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Congress sessions will take stock of current water and sanitation operators’ issues, showcase good approaches, and offer recommendations for how operators can tackle challenges through peer-to-peer partnerships.

Each theme will be addressed through a combination of roundtables, dialogues, and sessions based on offer and demand received through the call.

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Managing and responding to natural disasters in a changing climate

#ManagingCrisis · #ClimateAdaptation

Wednesday 20 October — 16:00 – 17:30 (CEST)

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Water and sanitation operators and the communities they serve are already suffering the effects of climate and natural hazards. Utilities are particularly under stress due to significant losses and damages to infrastructure, water sources, supply, and quality, while urban populations grow rapidly and water demand increases. These climate changes often put utility workers at risk of heat-related illness and other physical and mental conditions. In facing these challenges, water and sanitation utilities are developing adaptation and emergency strategies to address current and future climate and weather threats.

This Congress session intends to capture the most relevant operators’ responses to disaster and climate caused hazards. It will provide operators a stage to share how they are responding to weather and climate change challenges, how they can contribute and benefit from lessons learnt and best practices. The session will focus on present and future challenges and inspire the wider water and sanitation professional community to rethink its approaches and reassess existing remedies. This session aims to help operators better understand how to move from the current risks to resilience in the future and eventually become less vulnerable to anticipated natural and climate related disasters.

Co-conveners: