Second International Conference on Water, Megacities and Global Change

• Watch the replay of the conference

• Highlights report in English and French

• Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Water, Megacities & Global Change

Bringing together scientists, policy makers, operators, basin authorities and civil society to address water security and global challenges in Megacities

Paris, New York, Beijing, Mumbai, Tokyo, Buenos Aires, Mexico, Lagos… all Megacities – urban centers which accommodate more than 10 million inhabitants - are facing “mega”-challenges related to providing water services for their inhabitants, while managing their environment. Climate change effects of intensifying magnitude and global challenges such as sea level rise, increasing temperatures or urbanization, threaten these cities. Now, there is a need for action to achieve resilient cities.

A transversal and multidimensional solution is proposed, based on the collaboration among scientists who advance knowledge, operators and basin authorities (in public and private sectors) who innovate technically and socio-politically, and local politicians who can support new, fairer and more efficient models of water governance, in constant interaction with civil society.

Objectives of the conference

• Produce a scientific and technical overview of water challenges and solutions that Megacities face and use to mitigate the effects of climate change, by concretizing the exchange of their expertise in the specific field of water
• Strengthen the dialogue between science and policy actors at local level
• To activate the cooperation platform of the Megacities Alliance for Water and Climate (MAWAC) by concretizing the exchange of their expertise in the specific field of water and climate
• To review the Strategic Global Framework of MAWAC, prepared by the Working Group of UNESCO Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme (IHP)

MAWAC aims to provide a platform for Megacities to share their experiences and challenges, propose solutions, and to obtain access to technical and financial support for programmes and projects, enabling them to successfully overcome the challenges of climate change.