PANEL SEVEN: Data to action – Knowledge to effect

14th NOV 2023 | 14.00 to 16.30 CET

Description

Data to Action is a process whereby raw data is collected and analysed to inform decision-making and actionable tasks by communities at a local, sub-national, national and supranational level. The process involves identifying patterns or trends, making decisions, and subsequently acting based on the proven results of monitoring and investigation. There exist many scientific and technological solutions to identified problems. But how can data be converted into action, and how can knowledge be converted into tangible, in situ improvement? The panel will demonstrate the latest technological and scientific advances which can provide solutions and progress regarding the pathway of Climate Change and Health, Migration, Conflict and Gender Inequality, both separately and as a whole. Science must assume its role as an independent, non-political leader in the resolution of social crises. Solutions concerning water, air quality, food production, transport, residues, energy and soil, will be presented.

Presenter:

  • MELCHIOR ELSLER, Associate Expert, GEMS/Water, UNEP, Nairobi

Speakers in this session (PART ONE):

  • NATACHA AMORSI, Project coordinator, OiEau (International Office for Water)

  • CRISTIAN CARBONI, Leader of the Working Group Water & Public Health, Water Europe

  • NEUS BAHÍ, Laboratory Manager, Department of the Sustainability Area, Eurecat

  • DAVID SÁNCHEZ-DOMENE, Advance Researcher, Unit of Waste, Energy and Environmental Impact, Eurecat

THERE WILL BE A TEN-MINUTE COFFEE BREAK BETWEEN PART ONE AND PART TWO)

Speakers in this session (PART TWO):

  • BRYAN SPEARS, Principal Research Scientist, Freshwater Ecology, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, UK

  • RUTH SPENCER, Chair, Marine Ecosystems Protected Areas (MEPA)

  • QUERALT PLANA, Researcher, UT Water, Air and Soil, Eurecat

  • SÍLVIA FRÍAS, Climate Change Researcher, Climate Change Research Department of the Sustainability Area, Eurecat

Presenter:

https://www.unep.org/explore-topics/water/what-we-do/monitoring-water-qualityhttps://www.unep.org/https://www.linkedin.com/in/melchior-z-elsler/

MELCHIOR ELSLER

Associate Expert, GEMS/Water, UNEP, Nairobi

Melchior supports the coordination of the Global Environment Monitoring System for Freshwater (GEMS/Water) which is the primary programme within the UN-System working on water quality monitoring and assessment capacity development and data collection – including the custodianship for SDG Indicator 6.3.2.
Prior to working with UNEP, he was leading the Industrial Water Management Workstream of the 2030 Water Resources Group Kenya Programme, hosted by the World Bank.
There he coordinated the Kenya Industrial Water Alliance, bringing together various stakeholders from the public, civil society, and private sectors in a Multi-Stakeholder Forum. The objective was to enhance industrial water management practices by improving water use efficiency, recycling, and reuse of wastewater through the mainstreaming and application of industry best practices as well as formulation of new policies and standards.
Melchior has a background in water resources management and environmental governance.

Speakers in this session (PART ONE):

http://www.oieau.org

NATACHA AMORSI

Project coordinator, OiEau (International Office for Water)

Natacha Amorsi holds a PhD in economics of environment. Since 2006, she is coordinating European projects at OiEau on various topics linked to water governance.
watereurope.eu

CRISTIAN CARBONI

Leader of the Working Group Water & Public Health, Water Europe

Leader of the Water Europe Working Group “Water and Public Health”.
25 years of experience in research and technological innovation and author of numerous scientific publications. Market Development Manager Innovative Disinfection systems in Industrie De Nora, developing water and wastewater treatment technologies, particularly concerning disinfection.
Member of the scientific committee of Polo Agrifood, member of the Board of Directors of the International Ozone Association, member of the Board of Directors of Lombardy Energy Cleantech Cluster, external expert of the European Innovation Council and Executive Agency for SMEs (EISMEA)
https://eurecat.org/en/

NEUS BAHÍ

Laboratory Manager, Department of the Sustainability Area, Eurecat

Graduated in Chemistry Degree from the Ramon Llull University on 1996 with Analysis Specialty and Chemical Engineer from the Sarrià Chemical Institute (IQS) on 1997

She got a master’s degree in Technology and Environmental Management on 2001 and Industrial Risk Prevention on 2009.

After many professional experiences on different industries, since 2007 she joined to Centre Technologic of Manresa (CTM), at this moment Eurecat, participating in more than 100 research projects, both European and national projects.

During the last 15 years she’s the head of the Sustainability laboratories in Eurecat, carrying out experimental, analytical and management tasks.

Her fields of expertise are basically analytical analysis in environmental samples, mainly water, soil, and waste samples.

Moreover, also leading the advanced technical services carried out for private companies in multiple sectors.

https://eurecat.org/en/

DAVID SÁNCHEZ-DOMENE

Advance Researcher, Unit of Waste, Energy and Environmental Impact, Eurecat

David Sánchez-Domene had a degree in Biology and a MsC in Management and Restoration of the Natural Environment, both at the University of Alicante, and a PhD in Ecotoxicology by the São Paulo State University. Since 2018 David has been working as a specialist in industrial sustainability, with special emphasis on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) in different sectors such as fashion, food, chemical, polymers, waste treatment, etc. He joined to Waste, Energy and Environmental Impact Unit of EURECAT’s Sustainability Area in 2019 as advance researcher to conduct environmental assessments and ecodesign products and processes for private sector and R&D projects at a regional and European level.

