The Global Program Water (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation) is looking for experts in river restoration / renaturation available to present/transfer Swiss experience on the topic into the municipal administration of Teheran.
For more information please contact Mrs. Eileen Hofstetter in case of interest or any further reference.
Postgraduate studies at ETH Zurich, Institute of Environmental Engineering
Applications are now being accepted for the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) in Sustainable Water Resources, a one year postgraduate program at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) Zurich, Switzerland. The program begins in September 2019 and is taught in English.
The MAS is designed to advance the education of water professionals on the importance of water availability and water scarcity in a changing world, at the same time preparing them to face the challenges of the future.
For further information, see the flyer , visit the MAS website, check out the MAS brochure, or write to Darcy Molnar (MAS coordinator).
If you are interested in joining this unique program at ETH Zurich, please start the application process now as spaces are limited.
The European Water Association (EWA) Spring Conference organized by the Danish Water Forum (DWF) in cooperation with ATV Soil and Groundwater to take place in Copenhagen 9 – 10 May 2019 herewith invites authors to submit abstracts for oral presentations or posters.
The theme for the conference is Advanced Technologies and Solutions for Groundwater Management and Use for Drinking Water Supply, with the following sub-themes:
• Groundwater-based Drinking Water Supply (Treatment, Distribution, Monitoring and Control, and Reuse)
• Groundwater Remediation
• Groundwater Mapping, Monitoring and Modelling
We invite all water professionals involved in research and innovation as well as practical demonstration of water solutions within these sub-themes to submit an abstract by 17 February 2019 at the latest. Abstracts must fall within the theme of the conference, and we in particular invite abstracts within the mentioned sub-themes. Presentations should have a European perspective or relevance. Abstracts are to be no more than 250 words long and must be submitted electronically together with a short biography of max. 150 words ( delivered in WORD) to Danish Water Forum clearly marked “Abstract EWA Spring Conference 2019” A final notification as to whether the abstract has been accepted for either oral or poster presentation will be provided by 1 March 2019. There is no limit to the number of abstracts you may submit. Please indicate the preferred platform on the submission form. The allocation of presentations is at the discretion of the Organizing Committee.
Conference Key Dates:
Abstracts close NEW: 17 February 2019
Abstract acceptance notification sent: 1 March 2019
Draft programme available: 15 March 2019
Author registration closes: 1 April 2019
Early bird registration closes: 15 February 2019
Conference: 9 – 10 May 2019
More information:
3 billion people worldwide live in cities without sewers or wastewater treatment plant infrastructure. This forces them to dump their waste into open waters, contaminating the drinking water for others downstream. Imagine if we could harness nutrients in wastewater instead of harming human and environmental health. Christoph Lüthi from Eawag sees a renewable, locally produced and growing resource where others see only human waste. Watch his talk to learn why shit matters!
New Entrepreneurial Committee for Responsible Business
Launched on 26 November 2018, The “Economic Committee for Responsible Business” already has over 100 supporters from the Swiss private sector – and is open to new members.
The Economic Committee for Responsible Business stands for the correct treatment of people and the environment and is committed to the Responsible Business Initiative. The over 100 supporters from the Swiss private sector are convinced that social, environmental and economic responsibility are indispensable for sustainable growth and the excellent reputation of Switzerland as a business location. “By anchoring the legal foundations of the Responsible Business Initiative and holding guilty corporations to account, we will be creating a level playing field for everyone,” said Dietrich Pestalozzi, Co-President of the Committee, at the launching event in Zurich. Among the supporters of the committee are leaders of numerous internationally active Swiss companies from many different sectors. They all recognize: Compliance with human rights and international environmental standards serves everyone and helps to strengthen the Swiss economy. Whether as a supplier or in the business-to-consumer business – minimum standards in the area of human rights and environmental compatibility are increasingly becoming the norm. Go here to learn more about the various ways in which the committee can be supported.
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Neues «Wirtschaftskomitee für verantwortungsvolle Unternehmen»
Mit einem öffentlichen Anlass im Landesmuseum Zürich wurde am 26. November 2018 das «Wirtschaftskomitee für verantwortungsvolle Unternehmen» offiziell lanciert. Das Komitee zählt bereits über 100 Unterstützerinnen und Unterstützer aus der Schweizer Privatwirtschaft – und ist offen für neue Mitglieder.
