Global Symposium on Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions

Energy, water and sanitation are some of the most cross-cutting and deeply embedded factors affecting the daily lives of people all over the world. These factors are essential to achieve poverty eradication, social wellbeing, economic growth and global prosperity. Important challenges related to water and energy are faced by many countries in their efforts to achieve sustainable development. Also, water and energy are strongly interlinked to environmental issues including climate change, terrestrial and water ecosystems, and biodiversity. The importance of energy and water is recognized by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development which includes the Sustainable Development Goals 6 on water and 7 on energy. SDG 6 calls for ensuring availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all and SDG 7 calls for ensuring universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services.

The main objective of this global symposium is to enhance the capacities of relevant stakeholders including governmental institutions to effectively manage the water-energy nexus and interlinkages with other SDGs covering the social, economic and environmental dimensions of sustainable development. The event will provide a global platform for all stakeholders to disseminate knowledge, exchange experiences and showcase best practices on integrated approaches that support sustainable water and energy solutions. It will also represent an opportunity for dialogue on effective policy, and technical and managerial approaches to water and energy supporting sustainable development. It is expected that the discussions and outcomes of this Global Symposium will set the ground for the development of the First World Report on the Status and Trends of Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions.

The registration is closed.

To join the meeting virtually, click here.

Event Programme

DAY 1: 13 June 2022

Venue: Cineteatro Barrageiro- Brazilian side, Itaipu

*All information in day one regards current local time in Brazil – Brasília Time (UTV/GMT -3 hours)

Registration: (8:00-9:00)

Session 1: Opening Session (9:00 – 9:40)

Introductions: Master of Ceremony

Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Under-Secretary-General, UN DESA (Video)
Mr. Manuel Maria Cáceres, Director General Paraguay, Itaipu Binacional
Mr. André Pepitone da Nóbrega, Director of Finance, Itaipu Binacional
Ms. Paloma Martín Martín, President, Canal de Isabel II, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain
Ms. Helena Felip, Ambassador, General Director of Multilateral Policy and Coordinator of the SDG Commission, Paraguay
Video Presentation: Itaipu Binacional and its Sustainable Development – Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions Partnership and Network (TBC)

(English audio, translations to Portuguese and Spanish by the interpreter, 5-8 minutes)

Coffee Break (09:40-10:00)

Session 2: Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions & Energy Case Studies (10:00 – 13:00)

Moderator: Mr. Minoru Takada, Team Leader, Sustainable Energy, UNDESA

This session addresses the water-energy nexus from the perspective of energy solutions. The session starts with presentations by global and regional organizations describing energy-water nexus issues, challenges and the need for sustainable solutions based on renewable energy at the global and regional levels. Case studies will then be presented by national/regional organizations and country representatives.

Mr. Eddie Rich, CEO, IHA (virtual) Presentation
Mr. Ricardo Gorini, Senior Programme Officer, IRENA (virtual)
Mr. Guillermo Koutodjian, Acting Director of Integration, Access and Energy Security, Latin American Energy Organization (OLADE) Presentation
Mr. David Krug, Technical Director, Itaipu Binacional Presentation

Coffee Break (11:00 – 11:15)

Mr. Igor Souza Ribeiro, General Coordinator of Electrical System Performance Monitoring, Ministry of Mines and Energy, Brazil (virtual) Presentation
Gustavo Cazal, Director of Alternative Energies, Vice-Minister of Mines and Energy, Paraguay (TBC Itaipu)
Mr. Paulo Emilio Valadão de Miranda, President of Brazilian Hydrogen Association, Brazil (virtual) Presentation
Mr. Federico Valles Figueras, Electric Energy Manager, Canal de Isabel II, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Presentation
Ms. Doris Edem Valles Figueras, Energy Analyst, Energy Comission, Ghana. Presentation
Mr. Ricardo Narvaez, Technical Sub-Director, Geological & Energy Research Institute (IIGE), Ecuador Presentation
Mr. Satish Gautam, Thematic Advisor, Alternative Energy Promotion Centre, AEPC, Nepal Presentation
Ms. Syham Bentouati, Managing Director, NAFAS International, Oman Presentation
Ms. Hazir Farouk Abdelraheem Elhaj, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Sudan Presentation
Mr. Sohel Ahmed, Managing Director, Grameen Shakti, Bangladesh

