EU’s First Water Resilience Forum

I was delighted to be invited to host the inaugural Water Resilience Forum after moderating the European Commission’s stakeholder consultation day to design a Water Resilience Strategy earlier in the year.

“Water is life” is a phrase that I heard repeated during the day and the stellar line up of speakers highlighted the urgency of the water crisis faced not just in Europe but around the world. The event was opened by Jessika Roswall, Commissioner for Environment, Water Resilience and a Competitive Circular Economy, Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for a Clean, Just and Competitive Transition, Kata Tüttő, President of the Committee of the Regions, Séamus Boland, President of the European Economic and Social Committee and Ida Hannibal, Deputy permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment of Denmark.

They were joined by policymakers, scientists, industry leaders, and civil society to steer a path toward a water-resilient EU by 2050.

Europeans are all too familiar with devastating flooding and growing water scarcity due to climate change and water quality such as the presence of forever chemicals is also an urgent issue.

The Strategy has 3 main objectives:

1. Restoring and protecting the water cycle as basis for sustainable water supply.

2. Building a water-smart economy

3. Securing clean and affordable water and sanitation for all at all

times, and empowering citizens for water resilience.

The Commissioner Jessica Roswall revealed that EU is working to set up a Water Resilience Investment Accelerator with support from the European Investment Bank and a European Water Academy to upskill the much-needed workforce. There will also be a massive drive to improve water efficiency by 10% by 2030 and a big increase water reuse in industry and agriculture is also proposed as a solution.

There are daunting challenges along the way but judging by the packed plenary and the joint backing of the event by the Commission, Committee of Regions and European Economic and Social Committee, water resilience will remain a top priority.