International Expo "Water and Sustainable Development"
3rd Permanent Forum on Water and Sustainability: 'Water and cities: challenges and opportunities for eco-innovation'
Start Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2006, 18:00 h
End Date: Tuesday, 17 October 2006, 20:30 h
Place: Joaquín Roncal Center, 5-7 San Braulio St, Saragossa, Spain.
URL: http://www.expozaragoza2008.es/pdf/foro ...
Organised by: Water Tribune
back‘Water and Cities: Challenges and Opportunities for Eco-Innovation’ was a debate aiming to define with precision the elements of, and the conditions necessary for, a paradigm shift with regards to urban sustainability. This new approach implies a need to completely rethink cities and their involvement with what is now known as the ‘New culture of water.’ In order to accomplish this, it is necessary to conceive new policies to manage water and hydraulic heritage; such policies must be innovative in all areas, and not only in matters such as water technology and eco-technology, so that cities can be healthier and more sustainable. These innovations will not always be easy to implement, and it will therefore be necessary to identify the challenges and the limitations of these advances.
Eco-innovation is both an ideology and a reference point for the urban framework, public policies, plans, and local projects. It represents an opportunity for city renovation and the reappropriation of urban areas by citizens. Certain conditions must be met, however, at the local and – if possible – all levels, so that public policies and economic markets work together towards eco-innovation and sustainable development.
Urban contribution to the rational use of resources, and in particular of water, can only be obtained through the ‘eco-innovative’ renovation of cities, and will be reinforced by setting priorities for water management.
Access a summary of the debate and the discussion [PDF format – 46 KB, in Spanish]
