SUSCO Budapest 2016 – Water and the City

The aim of SUSCO Budapest 2016 – Water and the City, the continuation of AJKC’s conference series on sustainable development, is to establish a regional multi-stakeholder forum and network on sustainable development from a Central and Eastern European perspective which provides the opportunity to discuss the challenges and best practices in the region, exchange experiences, and seek common solutions. SUSCO Budapest fosters dialogue between the governmental, private, and scientific sectors, as well as the civil society of the region.

This year’s conference is focusing on sustainable urban water management, reflecting upon the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the United Nations in September 2015. The SDGs among others set milestones and calls for action in relation to water management in cities via ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all (SDG 6), as well as making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable (SDG 11).

Urban areas currently give home to approximately 50% of the global population, projected to reach over 60% by 2050. In this period, water demand will increase globally by 55% and around 4 billion people will live in water-stressed areas. This means that fierce competition is unavoidable among different water users – particularly agriculture, energy, and urban dwellers. If current tendencies are not changed, water security will be increasingly jeopardised.

Due to rapid urbanisation, water scarcity and poor water quality in heavily overcrowded cities, as well as the lack of extensive and sustainable urban water management systems are problems affecting not only the poorest but the developed countries of the world. Cities are facing significant challenges such as mitigating water risk and securing financially sustainable water and sanitation services to urban population. A concerted effort is required in putting water supply and sanitation policies in the wider context of institutional arrangements and water resources management. We must think carefully about how to manage urban water costs effectively and learn from the experience of others in addressing the demand and supply sides of the urban water management challenge. SUSCO Budapest 2016 therefore intends to bring together key stakeholders, facilitate the outlining of proper strategies conforming to national and regional circumstances, and put the theory of sustainable urban water management into practice.

Date: 9.15am, 16 November 2016

Venue: Akvárium Klub, Budapest

Resgistration: https://goo.gl/forms/4u3XpGoJVdA2xA2s2 (till 13 November 2016)

Draft Programme:

8.30am – 9.15am Registration

9.15am – 9.30am Opening Remarks

• Péter Antall, Director of Antall József Knowledge Centre
• Frank Spengler, Resident Representative, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung

9.30am – 9.40am Keynote Speech

• Dr Gábor Náray-Szabó, Academic, Co-president of the National Council for Sustainable Development

9.40am – 10.40am Panel I—Water and Urbanisation

• Faraj El-Awar, Programme Manager, Global Water Operators’ Partnerships Alliance/UN-Habitat
• Oriana Romano, Policy Analyst / Lead Author of Water Governance in Cities report, OECD Water Governance Programme
• Martina Zupan, Regional Chair, Global Water Partnership CEE

Moderator: János Zlinszky, Director of the Sustainable Development Academy, The Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC)

10.40am – 11.00am Coffee Break

11.00am – 12.15pm Panel II — Water in the City of Tomorrow

• Tom Vereijken, Director, European Water Stewardship & Petra Eszter Katona, Researcher, KWR Watercycle Research Institute, Urban Water Agenda 2030 – The Leeuwarden Process
• Dr Štefan Stanko, Vice-rector for Education, Head of Department of Sanitary and Environmental Engineering, Slovak University of Technology in Bratislava Urban Water Management and Planning in BRATISLAVA
• Asier Abaunza, Councillor for Urban Planning at Bilbao City hall Urban Water Management and Planning in BILBAO
• Szabolcs Sidó, Head of Unit, City Management Department, Municipality of Budapest, Urban Water Management and Planning in BUDAPEST
• Moderator: Gábor Ungvári, Senior Research Associate at the Regional Centre for Energy Policy Research (REKK)

12.15pm – 1.30pm Lunch Break

1.30pm – 2.30pm Panel III — Innovative and Smart Urban Water Solutions

• Péter Kereszturi, Representative of Budapest Sewage Works Ltd.
• Dr. Zsolt Edgár Rasztovits, Treatment Growth Center Manager, EEE at Xylem Inc.
• Richard Elelman, Head of Public Administrations of Eurecat-CTM
• János Prikk, S&D Energy and Utility Sector Sales Leader at IBM

Moderator: Károly Kovács, President, European Water Association, Hungarian Water Cluster, EIP Water Steering Group

2.30pm – 2.45pm Key Outcomes / Closing Remarks

• Dr Gábor Baranyai, Ministerial Commissioner for the Sustainable Management of Transboundary Natural Resources, Ministry of Justice

3.00pm – 5.20pm Side Event: SUSCO YOUTH Forum

The Knowledge Centre reserves the right to change the programme.