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The Rivers Trust Annual Conference: Water at the heart of climate resilience

The Rivers Trust joins with Westcountry Rivers Trust to deliver its conference online for the first time on 16 and 17 March 2021. This year’s event will explore climate change, one of the most pressing issues of our age.

Water is the life source of our planet and therefore it must be at the heart of policies and projects mitigating the effects of climate change, and building a society that is better prepared for its consequences. We know that the impacts of the climate crisis will be felt first and most dramatically through the effects on water resources. Changing rainfall patterns and increasing temperatures will result in more floods, more droughts and greater vulnerability to pollution.

The event will be hosted via Zoom webinar – details of how to join will be sent to all registrants prior to the event.
Both days will run from 9am – 12.30pm. Tuesday 16th March will have a particular focus on European funded projects.

The Rivers Trust Conference: Water at the heart of climate resilience

As the world continues to experience the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is essential that water and climate are not overlooked in the national conversation, but made a fundamental aspect of a truly green – and we hope, blue – recovery. The work of the Rivers Trust Movement is critical to building our national climate resilience given the predicted impacts on the UK. To build resilience, we need to anticipate what the risks will be, understand what we want to protect and prioritise, and mobilise to accelerate the recovery of our depleted natural water resources.

At this conference, you will hear from speakers who are working on water and climate resilience from a variety of perspectives: environmental charities, government bodies, water companies, corporate partners, and campaigners. It is free to attend and available internationally, so join the conversation and take a step towards a more resilient future.

For information about submitting a pitch for the conference, click here.

About author

EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

Who is involved?
Quite simply, everyone in Ireland has a role to play. This can be from something as simple as making sure you don’t pollute your local stream, or a local community working together to establish a Rivers Trust to enhance the rivers and lakes in their area, to a Government Department or Agency helping a Minister implement a new policy to help protect and enhance all our water bodies.

This website has been developed and is maintained by the Environmental Protection Agency, and is a collaboration between the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Local Authority Waters Programme.

Local Authority Waters Programme

The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is responsible for coordinating the monitoring, assessment and reporting on the status of our 4,842 water bodies, looking at trends and changes, determining which waterbodies are at risk and what could be causing this, and drafting environmental objectives for each.

Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.