International Workshops on “Water Media Literacy”

9-11 May 2023 – Tehran, Iran

Introduction

The Regional Centre on Urban Water Management-Tehran (Under the auspices of UNESCO) in close cooperation with the Ministry of Energy of Iran is planning to hold a training workshop on “Water Media Literacy” in Tehran from 9th to 11th May 2023. The main themes of this two-day training event, which is followed by a site visit on the third day, are as shown in the related section. The opening ceremony and 2 workshops will be held on the first day and 3 workshops will be held on the second Day. On the third day, a technical tour of Tehran’s south wastewater treatment plant has been scheduled.

Scientific Committee:

Committee on Training and Capacity Building of Regional Centre on Urban Water Management (under the auspices of UNESCO)

Titles of workshops are as follows:

 

1st Workshop: Key Techniques of a successful journalist in water awareness

Presenters:

Ms Jenifer Bowles (Executive Director of Water Education Foundation from USA) – download the presentation file here

Dr. Omid Ali Masoudi (Chairperson of Iran’s National Association for Water Media Literacy) – download the presentation file here

Duration: 105 minutes

 

2nd Workshop: Climate change and effects on water resources

Presenters:

Dr. Davood Reza Arab (Professor, Sharif University of Technology- Director of Dynamic Knowledge Strategy Engineering Research Institute) – download the presentation file here

Mr. Koen Verbist (UNESCO- IHP Secretariat)

Duration: 105 minutes

3rd Workshop: Management of Social Conflicts in the Water Sector

Presenter:

Dr. Farzad Gholami (the University of Tehran, Director of Environmental Communications of the Iranian Association for Culture and Communications Studies) – download the presentation file here

Dr. Ahmed Al-Busaidi (Researcher, Department of Soils, water and Agricultural Engineering, College of Agricultural & Marine Sciences, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman) – download the presentation file here

Duration: 105 Minutes

 

4th Workshop: Renewable Water Situation in Iran and the World (Challenges and Solutions, with introduction of successful and unsuccessful case studies)

Presenters:

Dr. Banafsheh Zahraei (Associate Professor, Faculty of Civil Engineering, University of Tehran) – download the presentation file here

Dr. Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa, (Programme Specialist, Water for Human Settlements Theme Lead, Division of Water Sciences – IHP Secretariat-Natural Science Sector-UNESCO) – download the presentation file here

Duration: 105 minutes

 

 

5th Workshop:  Media’s Role in Consumption Management

Presenters:

Mr. Abbas Keshavarz (research Deputy for Water Strategic Studies Centre, Iran Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines & Agriculture) – download the presentation file here

Mr. Ali Seyedzadeh (Director General, Consumption Management, Customer Services, and Loss Reduction Office, National Water and Wastewater Engineering Company) – download the presentation file here

Duration: 105 minutes

Agenda:

Tuesday 9th May 2023
08:15 – 08:45 Registration, Quran Recitation and National Anthem of the Islamic Republic of Iran
08:45 – 09:15 Speech by Mr. Hajrasouliha (Advisor to the Minister of Energy and Director of the Regional Center on Urban Water Management under the auspices of UNESCO)
09:15 – 09:45 Speech by Mr. Kazemi (Advisor to the Minister and General Director of Public Relations and Information of the Ministry of Energy)
09:45 – 10:15 Coffee Break
10:15 – 12:00 Key techniques of a successful journalist in water awareness (Ms. Jenifer Bowles- Dr. Omid Ali Masoudi)
12:00 – 13:30 Lunch
13:30 – 15:15 Climate change and effects on water resources (Dr. Davood Reza Arab- Mr. Koen Verbist)
15:15 – 15:45 Coffee Break
Wednesday 10th May 2023
08:30 – 10:15 Management of Social Conflicts in the Water Sector (Dr. Farzad Gholami- Dr. Ahmed Al-Busaidi)
10:15 – 10:45 Coffee Break
10:45 – 12:30 Renewable Water Situation in Iran and the World (Challenges and Solutions, with Introduction of Successful and unsuccessful case studies) (Dr. Banafshe Zahraei and Dr. Sarantuyaa Zandaryaa)
12:30 – 14:00 Lunch
14:00 – 15:45 Media’s role in Consumption Management (Mr. Abbas Keshavarz and Mr. Ali Seyedzadeh
15:45 – 16:15 Coffee Break
Thursday 11th May 2023
07:45 – 14:00 Technical Tour – Tehran’s South Wastewater Treatment Plant

 

Composition of participants:

Approximately, 40 – 50 Journalists and media experts from Iran and other regions Countries will participate in this event. Moreover, about 75-85 persons from the Ministry of Energy and its holding companies such as Water and Wastewater Companies as well as Regional Water Companies.

