IIE MSA hosts climate change and water security conference
The informative programme included the keynote address by Professor Hamanth Kasun, Vice President of the International Water Association, and a key founder of the IIE MSA Water Research Centre.
Researchers and practitioners recently participated in a dialogue on climate change and water security in South Africa at the IIE MSA.
The Mini-conference on Climate Change and Water Security was hosted by the IIE MSA Research and Postgraduate Studies Unit in collaboration with the institution’s Water Research Centre. Bimo Nkatha, Head of IIE MSA’s Water Research Centre reiterated that the purpose of the conference was to bring together researchers and practitioners to create dialogue and share insights into how South Africa can best meet the interlinked challenges of climate change and water security.
The informative programme included the keynote address by Professor Hamanth Kasun, Vice President of the International Water Association, and a key founder of the IIE MSA Water Research Centre. His address spoke to the fact that both water-security and climate-change issues are not new crises, and to expect and plan for them to continue into the future.
Other notable speakers represented Rand Water, the University of Johannesburg, The University of Venda, Unisa, Tshwane University of Technology and the Gauteng City Region Observatory (GCRO). Andre Lubbe, Campus Head, IIE MSA’s Campus Head, other IIE MSA Senior Management Team members, staff and postgraduate water students were also in attendance.
All attendees agreed that action needed to be taken through institutional research and collaborations as well as water-related education programmes. Using their IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Water Management and Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management courses, IIE MSA aims to build the capacity of future leaders in water-resource management.
The public was also urged to take the following measures to safeguard water into the future, namely, reporting water leaks to the relevant authorities, repairing leaking taps and pipes, and reusing household grey water for other purposes. Closing taps when brushing teeth and taking shorter showers are just some of the things that cumulatively over time could assist in a more water-secure future in South Africa.