13:00 – 15:00 Lunch & Side Events

Session 3: Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions & Water Case Studies (15:00 – 18:00)

Moderator: Ms . Maria del Carmen Tejera Gimeno, General Secretary, CANAL de Isabel II, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain

This session addresses the water energy nexus from the perspective of water solutions. The session starts with presentations by global and regional organizations describing energy-water nexus issues, challenges and the need for sustainable solutions based on modelling and integrated approaches and systems at the global and regional levels. Case studies will then be presented by national/regional organizations and country representatives.

Ms. Rayen Quiroga, Chief Water and Energy Unit, ECLAC (virtual) Presentation
Ms. Radia Sedaoui, Chief Energy Section, ESCWA Presentation
Mr. Peter Burek, Research Scholar, IIASA Presentation
Mr. Miguel Doria. Intergovernmental Hydrological Programme, UNESCO Office of Science for Latin America and the Caribbean (virtual)
Ms. Paloma Martín Martín, President, Canal de Isabel II, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Presentation
Mr. Maurício Abijaodi. Director of Water and Sanitation Agency (ANA), Brazil
Mr. Mohamed Thameur Chaibi, Research Director, National Research Institute for Rural Engineering, Water and Forestry (INRGREF), Tunisia Presentation

Coffee Break (16:30 – 16:45)

Mr. Sanoi Boyzoda, Representative of Tajikistan to the Executive Committee of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (EC IFAS)
Mr. Mohamed Hosni Ghedira, Director, Masdar Institute, UAE Presentation
Mr. Anshuman, Associate Director, TERI, India Presentation
Mr. Hugo Ruiz, Director of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Public Works and Communications Ministry, Paraguay Presentation
Mr. Claudio Stabile, CEO, Paraná Sanitation Company (SANEPAR) (virtual)
Mr. Ariel Scheffer, Head of Environmental Management, Itaipu Binacional, Brazil Presentation
Mr. Carlos Flores, Head of Environmental Management, Itaipu Binacional, Paraguay (TBC)

DAY 2: 14 June 2022

Venue: Itaipu Binational Visitor Reception Center - Paraguayan side, Itaipu

*All information in day two regards current local time in Paraguay – Asuncion (UTV/GMT -4 hours)

7:30 – 9:00 Side Events

Session 4: Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions – Environmental Interlinkages

Climate Change (9:00 – 10:30)

Moderator: Ms. Edmilce Ugarte, UN Environment – Paraguay

This session addresses the interlinkage of water and energy with climate change and the policies and measures being implemented on climate change mitigation and adaptation. The session includes presentations by international organizations and national/regional organizations and country representatives.

Mr. Gajanana Hegde, Team Leader, Energy, Regulatory Framework Implementation Unit Mitigation Programme, UNFCCC Presentation
Mr. Julián Báez, Director, Regional Office for the Americas, World Meteorological Organization (WMO) (virtual) Presentation
Mr. Peter Burek, Research Scholar, IIASA Presentation
Mr. Pascual Fernández, CEO, Canal de Isabel II, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain Presentation
Ms. Nora Paéz, Head of the Adaptation Department, Direction of Climate Change, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Paraguay (TBC) (virtual)
Mrs. Maria de Lourdes Nunes, Boticário Group Foundation, Brazil (virtual) Presentation
Mr. Alex Guerra, Director of the Climate Change Research Institute, ICC, Guatemala. Presentation
Mr. Nadjib Drouiche, General Director, l’Agence Nationale de Valorisation des Résultats de la Recherche et du Développement Technologique (ANVREDET), Algeria (virtual) Presentation

Coffee Break (10:30 – 10:45)

Session 5: Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions – Water and Energy Transboundary Cooperation and Environmental Interlinkages

(10:45 -13:00)

Moderator: Ms. Maria Antonia Gwynn (Itaipu Binacional)

This session addresses water and energy transboundary cooperation, biodiversity and terrestrial and water ecosystems. The session includes presentations by international organizations and by regional/national organizations and country representatives.