Date and Venue:

9th to 10th May 2023 – Niroo Research Institute, Tehran, Iran.

11th May 2023: Tehran’s South Wastewater Treatment Plant

 

Language:

Persian / English

Online Platform:

The online platform would be Microsoft Teams and the link will be announced one week before the event starts.

First Regional Workshop on Climate Change (Impacts and Adaptation)

18-19 October 2023, Tehran, Iran

 

Introduction

Climate change is one of the most important phenomena that has changed in the climate of the earth’s hydro-climate during the last few decades. According to the definition, climate change is a process that occurs in long term due to changes in greenhouse gases concentration and significantly affects the earth’s weather processes. Research has shown that climate change has caused a significant change in the earth’s meteorological variables, particularly temperature and rainfall. Also, climate change has changed other processes that are related to human life (environmental impacts) for which changes in extreme events (such as floods, droughts, and heat waves), storms, crop water requirement, etc. are among the most important.

One of the most vulnerable natural systems to climate change can be called water resource systems. Climate change has many impacts on hydrological cycles and water resources and can be introduced as an important threat in the field of water resources management. The severity of this threat is different in various parts of the world. The prediction of the continuation of climate change in the coming decades also indicates that water resource systems will continue to be significantly affected by this event in future, and the impacts of this issue cannot be ignored. The severity of the effects of climate change is so wide that it will impact the economy and people’s livelihood. The most important reason for this issue is the reduction of available water resources due to climate change. Also, the change in human life patterns (which is caused by the increase in the level of public health and welfare resulting from urbanization), has increased the water demand, and for this reason, in many regions of the world water has become a limiting factor for development. Therefore, the challenge of water management under climate change conditions is one of the most important current and future issues in different societies.

The areas located in the middle latitudes of the world (including the Middle East, North Africa and Central Asia) are among the areas that have a lot of climate diversity due to their geographical location. Due to the occurrence of several droughts in some countries located in these areas, water resources of the countries have faced serious challenges and any effect of climate change on future temperature and precipitation of these countries can worsen this situation.

In this regard, the Regional Centre on Urban Water Management (RCUWM; under the auspices of UNESCO) , in partnership with Iran Water Research Institute (WRI) and Iran Meteorological Organization (IRIMO), is planning to hold the “First Regional Workshop on Climate Change (Impacts and Adaptation)”, in Tehran, Iran, 18-19 October 2023. This event will lay a platform for interaction between experts in the region and aims to accelerate future research and major milestones in the discipline of climate change. More details about this event include the following:

 

Conference Theme

  • Climate change and its impact on climate patterns
  • Impacts of climate change on water resources
  • Policymaking for adaptation to climate change

Participants

  • Managers and experts from RCUWM Governing Board Member States (including 18 countries)
  • Government sector managers and experts in the field of climate change management in Iran (including the Ministry of Energy, the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, Iran Meteorological Organization, Department of Environment, Ministry of Industry, Mining and Trade)
  • Academic community and researchers in the field of climate change
  • Consulting engineers related to water and environment

Official language

The official language of the workshop will be English with simultaneous Persian interpretation.

Titles of the workshops

First day (18 October 2023)

Number Title
1 Workshop 1: Climate change and its impacts on weather patterns (with emphasis on West Asia)
2 Workshop 2: Impacts of climate change on water resources according to the sixth assessment report of IPCC
3 Workshop 3: Comparative analysis of multi-year forecast and multi-decade forecast of precipitation and temperature

 

Second day (19 October 2023)

Number Title
1 Workshop 4: Impacts of climate change on access to water resources and its consumption
2 Workshop 5: Investigation of the successful experience for climate change policy-making
3 Workshop 6: Introducing collaborative capacities for adaptation to climate change in the region

 

 

Address:

2nd Floor, No. 34, Janbazan Blvd, South Sheikh Bahaei St. (Azadegan St.), Tehran, 1439955667, Iran

Tel: +98 (21) 8822 9156 – 9404

Fax: +98 (21)8822 9156

Email: info@rcuwm.ir

Website: www.rcuwm.ir