Group Photo of Experts and Invited Guests
On September 24, the Global Water Partnership China (GWP China) hosted the sub-forum 1A titled "Water Security Strategy under a Changing Environment: Strategies for Water Security and Resilience in the Context of Climate Change", together with the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research(IWHR), Department of Water Services Regulatory Commission of Mongolia and the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF).
The sub-forum closely followed the theme of AIWW, focusing on "Water Security Strategy under a Changing Environment." The technical committee member of the Global Water Partnership China, Prof. You Jinjun and young technical committee member Dr. Deng Xiaoya, served as coordinators of this session. Prof. Jia Yangwen, GWP China's regional coordinator and vice chair of the technical committee, delivered a special report, and You Jinjun gave the opening address and moderated the meeting.
You Jinjun Opened the Session
The sub-forum invited several domestic and international experts to share their insights on the conference theme. Mr. Marconi Maday, Vice President of Sarawak Energy Berhad, and Prof. Cecilia Tortajada from the University of Glasgow delivered keynote speeches.
Marconi Maday
Mr. Maday emphasized the importance of hydropower utilization, highlighting its critical role in providing stable and economical electricity supply and reducing greenhouse gas emissions, while sharing various environmental protection and efficiency enhancement efforts in Malaysia's hydropower development.
Cecilia Tortajada
Prof. Tortajada addressed the challenges of building water infrastructure in the context of climate change, analyzing the pressures climate change poses on water management, and underscoring the importance of establishing interdepartmental cooperation to strengthen water infrastructure, as well as the potential of smart information technology in water management.
Jia Yangwen
Prof. Jia Yangwen delved into the intricate issue of water resource redistribution within the Yellow River Basin amidst the backdrop of climate change, emphasizing the pivotal role of the principle "Four Constraints of Water"** (see tips below) in guiding water allocation strategies.
Drawing upon Mongolia as a case study, Dr. Bayanmunk Baartar, hailing from the Department of Water Services Regulatory Commission of Mongolia, delved into the constraints confronting water resources and their reverberations amidst climate change, underscoring the urgency for multifaceted and comprehensive strategies. Shifting focus to the Yellow River Basin, Gan Yiwei of the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) illuminated avenues for bolstering water security via technological advancements and policy frameworks anchored in energy transitions. Josh Weinberg, a senior expert in the EU-China Cooperation on Water Project, recounted the collaborative endeavors between the EU and China in water management, pinpointing opportunities to amplify proven successes.
Bayanmunk Baartar
Gan Yiwei
The discussion, facilitated by You Jinjun, fostered a robust exchange of ideas surrounding pertinent issues. At the forefront of discourse were the strategies for environmental adaptation and inter-sectoral synergy, converging on the consensus that collaborative efforts across nations, departments, and stakeholders are imperative to tackle climate change challenges and foster sustainable water utilization.
Josh Weinberg
Bringing the session to a close, Mr. Josh Weinberg emphasized that addressing global water security and ecological hurdles necessitates integrated, resilience-centric approaches, ensuring water security amidst evolving pressures. Comprehensive water security strategies are indispensable, given water's ubiquitous influence on the global economy and planetary ecology.
Panel Discussion
**TIPS!
How to understand "Four Constraints of Water"?
On March 14, 2014, President Xi Jinping formulated the "Four Constraints of Water" principle, emphasizing the paramount importance of "anchoring urban planning, land utilization patterns, population dispersal strategies, and production activities squarely on the basis of available water resources."
The ecological resilience of the Yellow River basin remains delicate, grappling with a relentlessly escalating demand for water amidst a dire situation regarding water resource security. The full embrace of the "Four Constraints of Water" principle within this basin is in harmony with both natural and immutable laws, fostering a harmonious coexistence between population growth, economic development, resource allocation, and environmental preservation. This strategy posits water resources as the ultimate inflexible constraint, ensuring that all developmental initiatives are contingent upon the carrying capacity of aquatic ecosystems. By enacting the Principle, the Yellow River basin can anticipate a substantive upgrade in its ecological quality, marking the establishment of a foundational ecological security framework. It underpins the initial formation of an ecological safeguard and propel the basin towards a trajectory of high-quality development. A balanced, scientific appraisal underpins the construction of an ecological civilization and drives towards high-standard, sustainable economic and societal progress.