Mr. Carlos Zaldívar, Deputy Minister of Mines and Energy, Paraguay
Mr. Tom Howes, Head of Energy and Environmental Division, International Energy Agency (IEA) (virtual)
Jose Toron, Regional Programme Officer, Latin America and Caribbean, IRENA (virtual)
Mr. Mossamba Thioye, Manager Regulatory Framework Implementation. Project Executive UN Climate Change Global Innovation Hub, UNFCCC (virtual) Presentation
Ms. Lucia de Strasser, Environmental Affairs Officer, UNECE Presentation
Mr. Luis Carlos García. Director for La Plata Basin and Navigation. Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Paraguay Presentation
Ms.Mara Tignino, Faculty of Law and Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Geneva, Switzerland (virtual)
Mr. Gabriel Eckstein, Director Energy, Environmental and Natural Resources System Law Program, Texas A&M University, USA (virtual)
Mr. Clayton Lino. Biosphere Reserves and Transboundary Issues. Biodiversity – MAB program, UNESCO (virtual) Presentation
Ms. Bianca Brasil, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (virtual)
Mr. Diego Jara, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) (virtual)
Ms. Cristina Cano, Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact, Paraguay Presentation

13:00 – 15:00 Lunch & Side Events

Session 6: Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions – Social Interlinkages

(15:00-16:15)

Moderator: Mr. Izael Pereira Da Silva, Strathmore University, Kenya

This session addresses the interlinkage of water and energy with social issues including poverty, food security, health, education, gender, inclusiveness, equity, peace, etc. The session includes presentations by international and by national/regional organizations and country representatives.

Mr. Jippe Hoogeveen, Senior Land and Water Officer, Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) (virtual) Presentation
Ms. María Haydeé Jiménez, Senior Regional Manager Latin America and the Caribbean, World Energy Council (WEC) (virtual)
Ms. Radia Sedaoui, Chief Energy Section, ESCWA Presentation
Mr. Wilson Nobre. Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV), Brazil
Ms. Joyce Najm Mendez. Latin American and Caribbean Regional Focal Point of the SDG7 Youth Constituency Presentation
Mr. Samson Tsegaye, Director, Solar Energy Foundation, Ethiopia Presentation
Mr. Miguel Fernandez, Executive Director, ENERGETICA, Bolivia Presentation

Coffee Break (16:15- 16:30)

Session 7: Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions – Economic Interlinkages

16:30-18:15)

Moderator: Ms. Helena Felip, Ambassador, General Director of Multilateral Policy and Coordinator of the SDG Commission, Paraguay

This session addresses the interlinkage of water and energy with economic development including infrastructure, jobs, regional sustainable development, etc. The session includes presentations by international organizations and by national/regional organizations and country representatives.

Mr. Ricardo Gorini, Senior Programme Officer, IRENA (virtual) Presentation
Ms. Rayen Quiroga, Chief Water and Energy Unit, ECLAC (virtual)
Ms. Betina Barbosa, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Brazil. (virtual)
Mr. Izael Pereira Da Silva, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Strathmore University, Kenya Presentation
Mr. Gustavo Paredes, International Adviser, ASAZGUA, Guatemala Presentation
Mr. Sherzad Ali Khan, Regional Coordinator, Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), Pakistan Presentation
Ms. Jade Angngalao, Energy Access Specialist, Hydro Empowerment Network (HPNET), the Philippines Presentation
Ms. Renata Camargo, Legal and Sustainability Advisor, UNICA, Brazil Presentation
Mr. Eduardo Allende, Governance Officer, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Paraguay. Presentation

Session 8: Way Forward and Closing (18:15-18:45)

Moderator: Mr. Minoru Takada, Team Leader, Sustainable Energy, UNDESA

This session presents the conference summary emphasizing the way forward in terms of recommendations and priority actions for the future. Representatives from the host countries will provide closing remarks.

