Written by Alison Binney for the International Water Association while employed as a science communicator at Econnect Communication

Press conference
When: Tuesday 18 September 2012, 1 pm – 1.45 pm
Venue: IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2012, Press Conference Room, Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre (BEXCO), Korea

With increasing risks of floods and droughts, there is a need to create more resilient cities that can withstand shocks and waves and recover quickly after major events.

This presents great opportunities to make cities the drivers of a ‘green economy’ – by redesigning urban spaces and networks, using new information technology, and turning wastewater into a source of energy, heat, nutrients and fibres.

In today’s press conference, Steve Moddemeyer, initiator of the IWA Cities of the Future programme and Principal at CollinsWoerman’s Sustainable Development Practice (US) will address these issues head on.

“A key aspect of urban innovation is bringing city planners and water and environmental engineers together,” says Moddemeyer.

He will speak about how water planners can influence the planning and design of cities to ensure they become resilient, liveable and sustainable – true drivers of a green economy.

At the World Water Congress 2012 in Busan this week, future city practices are presented from around the world. In Korea, this new green paradigm is gaining pace, as shown by a number of speakers at the congress who will focus on integrated urban water systems.

New practices have been tried and tested in Australia with new city planning concepts and practices emerging in several cities.

“Water practitioners in urban and rural areas are faced with a significant challenge – how to make the transition to more integrated and sustainable practices,” says Rob Skinner, chief executive officer for Monash Water for Liveability, in Australia, and former managing director of Melbourne Water (Australia).

Adopting these new approaches for cities in low- and middle-income countries forms a whole different challenge. Yet, new practices are starting to emerge that turn gridlocked, polluted centres into liveable spaces with proper water and sanitation services.

Kala Vairavamoorthy, director of the School of Global Sustainability at University of South Florida (US) will highlight new opportunities for making major changes in urban design in developing countries.

“By combining centralised and decentralised water service solutions, we can make major progress in providing services to the billions of people that currently do not receive adequate water and sanitation,” says Vairavamoorthy.

Finally, David Garman, former president of IWA and dean of the School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin (US) will provide further information on the BUSAN CONSENSUS – a strategic guidance document that will be finalised at the World Water Congress in Busan for achieving liveable and resilient city outcomes.

Press conference speakers:

Steve Moddemeyer: Principal of CollinsWoerman Sustainable Development Practice (US): smoddemeyer@collinswoerman.com

Rob Skinner: CEO, Monash Water for Liveability (Australia): Robert.Skinner@monash.edu

Kala Vairavamoorthy: Director, University of South Florida (US): vairavk@usf.edu

David Garman: Dean, School of Freshwater Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (US): garmand@uwm.edu