Welcome to the 8th Water Research Horizon Conference 2017 at Hamburg!

 

Climate change impacts and rising

adaptation and mitigation needs

– Future challenges for water-related research

 

In 2015, the United Nations adopted the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2016, the Paris Agreement (COP21) on climate change entered into force, addressing the need to limit global warming to less than 2 °C as well as to adapt to ongoing and future climate change. Parties to the COP21 have committed themselves to contribute to the goals by measures defined in their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC). This involves major challenges for the societies and has to be based on solid scientific evidence, thereby strengthening inter- and trans­disciplinary research.

Although not directly mentioned in the Paris Agreement, water is a central element in the climate system and hence any future climate policy will have significant impacts on water. The SDGs comprehend one goal dedicated to water (SDG 6), which calls for sufficient water availability and sustai­nable management of the resource for all. In addition, water plays an important role for other SDG.

The 8th Water Research Horizon Conference therefore brings together international and national scientists from various disciplines in order to exchange most recent findings of water-related research in the context of the COP21 and SDG processes.

The focus is on understanding climate change impacts on water as well as related adaptation and mitigation needs considering the 2°C target and accomplishment of the SDG.

Accordingly, the conference addresses knowledge and methodologies as well as research challenges of climate change impact assessment and enhanced adaptation and mitigation options referring to hydro systems on different spatial and temporal scales. Main objective is the exploration of future research demands together with stakeholders also including the science-policy interface.

This year’s conference include the 5th general meeting of the Water Science Alliance (on the eve of the event) and the Ritter foundation’s award ceremony!

The WRHC is jointly organized by the Water Science Alliance and the Climate Service Center Germany in association with Ritter-Stiftung of Deutscher Stifterverband.

We cordially invite you to join our 8th Water Research Horizon Conference 2017 at Hamburg!