India Water Forum 2016

1^st INDIA WATER FORUM 2011

The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in association with the Ministry of Water Resources organized the first “India Water Forum” (IWF) an annual international water convention in April, 2011 to address the dynamics of water and climate change. In its inception year, the IWF theme was ‘Water Security and Climate Change: Challenges and Opportunities’.

Climate change and its impacts on groundwater, ocean, rivers and glaciers are being felt by fragile ecosystems and vulnerable societies across the world. Enhancing the adaptive capacity of countries for coping with the impacts, risks and uncertainties of a changing climate and climate extremes is the most important challenge for our planet. In this context, the forum organized a series of interactive sessions with policy makers, industrial experts, environmentalists, researchers, academicians, students and the general public on a common platform.

IWF 2011 aimed at exploring new strategies & technologies in the Water Sector while being eco-friendly and ensuring sustainable development. Water convention during IWF 2011 had a range of technical sessions to discuss upon various issues on the current status of water resources and proper management plans. IWF 2011 addressed the dynamics of water and climate change, and deliberated on significant issues specific to water security, means to resolve the same by investment in natural infrastructure, monitoring efficient usage, water treatment and leveraging eco-friendly technology for water usage. But, more importantly it emphasized on the fact that water security is not a subject for the future- it is here with us today.

The technical sessions for IWF 2011 were grouped under the following thematic areas: Challenges and Opportunities for Global Water Security, Water Vulnerabilities, Resilience and Adaptation, Regional Water Security, Resource Use and Allocation, Climate Change Impacts on Natural Water Systems, Water Quality and Health, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation, Water and Food Security, Sustainable Cities, Water Supply & Distribution, Science and Technology Challenges for Water Security, and Policy, Governance and Regulatory Framework.

IWF 2011 received a very encouraging response from policy makers, academia, corporates and other important stakeholders. Among the various recommendations from IWF 2011, water use management or efficiency in water consumption emerged as one of the significant ways forward.

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