Das Wirtschaftskomitee für verantwortungsvolle Unternehmen steht für einen korrekten Umgang mit Mensch und Umwelt. Mit bereits über 100 Unterstützerinnen und Unterstützer aus der Schweizer Privatwirtschaft setzt es sich für die Konzernverantwortungsinitiative ein. Für die selbst unternehmerisch tätigen Persönlichkeiten im Komitee ist klar: Soziale, umweltgerechte und wirtschaftliche Verantwortung sind unabdingbar für ein nachhaltiges Wachstum und den ausgezeichneten Ruf des Wirtschaftsstandortes Schweiz. «Indem die Konzernverantwortungsinitiative rechtliche Grundlagen verankert, um fehlbare Konzerne zur Rechenschaft zu ziehen, werden gleich lange Spiesse für alle geschaffen», sagte Dietrich Pestalozzi, Co-Präsident des Komitees, anlässlich der Gründungsversammlung in Zürich. Zu den Unterstützerinnen und Unterstützern gehören Führungspersönlichkeiten zahlreicher international tätiger Schweizer Firmen aus den verschiedensten Sektoren. Sie alle haben erkannt: Die Einhaltung der Menschenrechte und internationalen Umweltstandards dient allen und stärkt auch die Schweizer Wirtschaft. Denn ob als Zulieferfirma oder im «Business-to-consumer»-Geschäft – Mindeststandards im Bereich Menschenrechte und Umweltverträglichkeit werden immer mehr zur Norm. Informieren Sie sich hier über die verschiedenen Möglichkeiten, das Komitee zu unterstützen.
SDC and SECO sponsor initiatives run by committed young people!
All projects will be presented to a specialised jury for assessment. The five best projects will be awarded prizes on the basis of the following criteria:
The prizes will be awarded at the Annual Swiss Development Cooperation Conference on 21 June 2019 in the Forum Fribourg, organized by SDC and SECO. All participants are invited to present their projects in the exhibition area of the conference centre.
Deadline for submissions: 31 March 2019
Further Links:
Solutions for access to water and sanitation for the people that have been left behind is an issue of human rights, whatever the cause, be it poverty, water scarcity, climate change, conflict situations or cultural and gender barriers. Solutions need to be innovative, economical and easy to implement. Overarching these constraints there also needs to be a supportive political climate and strengthened governance to overcome corruption, inertia, and budgetary constraints. The nexus of these three aspects of Human Rights-Based Water Governance, Innovative Technology and Economic Feasibility provides a topic for this Summit, and a platform to bring together ideas and people in a constructive environment. The clear outcome from the two days is to find tangible projects to pilot, with funding attached to them.
Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6) on water to “Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all” highlights the overarching principle of “Leaving No One Behind”. In committing to the realisation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Member States recognised that the dignity of the individual is fundamental, and that the Agenda’s Goals and targets should be met for all nations and people and for all segments of society. Furthermore, they endeavour to reach first those who are furthest behind.
This 1st World Water Summit on Leaving No One Behind aims to fill a need that is not yet met by other water conferences and provides a kick-off event as part of the 2019 UN-Water campaign on this theme. It differentiates itself from other water conferences by the focus on human rights to water and sanitation, and the focus on finding and implementing workable solutions with support from funders. The event is envisaged to be held annually for the next 11 years, for the duration of the SDG Agenda, and form part of the wider campaign to achieve SDG 6. The outcomes from these events will be interlinked with other global water events, such as the High-Level Panel on Water (HLPW), the World Water Forum (WWF) and World Water Week (WWW), and form part of the UN-Water annual campaigns.
Access the Summit Brochure here.
The Summit will be the first event in 2019 to find ground-breaking technical and governance solutions for the topic of “Leaving No One Behind”, bringing governance leaders and funding agencies together. The first day highlights innovative research through a competitive call for abstracts through our combined technical networks, culminating in a prestigious Awards Dinner. The following day provides a more dynamic platform for bringing real projects and funders together in an engaging manner. Importantly, the outcome will set off a stream of chosen projects that can help to solve some of the challenges for the people that are being left behind in the least developed countries. These projects and tangible outcomes will be presented as workable solutions at forthcoming high-level events, such as the HLPW, WWF and WWW. There is an opportunity to run this Summit annually, teaming the “Leaving No One Behind” topic with the annual UN-Water theme, such as Climate Change in 2020.
It is proposed to structure a two-day event, as follows:
Day 1:
Day 2: