Nowhere on Earth are water related challenges more pressing than in river deltas. There’s fertile soil and cities bustling with invaluable human and economic activity, all enabled by water. Water makes the delta prosperous and is a main driver for development. But that same water poses many risks: flooded river banks and coast lines can have devastating effects, just like intense rainfall and long periods of drought. Continuous urban development in the river deltas is increasing the risk in terms of human and economic losses.

Within this side event various experiences on innovative flood defense mechanisms and public-private funding of resilient public water management systems are shared and strengthened through closer cooperation with countries facing similar challenges to the Netherlands by means of starting an alliance of delta-countries.

The successful outcome of this meeting would be the establishment of a joint “commitment” through the delta approach, to build an alliance of delta countries and to share experiences and “best practices” for the coming 15 years and to use this alliance to implement the Sendai framework for action, with a strong focus on prevention and reduction of water related disasters in deltas.

【講演】
– Representative of Government of the Netherlands
– Other speakers/panel members to be determined