Organizing Partners: French Water Partnership ; Partners for Water – Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) ; Martinique’s Water Office ; BRGM (TBC) ; Fiji’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change ; Pacific Islands Development Forum ; Stockholm Environment Institute ; Pacific Community (TBC) ; Deltares
Date & Time: Wednesday 11 June – 12:15-13:30
Location: Room 4
Side Event Description
This session will delve into the pressing challenges of island freshwater management – from scarce resources to seawater intrusion – hindering water quality and coastal resilience. From source to sea, it will unpack scientific gaps and pioneer integrated solutions at the crossroads of freshwater and ocean health. The discussion will bring to light international Communities of Practice and strategic alliances driving collaboration among island stakeholders, advancing sustainable fresh- and seawater management pathways while informing global policy frameworks.
Speakers
- Sivendra Michael, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change of Fiji
- Marie-Laure Vercambre, Director General – French Water Partnership
- Liliane Geerling, Programme Coordinator – Partners for Water/Netherlands Enterprise Agency
- Arpana Pratap, Director of the Blue Economy Department – Pacific Islands Development Forum
- David Hebblethwaite (TBC), Water Governance Coordinator – Pacific Community
- Gaëlle Hielard, Project Lead for Basin Policies and Regional Cooperation – Martinique’s Water Office
- Ariane Blum (TBC), Water Director – BRGM
- Karina Barquet, Head of the Water, Coasts and Ocean team – Stockholm Environment Institute
- Myra van der Meulen, Head of the Resilience and Planning Department – Deltares
Ocean Voluntary Commitment
The Pacific Islands Development Forum will announce the establishment of the Pacific Countries Marine Spatial Planning and Sustainable Blue Economy Cooperation Center and the hosting of the second Pacific Blue Economy Conference. This session aims to foster new partnerships that will feed into these initiatives, which will be registered in the Voluntary Ocean Commitments database, with a view to strengthening blue economies across island societies.
Detailed Panel Agenda [coming soon]
Link to the Concept Note: Island Waterscapes_Concept Note