Watch the session
Climate & Nature
Hybrid

Grounding nature-based solutions and water resource protection

Tuesday, 23 May 2023
10:30 — 12:00
Plenary Room
Spanish
English
German
French
Arabic
Co-convener/s:
Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA), Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Bogotá (EAAB), ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability , International Water Association (IWA), The Nature Conservancy (TNC)

Historically, cities and their utilities rely on human-engineered infrastructure such as water and wastewater treatment plants, pipelines, pump stations, and reservoirs – usually referred to as grey infrastructure – to address their water security challenges. However, this end-of-pipe approach is no longer sufficient to address current challenges, including managing natural resources sustainably, restoring biodiversity, and coping with climate change. Nature-based solutions (NbS) like reforestation, wetland restoration, natural treatment technologies, and sustainable agricultural practices can be an efficient way to complement grey infrastructure by protecting water sources, avoiding damages caused by extreme events, optimising the design or delaying the need for major capital expenditure while reducing related O&M costs. NbS can also generate benefits for biodiversity and recreation, as well as create local green jobs. Hence, NbS can attract resources and help close the funding gap faced by many service providers.

— Session Programme

'Time | Title | Convener | Speaker

10 min | Welcome / Housekeeping rules / Introduction to the concept of NbS and its potential applications | ICLEI | Moderator: Kobie Brand, Deputy Secretary General ICLEI, Regional Director ICLEI Africa

15 min | Design: Use of Multi-soil Layering System for wastewater treatment in Costa Rica (rural) | AyA | Speaker: Alejandro Quiros Ivankovich AyA

15 min | Financing: Eldoret Water Fund in Kenya (urban & rural) | IWA-TNC | Speaker: Mr. Peter Kibet Biwott, CEO of Eldoret City Water and Sanitation Company

15 min | Implementation: Transformative River Management in South Africa (urban) | ICLEI |

Geoff Tooley, Senior Manager, Catchment Management, eThekwini Municipality

15 min| Operation & Monitoring| EAAB | María Lucía Flórez, Planning Corporate Manager, Water and Sanitation Company of Bogota

15 min | Q&A and discussion | All

5 min | Close | Moderator