Celebrating the World Water Day: #Water2me

Let's celebrate water for a whole week!

During COVID times we all know that hand-washing saves lives.

But 40% of the world’s population do not have access to basic hand-washing facilities.

The World Water Day celebrates water and reminds us of several important water-related UN Sustainable Development Goals as for example the access to water and sanitation for all by 2030 (SDG 6).

From 22 to 26 March 2021, the scientific activities mainly from Portuguese institutions contributing to five UN SDGs related to water will be presented.

• Lunchtime webinars
• Movies
• Projects’ presentations
• Projects’ showcases

Read the message from the UN Secretariat General 

22 March 2021 | 12:30 – 14:00

SDG 6. CLEAN WATER & SANITATION

Science responses to ensuring water and sanitation needs

Webinar link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arh3WqCpXDI

12:30 Opening by the Portuguese Semester President - Ricardo Passos

12:35 Introduction to the water week in the Portuguese Semester - Ana Cristina Cardoso, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

12:45 An analytical framework to assess SDG targets within the context of WEFE nexus - Anna Malago, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

13:00 LIS-Water: public policy, regulation and management of water services towards SDG6, Jaime Melo Baptista, Portuguese National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC)

13:15 Leveraging  innovation to meet SDG6: LNEC's contribution, Helena Alegre, Portuguese National Laboratory for Civil Engineering (LNEC)

13:30 Panel discussion and Q&A - with the participation of Jann Martinsohn, HoU Water and Marine Resources Unit, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

23 March 2021

SDG 11. SUSTAINABLE CITIES & COMMUNITIES

• Visit the showcase of Portuguese research projects connected to SDG11 (access will be granted on the day)

24 March 2021 | 12:30 – 13:30

SGD 12. RESPONSIBLE CONSUMPTION & PRODUCTION

Webinar link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5x5iTTL_oQ

Aquastory (award winner short film of the 2019 United Nations SDGs in Action Film Festival, under the Protect Planet category) is an animated short-film that talks about the efficient use of water (around 7’).

There will be a panel discussion and Q&A on how to transform behaviours towards responsible consumption. You will be able to ask the film makers live questions and participate in discussion.

12:30 Introduction

12:35 Aquastory, animated short-film, presented by the film makers, Marina Lobo, A Toca - Animação Digital and Maria Rodrigues, Lisboa E-Nova

12:40 Watch the animated short-film Aquastory

12:50 Q&A live session with the film makers

13:10 Transforming Behaviours towards responsible consumption. Panel discussion and Q&A with the participation of:

Ana Cristina Cardoso, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Maria Rodrigues, Lisboa E-Nova
Marina Lobo, A Toca - Animação Digital
Eugenio Gervasini, Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Celia Lopez-Canizares, Joint Research Centre, European Commission

25 March 2021

SGD 13. CLIMATE ACTION

• Showcase of projects from Portuguese  research institutions (LNEC, CCMAR-Algarve and IPMA) connected to SDG13

Learn about European marine observatories, tools to adapt the water cycle to climate change and the how marine acidification can affect fishes’ sense of smell (here).

26 March 2021

SGD 14. LIFE BELOW WATER

• Learn about why Marine Protected Areas are important and watch some  movies showing the use of very cool techniques to support marine conservation actions in the Portuguese coast (here).