The event sought to raise varying arguments around the issue of water as a resource. Water has an economic, social and environmental value, and these competing requirements for water are often taken for granted. The Water Panel has been debating this topic in an attempt to discover if the different demands on water use can be better managed if a value is applied to the resource.
The event was chaired by David Nickols, and he was joined by three speakers. Michael Norton MBE outlined the importance of water as a resource to the Earth’s ecosystem. He discussed the importance of all types of water, including blue, grey and green water. Michael also showed how water, food and energy exist in a system and how important they are to one another.
Dr Jan Selby, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Sussex, raised issues with the concept of attributing a value to water. He questioned the way we currently value nature and suggested that the Western appetite for gardens and golf courses and the obsession with hygiene create a demand for water which is unsustainable.
The final speaker was Professor Martin Cave OBE, BP Centennial Professor at the London School of Economics. Professor Cave focussed on the issues surround abstraction licences in England and Wales. He questioned the current pricing system as it only takes account for administrative charges and as the water industry currently exists in a monopolistic market the ability for water to be managed effectively is restricted.
The three presentations were followed by a vibrant question and answer session. The discussions could have continued for a significant amount of the evening; however, the Chair was forced to call an end to the proceedings after over an hour and a half. The ICE Water Expert Panel would like to thank the three speakers and all of those who attended for making this a successful and learned event.
For further information on this event and the ICE Water Expert Panel’s work please contact Andrew Wescott at andrew.wescott@ice.org.uk