There will be a ten-minute coffee break between part one and part two)

Speakers in this session (PART TWO):

https://www.ceh.ac.uk/staff/bryan-spears

BRYAN SPEARS

Principal Research Scientist, Freshwater Ecology, UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Edinburgh, UK

Bryan has studied the impacts of human activity on freshwater ecosystems for over 20 years; from assessing the impacts of climate change on glacial run-off to the ocean to assessing the ecological damage caused by the Kakhovka Dam breach, Ukraine. Central to this work is producing evidence from monitoring data to inform on the ground action. Bryan is a co-founder of the International Society of Limnology Working Group on Lake Restoration which works across borders to support data to action in developing economies. Bryan also co-chairs the UNEP World Water Quality Alliance working group on Ecosystem Restoration and contributes to the Global Partnership on Nutrient Management. Bryan is the Director of the Global Environment Facility Project Towards Sustainable Phosphorus Cycle in Lakes (uP-Cycle).

https://mepatrustantiguabarbuda.org/

RUTH SPENCER

Chair, Marine Ecosystems Protected Areas (MEPA)

Current Chair of the Marine Ecosystems Protected Areas (MEPA) Trust which has accreditation with many international agencies. I am Passionate, dedicated and committed to bringing about socio-economic and environmental development that is people centred. I am trained in development economics, receiving a Master’s Degree in international development Economics from Yale University also post graduate studies in Project Appraisal at Yale
As a strong advocate for integrated development, my work and actions seek to ensure that local community-based groups are given access to information, opportunities for inclusion and participation and greater involvement in Environmental decision-making. I push for equitable, open and inclusive processes to provide opportunities, resources, training, and the relevant support to implement community-based adaptive initiatives. These provide solutions for integrated social, environmental and economic development initiatives and ensures a pathway towards “the all of the society” approach.
My work is cross-cutting and across all the GEF Focal Areas-Climate, Biodiversity, Chemicals land Degradation Plastics and Mercury with gender issues fully integrated.
I was the Caribbean NGO negotiator for Principle 10 now called the Escazu Agreement. I work through partnerships and collaborations with Caribbean Governments and CSO groups in each country to educate, inform, share information and build capacities to move to ratification.
My aim is to empower the local groups, increase their visibility, leading to national and international recognition across the GEF Focal Areas. The knowledge of the local people and what exists in the various communities must become a part of the overall decision-making process. One of my interests is in appropriate technologies that make life better for the people and brings about empowerment, so wind and solar energy technologies are areas I have piloted at the local level.
The many awards I have received to include the inaugural Award from the Government of Antigua-Dept. of Gender Affairs for Energy, and the Environment Award on International Women’s day 2018, the 2015 Energy Globe Award and Finalist for the 2018 Caricom Energy personality Award, attest to my multi-disciplined work linking too many processes at local, regional and international levels
I have authored several case studies and has been appointed to many national and international working groups and committees.
I am a mentor to Yale Graduate students and was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Yale International Alliance and lead the newly launched YIA Climate and Sustainability impact group.
https://eurecat.org/en/

QUERALT PLANA

Researcher, UT Water, Air and Soil, Eurecat

Queralt Plana holds a PhD in Water Engineering from Université Laval (Québec, Canada) in the Department of Civil Engineering and Water Engineering, since 2020. During her professional career, she has dedicated herself to the online monitoring and modelling of wastewater treatment plants and rivers, and the analysis of long data series. She currently works as an advanced researcher at Eurecat in the Water, Air and Soil Unit of the Sustainability Area, on modelling of environmental processes, urban water cycle and climate change impact on water. She also participates in national and international R+D projects and proposals.

https://eurecat.org/en/

SÍLVIA FRÍAS

Climate Change Researcher, Climate Change Research Department of the Sustainability Area, Eurecat

Silvia is a researcher at the Climate Change Research Department of Eurecat working on coastal ecosystem restoration, and mitigation and adaptation to climate change. She holds a master’s degree in Oceanography and Marine Environmental Management (University of Barcelona and Polytechnic University of Catalonia) and a bachelor’s degree in Human Biology (Pompeu Fabra University). She has previously been involved in research projects covering the resilience of small-scale bivalve fisheries in the Ebro Delta, the impacts of global change on red coral populations in the Mediterranean, the local adaptation of the Atlanto-Mediterranean sea urchins to climate change and has co-authored several scientific publications. She was also granted by the European Eurodyssey Programme to work as field technician for birds monitoring in SPEA Madeira. She has ample experience in international project management and has previously worked as Scientific Project Manager at the Catalunya La Pedrera Foundation and at Ocean Ecostructures promoting marine ecosystem restoration through different technological solutions. Silvia also has experience in science outreach, having served as scientific advisor for the television program ‘Quèquicom’, and as a board member of the Catalan Association for Science Communication.