GOVAQUA project

???????? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????: ?????????????????????????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ???????????????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???? ?????????????? As Europe faces more frequent droughts and growing water scarcity, pressure on water resources and aquatic ecosystems is increasing. ?????? ???????????? ???????????? ?????????? ???????? ????????????????????? ?????????????? ???????????? ?????????????? explains how improved implementation of ecological flows - the amount of water needed to maintain healthy ecosystems - and more efficient water allocation systems are key to building resilience in the face of these challenges. The brief calls for stronger regulations to ensure ecological flows are integrated into national water policies and river basin management plans. It also emphasizes the need for a fairer approach to water allocation, balancing the demands of human use with the preservation of ecosystems. Collaboration between sectors, as well as improved monitoring and enforcement mechanisms, are crucial to making these systems work effectively. ?? ?????? ?????????????????? ???? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????? ??????????: 1. Strengthen regulations to ensure ecological flows are fully defined and implemented in water policies. 2. Develop more coordinated and equitable systems for water allocation, ensuring a balance between human needs and environmental sustainability. 3. Foster greater stakeholder engagement to ensure that water management decisions are inclusive and take all interests into account. 4. Improve monitoring and enforcement tools to ensure compliance and prevent illegal water use. The GOVAQUA project is actively contributing by providing research and innovative solutions to help policymakers and water managers adopt best practices for water governance and ecological flow management. ?? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????to learn how we can secure a more sustainable water future! --> https://urlr.me/y2tZc #WaterResilience? #EcologicalFlows? #WaterGovernance? #ClimateChange #Ecologicinstitute #WaterAllocation

?? ?????????????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???? ????????????????, ????????????: ?????????? ???????????????? ???? ???????????????????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????????? ?????????? ?????????????????????? On 7 October 2024, more than 80 experts and stakeholders gathered in person in the 2nd GOVAQUA seminar targeted at the river basin management community at the INBO General Assembly in Bordeaux. This event focused on innovative water governance practices and assessing water governance systems. ? ?????????????? ???????????????????? ????????????????: ??Reflections from GOVAQUA event in Valencia 2023: The seminar began with insights from the first GOVAQUA event held in Valencia setting the foundation for the ongoing governance innovation discussions. An online survey of innovative water governance practices has since collected 40 examples across Europe, and still welcomes additional entries eventually listed in a good practices repository ?? https://lnkd.in/dwF2q-kY ? Innovative governance practices: Key presentations GOVAQUA, InnWater and RETOUCH NEXUS projects together forming WaterGovernance 2027 Synergy Group covered topics such as water allocation and ecological flows, economic instruments, social innovation, citizen engagement, and digital solutions. ?? ??GOVAQUA Assessment tool: This newly introduced tool is designed for river basin managers and stakeholders for self-assessing water governance systems and their development needs. Currently being tested in GOVAQUA Living Labs across Europe, the tool supports improving transparency, inclusivity, and cross-sectoral collaboration in water governance. ??? ??Interactive discussions: The seminar featured 2 interactive Wooclap sessions, where participants provided real-time feedback on governance tools and discussed how innovative practices can be applied across different regions. ????? ??Key messages: Participants emphasized that effective water governance is essential for building resilience against climate challenges like droughts and floods. Learning from innovative good practices put in place across Europe helps strengthening regulatory frameworks, fostering cross-sectoral collaboration, integrating economic instruments, and encouraging citizen engagement. ????? ?? Looking ahead, ?????? ???????? ?????????????????? ???????? ???? ?????? ?????? ?????????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????? ???????? ????????????-???????? ???????????????????? ???? ??????????, ??????????, ???? ?????? ????????, focusing on pathways to sustainable water governance.?? ?????? ???????? ?????????????????????? ?????? ???? ???????? ?????? ??????????????????????????:? https://lnkd.in/dUxvnqYS https://lnkd.in/dC9ZVjsR ? #watergovernance #HorizonEurope #GOVAQUA #sustainability #INBO2024 #resilience #innovation

Horizon Magazine features our work together with BIONEXT Project on tackling Europe's #water challenges with various actors and water users, and zooms into our #LivingLab's in Crau, France led by UMR G-Eau and in Dunav??, Romania led by WWF-Romania. #HorizonMagazine #HorizonEurope #waterscarcity #waterrights #waterresilience #naturerestoration #wetlands Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) - Suomen ymp?rist?keskus (Syke)

?? GOVAQUA Seminar 2024: Innovative Water Governance Practices - Insights from Horizon Europe Projects ?? The GOVAQUA Seminar will take place on October 7, 2024, from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM at the Cité Mondiale Congress Center in Bordeaux, France, during the INBO General Assembly 2024. This seminar will focus on the GOVAQUA project, advancing its processes with collective support, while also promoting key outputs like the GOVAQUA assessment tool. The event will highlight innovative water governance practices, incorporating insights from WaterGovernance2027 projects, including InnWater and RetouchNexus, to enhance governance strategies and resilience. ?? Key Highlights: - Overview of the GOVAQUA project, alongside InnWater and RetouchNexus, with a focus on innovative water governance and EU water resilience. - Interactive reflection: Review of progress since the 2023 Valencia event and exchange of best practices. - Innovative practices: Insights on water governance, including integration, environmental flows, and digital solutions. GOVAQUA AssessmenttTool: Presentation and feedback on the tool to evaluate water governance. ?? This session is an opportunity for River Basin Organizations and other stakeholders to contribute to the ongoing process of GOVAQUA’s achievements, helping to shape the future of water governance. ?? In-person Venue: Room "Brasilia," Cité Mondiale Congress Center, 18 Parvis des Chartrons, 33000 Bordeaux, France. #WaterGovernance #GOVAQUA2024 #WaterResilience #HorizonEurope #INBO2024 #ClimateAction

It is great to see #water being highlighted on the agenda of the new European Commission. GOVAQUA, InnWater and RETOUCH NEXUS projects with their Water Europe member organisations are actively working on innovative #watergovernance instruments, approaches and arrangements to enhance #wateresilience in Europe. Our first results are highlighted in our recent policy brief "Water resilience is built with better water governance" - have a look here: https://lnkd.in/d93AtiqW.

