Knowledge, Innovation & Technology

We plan to achieve this in two ways: 

1. Provide a space to share game-changing knowledge, innovations and technology in climate mitigation, adaptation and resilience relating to water systems across geographies, sectors and partners. 
2. Encourage the development, adoption and scaling of innovation and technologies by exploring the processes, systems, governance, partnerships, peer-to-peer learning, funding and culture that underpin their progress. 

We recognise that diversity is a key enabler to unlocking. We will provide a platform for diverse voices, including indigenous community leaders and young people as our future leaders.  

Sessions will be in a variety of formats to support idea generation and knowledge and innovation sharing. The day will include a breakfast mingle with interactive workshop; insightful panels to dig into topics both of technological innovation and the role of governance and partnerships in innovation, and a youth debate on how best to support innovation.  

Our principal targets are the UNFCCC COP 28 processes (e.g. COP28 UAE Water Catalyst Initiative & COP28 UAE ministerial meeting on Urbanization and Climate Change), National and City Governments and Utilities. We also seek to support the operationalisation of COP27 Presidency’s Sustainable Urban Resilience for the Next Generation (SURGe) Initiative. Through our networks, we are engaging with the Egyptian Minister for Water Resources and Irrigation, Peru Government (on their UK-Peru capacity building partnership) and City Mayors, and CEOs of Utilities. 

We are also conscious of providing a platform for diverse voices and are engaging with the following groups: 

• Youth  

• Engagement: Through the youth debate, and as rapporteurs for each session to report back at the end of the day.  
• Specific organisations: Youth Parliament for Water (Arup connection with the President – Carolina MacKinnon),  International Secretariat for Water (Arup connection via Elysa Vaillencourt), World Water Week Sponsored Youth (Arup and SIWI connection). 

• Frontline communities 

• Engagement: Via story-telling, short-film clips from their experiences (EDF, Arup connection with FRANK Water). This engagement is to provide a platform for those who cannot attend in person. 
• Specific orgs: Connections via EDF and Arup connection with FRANK Water 

• Indigenous communities  

• Engagement: Via story-telling as above, and for those who can attend in person, join panels and engage in development of the programme. Link to  Pacific Island leaders calling for urgent action at the UNGA (https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/09/1141267) 
• Specific orgs:  Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples Platform (LCIPP) and individuals: Te Huia Taylor 

• Cross-sector links 

• Resilience Hub 
• Technology and Innovation Hub 
• LGMA Multilevel Action Pavilion 
• IUCN / Nature Pavilion 
• Food and Agriculture 
• Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (particularly their implementation labs) 

1. Innovation is broader than technology and includes innovations in governance, finance, culture and working with nature. 

1. Locally-led innovation is critical to tackling climate challenges in water, building inclusive systems by empowering local communities and marginalized groups. 

1. Good governance, finance, culture and partnerships are necessary to develop, bring to market and scale innovations.