sources be developed in tandem? How can the institutions charged with managing our water resources facilitate an integrated approach to water management? Do these institutions need to be changed, and how? How can water management be integrated into larger economic and social policy framework?

3. Water sustainability indicators
This session will explore water sustainability indicators and how they might help us assess and improve our management of water resources. Participants will discuss questions such as: How would indicators be helpful? What indicators would be most useful to determine the degree to which we are on a sustainable course in our use and management of water resources? What information and statistics are needed to develop indicators, and what sources of data should be considered? What indicators do others use? What technical problems need to be addressed?

4. Managing demand for water: improving efficiency and conservation|
This session will focus on managing the demand for water to bring water needs closer to the available water supply. A range of issues across business and municipal sectors will be covered, including efficiency of water use, water conservation, and water recycling. Questions may include: How do we implement policies and programs that promote conservation practices? Who should take responsibility for encouraging efficient water use? What institutional and cultural barriers stand in the way of specific conservation practices, such as water reuse/recycling? How can we eliminate these barriers? How can we encourage the development of new ideas for water conservation

5. Economics of sustainable water use
Water has an ambiguous status—priced and traded as a commodity in some cases, considered a universal right in others. This session will explore how water fits into the economy, and how water can be managed as both a social and economic good. Potential questions include: Are market-based strategies a realistic route to sustainable water use? What role could exhaustive cost/benefit analyses and other quantitative tools play? What are the limitations of such tools? What institutions should be involved in managing water as a social and economic good?

Sessions on Water Quality and Sanitation

6. Water, sanitation and human health: what are the priorities and who should set them?
Session Chair: Eric Olson, Natural Resources Defense Council Most Americans have ready access to an adequate supply of water. But problems remain. Infrastructure for water delivery is aging, allowing toxins to leech into the water supply. Water purification systems do not remove all contaminants. Outbreaks of water-borne disease still occur. This session will examine how water quality affects human health in the United States, identify the health issues most in need of attention, and develop strategies for addressing these issues. Sample questions may include: How can we ensure that groundwater sources treated systematically? How can we treat newly identified categories of contaminants? How should point-of-use treatments be used? How should we balance water source protection and water purification treatment? How should sanitation responsibilities be partitioned between federal, state and local government?

7. Water infrastructure needs for the 21st century
Chair: Gen. Gerald Galloway (ret.), Vice President, Titan Corp.; Chair, National Water Policy Dialogue; Past President, Universities Council on Water Resources

The water treatment systems, dams, and water transportation infrastructure of the United States are deteriorating. This session will discuss the most pressing water infrastructure needs for the 21st century. Question may include: How should rehabilitation and replacement needs be met? How should projects be prioritized? How could public-private partnerships and privatization contribute? What alternative technologies should be incorporated as our water infrastructure is updated?

8. Control of non-point source pollution
Non-point source (diffuse) water pollution comes from a variety of sources—particularly agricultural and urban runoff. This session will discuss the factors that contribute to non-point source pollution, and develop strategies for minimizing its harmful effects. Questions may include: Where should we direct efforts to treat non-source pollution? What legal and technological tools are available for preventing or cleaning up non-point source pollution? What can state and local leaders do?

9. Community-based watershed restoration: the role of forests and wetlands
Session Chair: Karen Prestegaard, University of Maryland - Community-based watershed restoration projects are important for improving water quality and maintaining ecological integrity. This session will examine how such efforts can be most effective, considering the roles forests, wetlands, and riparian areas specifically. Local watershed organizations and partnerships will also be discussed. Questions may include: Where have community-based watershed restorations been successful? What factors have contributed to their success? Are there institutional and technical barriers to protecting and restoring watersheds? How can these be overcome?

10. Research and data needs for better decisionmaking on water quality
Session Chair: Stephen Parker, National Research Council - People who develop water policy must draw on research from a variety of disciplines, including environmental science, health science, behavioral science, and economics. This session will discuss the areas in which research and data are lacking, and develop strategies for filling these gaps. Possible questions include: How can we tailor research and data collection to state and local users’ needs? How is existing information shared between scientists and decisionmakers, and between federal, state and local decisionmakers? How can we improve this process? Who should undertake the research and data collection efforts? Could institutions be modified to better facilitate this effort?

Sessions on Water Technology

11. Technologies for water monitoring and homeland security
Secure water sources are critical components of a secure homeland. This session will discuss methods for protecting and monitoring our nation’s water supply, from a homeland security perspective. Questions may include: Which parts of the water supply are most vulnerable to agents of bioterrorism? How can we address these vulnerabilities? Where should we implement strategies to enhance physical security of water supplies, and where should we use monitoring strategies to detect introduced substances? Can water testing for homeland security also serve the needs of science?

12. Desalination and other water purification technologies
Session Chair: Jud Hill, Aqua International Partners, LP
Session Co-chair: Shannon Cunniff, Bureau of Reclamation
Desalination allows communities to utilize sea and brackish water sources to supplement fresh water reserves. This session will review the state of desalination technology and explore the issues involved in putting it to use. Questions may include: Is desalination a solution to water scarcity? Where should we use desalination and where should we develop other methods for obtaining fresh water? What can we learn from desalination efforts already underway? How can we promote the development of new technologies? What institutions should support desalination?

13. Irrigation and agriculture
Irrigation accounts for 70 percent of water use in the United States. This session will discuss how agricultural practices and irrigation techniques affect water availability and water quality. Potential questions include: What technologies are available to improve irrigation efficiency? How can we disseminate these technologies more widely? How do we encourage innovation and introduce new technologies to the market?

14. Small scale, packaged water systems - no description provided

Sessions on Estuaries and Costal Resources

15. Addressing coastal pollution at the watershed level
Session Chair: Ron Baird, Director, NOAA National Sea Grant College Program - Coastal pollution problems such as nutrient over-enrichment, “dead zones,” and toxic contaminants are increasingly attributed to diffuse sources far inland from coastal environments. Therefore, effective solutions to these issues must be holistic, entering at the watershed level. This session will discuss particular strategies for addressing coastal pollution at the watershed level. Potential questions include: How can we connect coastal pollution with inland sources? What institutional partnerships are necessary for this to happen?

16. Protecting and restoring estuaries
Chair: Chris Dionegie, Assistant Director, Interagency Invasive Species Council. - Estuaries, areas where fresh water mixes with salt water from the ocean, serve as important habitats for fish and provide unique ecosystem services. This session will discuss strategies for protecting and restoring estuaries that have been damaged by human activity. Questions may include: What particular issues require attention today? Which problems are being addressed, and which need attention? How can community efforts, as well as government-sponsored initiatives best contribute?

17. Coastal ecosystems and fisheries
Fishing provides food and employment for many people in the United States and healthy coastal ecosystems are essential for maintaining this important industry. This session will explore the relationship between fishing and coastal ecosystems. Questions may include: How do watershed decisions made inland affect fisheries? What sorts of coastal pollution pose the most serious threats to fisheries? How are partnerships between public sector and industry addressing these issues? How could efforts be strengthened?

For More Information, visit the websites below:

Water for a Sustainable and Secure Future,
the 4th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment,
Washington, DC, 29-30 January 2004:
http://www.ncseonline.org/NCSEconference/2004conference/

Agenda:
http://www.ncseonline.org/NCSEconference/2004conference/page.cfm?fid=3064

William K. Reilly:
http://www.ncseonline.org/NCSEconference/2004conference/page.cfm?fid=2594

Maurice Strong:
http://www.ncseonline.org/NCSEconference/2004conference/page.cfm?fID=3005