Today marks the final stage of our tour of the Living Labs in the GOVAQUA project! In the GOVAQUA project, Living Labs are taking place to collaboratively develop and test innovative water governance and management solutions in real-world settings. ?? Spotlight on the Dunav??, Danube Delta Living Lab ?? - A #GOVAQUA project Living Lab ?? The Danube Delta, Europe’s largest natural delta, supports over 300 bird species, 139 fish species, and around 10,000 residents, providing vital ecosystem services like clean water, flood protection, and carbon sequestration. However, historical land-use changes during the communist regime drained natural wetlands for farmland, causing biodiversity loss, habitat degradation, and social inequities. Traditional livelihoods, especially fishing, have suffered, and areas like Dunav??u de Sus have seen sharp declines in local income and increased deserted houses. ?? Restoring these wetlands is crucial for biodiversity and local quality of life. Benefits include improved water quality, flood protection, and revived traditional economies like fishing and tourism. A WWF-Romania survey shows over 97% of Murighiol-Dunav?? residents support wetland restoration. ?? The Dunav?? Living Lab, part of the GOVAQUA project, fosters local stakeholder collaboration to develop innovative water governance strategies. By promoting open dialogue and equitable participation, it aims to create sustainable water governance benefiting both people and nature. ?? Discussion and co-creation will enhance collaboration, bringing together river stakeholders to envision a sustainable future for the Danube Delta. Working together: Office International de l'Eau ?? WWF-Romania ??Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) ??Ecologic Institute ??Cetaqua - Water Technology Centre ??Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) - Suomen ymp?rist?keskus (Syke) ??INRAE ??The Rivers Trust?? University of Twente ?? Universidad de Córdoba??UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

In Finland and Sweden, the focus is on governance and practical measures for sustainable hydropower, as well as collaborative approaches between the two countries. A #GOVAQUA project Living Lab ?? ???Hydropower has a reputation for being climate neutral, even green, as it is a renewable energy source. Hydropower meets almost 20% of the global electricity needs and remains one of the cheapest sources of electricity. However, hydropower is detrimental to biodiversity. Lakes, reservoirs and rivers cover only about 2% of the Earth's surface, but host about 10% of all known animal species (Reid et al.?2019). Freshwater ecosystems are the most threatened environments globally, and river biodiversity has been hit particularly hard. ???For hydropower to be environmentally sustainable in supporting freshwater biodiversity, there is a clear need for regulation and governance. ???The Nordic Hydropower Living Lab aims to build more collaboration on the future of different levels of governance, research and stakeholders related to hydropower in the two countries. A key outcome will be lessons learned from neighbouring countries, how different approaches have been put into practice and how challenges have been overcome. ?? Discussion and co-creation will strengthen further collaboration with different stakeholders. In the end, river stakeholders from different sectors will be brought together to envision the future of sustainable hydropower. Working together: Office International de l'Eau ?? WWF-Romania ??Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) ??Ecologic Institute ??Cetaqua - Water Technology Centre ??Finnish Environment Institute (Syke) - Suomen ymp?rist?keskus (Syke) ??INRAE ??The Rivers Trust ?? University of Twente ?? Universidad de Córdoba ??UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH)

New Policy Brief out: Water resilience is built with better water governance ? #Waterresilience has become a hot topic in Europe as the continent is experiencing more severe #droughts and #floods because of climate change, and the health of #waterecosystems continues to decline. A new policy brief by the Horizon Europe funded GOVAQUA project, InnWater and RETOUCH NEXUS project emphasizes the critical role of #watergovernance in enabling water resilience and recommends innovative practices spanning beyond the traditional water sector. Key recommendations include raising water high on the #EU and national policy agendas, cross-sectoral regulatory approach, enhanced collaboration between public, private, and civil society actors, novel financing schemes, and accessible digital tools for monitoring and information sharing. ? Watch a recording of a webinar launching the brief and also access the brief here: https://lnkd.in/dBxJyANx) ? ? #WaterResilience #WaterGovernance #HorizonEurope #ClimateChange #Innovation #PolicyBrief

#Waterstewardship standards and collective action initiatives are among the governance innovations studied in GOVAQUA, in collaboration with Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS). Suvi Sojamo took part in the AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum in Edinburgh and joined discussions on aligning private water initiatives with public sector led processes, sharing experiences from Finland. We will have findings of the GOVAQUA case studies on water stewardship available next year - meanwhile, have a look at a fresh Water Alternatives review article by Suvi and Thérèse Rudebeck that takes stock of the theoretical and practical development of corporate engagement in water policy and governance over the past 15 years https://lnkd.in/de3TahqT

Don’t miss our online workshop on “Cutting-edge water governance for water resilience”! Remember to join us this week, on Thursday June 13th at 10am! Join GOVAQUA, RETOUCH NEXUS and InnWater - the synergy group Water Governance 2027 - for valuable insights from experts dedicated to improving water governance. Check out the event & register: https://lnkd.in/eXm3hqnE #eugreenweek #watergovernance2027 #watermanagement #researchproject #horizoneurope #europeancommission #climatechange #waterprotection #watersupply #waterpolicy #waterflood #extremeweather #drought #sustainableagriculture #crossbordercooperation