High-level Seminar: Climate change and water challenges in Latin America

Today September 3, EWB-SWE is co-arranging a very interesting seminar regarding climate change and the water challenges in Latin America.

The library of the Latin America Institute at Stockholm University was packed, and there are more than 70 people following the seminar online. It's clear that the interest in these issues are great. The seminar is live-streamed as well. Most Latin American embassies were represented at the event.

From EWB-SWE are Caroline Edelstam, Secretary-General, Tommy Lindström, both are speaking in the seminar, also present were Salman Rahman for the EWB-SWE Board and Carin Balfe Arbman, from EWB-SWE Communications.

The Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies (NILAS) at Stockholm University, together with Engineers without Borders Sweden, the European Commission, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), and Norden International, with the support of GRULAC Stockholm, welcome you to a discussion on water challenges in Latin America:

The seminar addresses critical water issues in Latin America, such as the lack of infrastructure, insufficient support from the international community, and the risks in planning. Participants will analyze solutions and innovations emerging from civil society, and examine their impact on strengthening human rights, peace, governance, sustainability, and equal water access in Latin America.

DAGORDNING

17.30. Dr. Thaïs Machado-Borges, Director of Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies, and Ms. Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers without Borders Sweden, greet welcome.

17.35. Ambassador Milton Soto Santiesteban, Ambassador of Bolivia to Sweden and Chair of GRULAC in the Nordics, gives introduction to the challenges of climate change in Latin America.

17.40. Mr. Tommy Lindström, Head of competence group Energy-and Waste Management and Project Leader of Aqua 365 Chile, at Engineers without Borders Sweden, introduces the water situation in Latin America in regard to climate change and gives presentation of the Aqua 366, a WASH*-project in Chile.

17.50. Ms. Adriana Soto Trujillo, Research Associate at Stockholm Environment Institute, and environmental engineer with experience from working in the practitioner-research spheres of water management planning, climate change adaptation and sustainable sanitation, gives aspects of integration of WASH and IWRM** in Bolivia.

18.00. Ms. Nhilce Esquivel, MSc, is a specialist in disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and innovation working as a researcher at Stockholm Environment Institute. Her current work focuses on developing tools and applying human centre design approach into projects aiming to improve decision making in the water, WASH, and climate adaptation sectors.

18.10. Mr. Erik von Pistohlkors, Deputy Head of the Representation at the European Commission in Sweden, concludes with the EU-perspective on the support of the international community in the future; what could be the next steps for support and innovation for Latin America?

18.20. Discussion and questions led by the moderator, Dr. Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano, Professor at the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies, Stockholm University.

18.45. End of seminar.

*WASH = Water, Sanitation and Hygiene

**IRWM = Integrated Water Resources Management

Please see some images from the seminar below:

BELOW: Presentations by Dr. Thaïs Machado-Borges, Director of Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies, Ms. Caroline Edelstam, Secretary General of Engineers without Borders Sweden, Ambassador Milton Soto Santiesteban, Ambassador of Bolivia to Sweden and Chair of GRULAC in the Nordics, Mr. Tommy Lindström, Head of competence group Energy-and Waste Management and Project Leader of Aqua 365 Chile, at Engineers without Borders Sweden, Ms. Adriana Soto Trujillo, Research Associate at Stockholm Environment Institute, Ms. Nhilce Esquivel, MSc, is a specialist in disaster risk reduction, sustainability, and innovation working as a researcher at Stockholm Environment Institute, Mr. Erik von Pistohlkors, Deputy Head of the Representation at the European Commission in Sweden, Moderator: Dr. Andrés Rivarola Puntigliano, Professor at the Nordic Institute of Latin American Studies, Stockholm University.