Over the last 30 years, drought and water scarcities have cost the European economy an estimated 100 bn. As the Fourth IPCC Assessment Report makes clear, many of the most severe impacts of climate change that the world is facing are related to water. Climate change is intensifying the hydrological cycle. Risks from flood, drought, coastal inundation, melting of glaciers and changes in the flow regimes of rivers are growing. Despite an understanding of the dangers to the economy, social stability and the environment, not enough attention is being given to reducing the impacts of climate change on water and increasing adaptation efforts. Do both environmental and economic governance in Europe need a new approach that would bring water to the forefront of a comprehensive strategy and promote adaptation measures across all water-related sectors? What lessons for water efficiency measures can be learnt from the energy sector, and what role should the EU give to water in its drive towards a more sustainable low-carbon economy?

• Christophe Bouvier, Director and Regional Representative for Europe, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
• Pedro Antonio Garcia, Director Corporate Identity, Public Affairs and Communications, Coca-Cola Iberia
• Peter Gammeltoft, Acting Director, Water, Chemicals and Cohesion, European Commission Directorate General for the Environment
• Bin Liu, Division Director, Department for Water Resources, Ministry of Water Resources, China
• Renske Peters, Director for Water Affairs, Ministry of Transport and Water Management, The Netherlands
   

Water is a local resource, so water-related problems and their solutions differ throughout Europe. The EU’s Water Framework Directive (WFD) offers member states a policy tool for local water management, but it also involves short-term costs that governments are reluctant to face. How can European-level policy better ensure local ownership of the EU’s water strategies while encouraging a significant shift in water consumption attitudes? Although agriculture uses 69% of the EU’s water, farmers often enjoy free access to it. What measures can make European agriculture more water efficient? Among the main challenges facing local communities is to ensure sustainable financing of water supply and water infrastructures, while respecting budget constraints and social policy objectives. How politically sensitive is the implementation by national authorities of the full cost recovery principle? What measures can increase the performance of financial stakeholders? What role can the European Investment Bank (EIB) play in achieving sustainable water finance and support viable and efficient water services?

• Jose Frade, Head of Division, Water, Sewerage and Sewage Disposal, Projects Directorate, European Investment Bank (EIB)
• Luis Bulhao Martins, Vice Chairman of the Portuguese Farmer Organisation and Vice-Chairman of the COPA-COGECA Working Party on Environment
• Judith Jiguet, Director for Water and Biodiversity, Ministry of Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development and Spatial Planning, France
• Kimberly Tara, CEO, FourWinds Capital Management
   

Companies can have a direct impact on water management in their own business and an indirect impact by encouraging their supply chains to improve as well as by stimulating their customers to consume less water. Companies also have a direct impact by adopting more water-efficient technologies. What incentives could the EU devise to tempt business into undertaking more voluntary actions and to encourage best practice? Could a European water use labelling scheme help achieve greater water efficiency? Just as industries can provide innovative solutions to keep water clean and avoid shortages, more sophisticated water supply and treatment techniques can improve the energy intensity of an economy. What technologies offer affordable and sustainable solutions to a European agriculture increasingly concerned with climate change? How can different options such as desalination, water re-use and adapted seeds be combined to successfully tackle water scarcity and droughts?
 

• Antoine Frérot, CEO of Veolia Water
• Alice Bouman, Chair, Women for Water, The Netherlands
• Ian Lomax, Global Marketing Leader, Dow, and Vice President of European Desalination Society
• Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Chairman of the Environment Committee of the Greek Parliament
• Richard Seeber MEP, Member of the European Parliament Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Food Safety and Rapporteur on water scarcity and droughts