Water Security
and Climate Change
Conference

About

The Water Security and Climate Change conference (WSCC) is an annual event where scientists, policy makers and stakeholders from various sectors discuss the diverse facets of water security and its relation to climate variability and change.

The WSCC strives to go beyond science and build bridges between various disciplines and sectors as well as different groups of stakeholders. Serving as a platform for discussions about water and food secure societies, by providing a stimulating environment with the intention of yielding innovative ideas and grounds for implementation, the WSCC is continuing a series of successful conferences in Thailand, Germany, Kenya and Mexico.

The WSCC is an initiative of the ‘Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation – exceed’ program, and has been implemented since 2016 under the auspices of the Centers for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) and the Sustainable Water Management in Developing Countries (SWINDON) network. The scientific committee includes the Food Security Center (FSC) as well as the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

In 2021, WSCC is convened by the Vietnam Academy for Water Resources (VAWR) in Hanoi. More information will soon be available.

Topics

The WSCC 2021 will focus on internationally agreed upon themes that are reflected in international agendas, including: (1) the sustainable management of water and the mitigation of climate change corresponding to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of Agenda 2030, taking into account (2) the Paris Agreement and to combat climate change and adapt to its effects, with enhanced support of countries of the Global South to do so; (3) strategies for Disaster Risk Reduction in terms of water as outlined in the Sendai Framework; (4) the development, function and sustainable design of cities in terms of water as indicated in the New Urban Agenda; and (5) the water-related benefits of ecosystems and biodiversity addressed in the Convention on Biological Diversity.

For a better overview, we have identified seven main topics, which – depending on the abstracts submitted – will structure the WSCC agenda. The main topics are:

Call for Abstracts

We are pleased to invite the community of water and climate change experts to propose abstracts for the WSCC, 1-3 March 2021. Abstracts can be submitted on the WSCC website between 25 June and 30 September 2020!

The WSCC strives to offer a platform for international exchange, to uncover interdisciplinary linkages and to release synergies between scientific evidence and both societal and political decision strategies. We seek to contribute to a significant social change, following the idea of the Green Deal – as currently discussed in Europe. For example, abstracts that deal with transformation strategies in the sense of the ecological reconstruction of the economy are welcome. We kindly invite contributions of creative and practical approaches with relevance for water security and strategies to cope with climate change considering technical ecologic, economic and societal dimensions.

Find further information here (PDF)

Abstract submission

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FAQ

Is the WSCC conference open to the public?
How can I participate?
What are the costs?
Who are the organisers?
What are the sessions about?
Who can submit an abstract?
What happens in case of continued travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic?
Is the WSCC conference open to the public?

The conference is public. Submission of abstracts for participation as a presenter is open until the end of September. Registration as attendee is possible from mid October 2020.

How can I participate?

For participation in the WSCC, an online registration must be made in advance. Registration is processed through the WSCC website and open from mid October 2020.

What are the costs?

Appropriate fees are charged for different groups of persons. In some cases (e.g. for young scientists) the WSCC is offered at cost price.

Who are the organisers?

In the context of the Higher Education Excellence in Development Cooperation (Exceed) program, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has been funding higher education institutions (HEI) networks working on relevant topics of Agenda 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2009. The WSCC is implemented by partners of the Exceed program, such as the Centers for Natural Resources and Development (CNRD) and the Sustainable Water Management in Developing Countries (SWINDON) network. The scientific committee includes the Food Security Center (FSC) as well as the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT).

What are the sessions about?

The WSCC strives to offer a platform for international exchange, to uncover interdisciplinary linkages and to release synergies between scientific evidence and both societal and political decision strategies. In our sessions, we will focus on contributions of creative and practical approaches with relevance for water security and strategies to cope with climate change considering technical ecologic, economic, and societal dimensions. This may also include concrete examples dealing with hazards, risks, vulnerabilities, and disasters as well as decision making regarding the investment in infrastructure development to achieve water security, the delivery of relevant services and rateable cost analyses. In order to receive the appropriate contributions, we have defined seven major topics with corresponding sub-themes, which can be found in the call for abstracts, but also on the WSCC website. 

In addition, more and more detailed session descriptions will be posted on the WSCC website soon.

Who can submit an abstract?

The WSCC is committed to an interdisciplinary approach and is convinced that the challenges of climate change and its effects on water security can only be tackled by involving stakeholders from science, society, politics and industry. Accordingly, participation is open to all who make a valuable contribution.

What happens in case of continued travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic?

We are currently working on a strategy to switch the WSCC to a virtual format should this become necessary. If so, the presentation formats (oral presentation and poster) will be retained, the format will probably be condensed, and the fees will be adjusted.

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