Host : OECD
Presenters: Oriana Romano(OECD, France)
Cities have a key role to play in fostering a Blue Economy, combining economic opportunities linked to marine and freshwater resources with ecosystem preservation and social well-being. Food security, industrial and service sector development, employment, poverty eradication and environmental sustainability strongly depend on the ability of cities to provide reliable water and sanitation services to city dwellers and manage risks of floods (“too much water”), droughts (“too little water”) and pollution (“too polluted water”), exacerbated by megatrends such as climate change, demographic growth and urbanisation. In addition, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the critical importance of sanitation, hygiene and adequate access to clean water to contain the spread of the virus as well as the importance of cities and local governments to provide immediate and well as long-term solutions to the crisis.