Symposium Summary and Way Forward

Mr. Martin Niemetz, Sustainable Development Expert, UNDESA

Closing

Mr. Luiz Felipe Carbonell, Brazilian Coordination Director, ITAIPU Binacional
Mr. Gustavo Ovelar, Paraguayan Coordination Director, ITAIPU Binacional
Mr. Minoru Takada, Team Leader, Sustainable Energy, UNDESA

Closing Ceremony (19:00-20:30)

DAY 3: 15 June 2022

Field Trips (Itaipu, Brazil/Paraguay)

Field Trips will be organized by Itaipu and may include the following:

Brazil

Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant (Binational tour)
RBV e Nurseries and medicinal plants
Renewable Energy/Biogas Unit

Paraguay

Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant (Binational tour)
Itabo Natural Reserve

Draft Agenda
Flyer
Concept Note
Logistic Note
Press Release

Media Contacts

Mr. Kuba Wesolinski, UN DESA, wesolinski@un.org
Mr. Romeu Rufino De Bruns Neto, ITAIPU Brazil, ROMEU@itaipu.gov.br
Mrs. Graciela Parini, ITAIPU Paraguay, parinigi@itaipu.gov.py

Side Events

Side events are organized on the margins of the Conference in both virtual and in-person formats and are related to its theme: “Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions”. Please find below a full programme of official side events:

Date and Time	Organizer	Title	Language	Modality	Concept Note / Agenda	Summary
13 June, 13:00 – 15:00 EST	Itaipu Binancional	Segurança Hídrica e Gestão De Bacia Hidrográfica \| Seguridad Hídrica y Gestión de Cuencas Hidrográficas	POR / ESP	In-person only	POR / ESP	To be provided
14 June, 13:00 – 15:00 EST	Itaipu Binancional	Energias Renováveis e o Desenvolvimento Econômico Sustentável \| Energías Renovables y desarrollo económico sostenible	POR / ESP	In-person only	POR / ESP	To be provided
14 June, 7:30 – 9:00 EST	Itaipu Binancional	Biodiversidade: Dois Países, Uma empresa \|	POR / ESP	In-person only	POR / ESP	To be provided
14 June, 13:00 – 15:00 EST	Afritech Global Limited	Access to Voucher for Reduction of Energy Consumption in Africa	ENG	Virtual (see info below)	Eng	To be provided
Zoom link: https://us05web.zoom.us/j/81132096179?pwd=WEtpTDlaRlE4WUpmTVFkM09QMjNrZz09 - Meeting ID: 811 3209 6179 - Passcode: A4SS0n On 14 June 2022 from 10:00am to 11:30am (Central African Time) a side event on Access to Voucher for reduction of Water and Energy Consumption will be held in Brazil/Paraguay. This side event will showcase participating companies who will present and discuss their commitments and to explain how these commitments support transformative pathways on energy and water and scaled-up actions supporting climate change objectives. The objective of this capacity building event is to provide a space for the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and experience related to reduction of water and energy consumption through voucher as important in climate change adaptation. The event will allow information exchange, and participants will have the opportunity to learn and discuss the synergies that can be realized when integrated approaches are implemented.

Responsibility of side event organizers

The United Nations does not represent or endorse the accuracy or reliability of any advice, opinion, statement or other information provided through the side events. The Conference Secretariat reserves the right to delete any content/input that is not aligned with the United Nations Charter and/or the principles and purposes of the First Global Symposium on Sustainable Water and Energy Solutions.