Enhancing Global Cooperation for Clean Water: Strategies to Manage Contaminants and Sustain Ecosystem Services
water@leeds will host an international and interdisciplinary workshop on "Enhancing Global Cooperation for Clean Water: Strategies to Manage Contaminants and Sustain Ecosystem Services" (June 4- 6, 2025)
This workshop is organised by Professor Laura Carter (water@leeds Associate Director for Research) and Dr Gabriela Lopez-Gonzalez (Head of water@leeds) supported by Ann Marie Boyle (water@leeds administrator).
Experts on contaminants from Brazil, Cyprus, Bangladesh, Japan, India, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, USA, Europe and the UK will come to Leeds to discuss How should water quality guidelines account for country-specific pollution challenges while ensuring the provisioning of water for ecosystem services?
Background
Numerous global water initiatives have been established with the primary goal of protecting and improving water quality worldwide. Water pollution can take various forms, with chemical contaminants (such as industrial waste, pesticides, and heavy metals) and microbial pollutants (such as bacteria and viruses) widely acknowledged to contribute to water quality degradation. These contaminants often enter water sources through human activities and as well as through natural processes with the situation further exacerbated by rapid urbanisation, population growth, and unsustainable land-use practices, all of which increase the pressure on water resources.
Initiatives targeted towards improving water quality are critically important as pollution has been recognized as a significant global threat. For example, the United Nations has identified pollution as one of the core components of the Triple Planetary Crises, alongside climate change and biodiversity loss.
Global action is urgently needed to address water contamination issues, as the water cycle operates across borders and does not align with country or state boundaries. Water resources are inherently interconnected, and contamination in one region can have far-reaching consequences for neighbouring areas and beyond. However, the sources of water pollution and its impacts are heavily influenced by country-specific geopolitical and policy dynamics. Differences in regulatory frameworks, economic priorities, and resource management practices can exacerbate transboundary water pollution challenges, making international cooperation and coordinated strategies difficult.
We are grateful for additional funding for this event from International Pro Deans: Prof Guy Ziv (Faculty of Environment); Prof Rob Sturman and Prof Ardian Morina (Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences); Prof Ian Wood (Faculty of Biological Sciences), and the International Strategy Fund - Mexico.
Agenda
Day 1
- Welcome to Leeds
- Regional perspectives on Water Quality and contaminant pollution
- Round table discussion
Day 2
- Water quality Scenario mapping
- Round table discussion
Day 3
- Addressing Water quality challenges
- Discussion on needs and actions
- Next steps
