Event date
City
Bonn, Germany
Description

The current COVID-19 pandemic has showcased the critical role of water service providers in our societies. It has also shown how challenging, yet important, it is to maintain operations in an uninterrupted manner, reaching all residents, including those previously unserved. When faced with the crisis, utilities had to adapt comprehensively and quickly to a new scenario, in some cases within a matter of hours.

Collaboration through Water Operators’ Partnerships (WOPs) are helping water utilities face the COVID-19 crisis and are a cost-effective way to not only share experiences, but to strengthen long-term capacity and improve service delivery.

The climate emergency, though different in nature, is already resulting in huge economic, social and environmental damage and is testing the resilience of water utilities who are increasingly vulnerable to extreme weather events, droughts and other short- and long-term shocks and stresses. The COVID-19 crisis has yielded experiences and lessons that can help water operators find ways to adapt to the long-term consequences and become better prepared in the case of disasters.

The event will discuss the implications of the climate crisis on water utilities in cities around the world and how, drawing on the experiences from the COVID-19 pandemic and other crises, utilities can strengthen their preparedness and adapt to the climate crisis using a WOPs approach. The event will also provide technical resources and offer opportunities for engaging with the GWOPA network, city and utility leaders and development partners, especially in the upcoming WOPs program supported by the European Commission.

Names and Titles of Speakers:

Riccardo Novacco, president of ATER Trieste;
Joint Secretariat of the Interreg V-A Italy-Slovenia 2014-2020 Programme;
Cristina Davi, ATER Trieste;
Rita Cararo, Kallipolis;
Lorena Marin, Municipality of San Donà di Piave;
Mario Benkoč, PINA;
Laura Colini, Senior Policy Advisor EU UIA/URBACT;
Ileana Toscano, Kallipolis;
Cecilia Corsini, Kallipolis;
Vid Tratnik, PINA

Venue
Virtual