News
Water Institute Executive Director Roy Brouwer testifying before House of Commons
Dr. Roy Brouwer, Water Institute Executive Director, Professor and University Research Chair in Water Resources Economics, will be testifying April 18th before the House of Commons’ Standing Committee on Environment and Sustainable Development as part of a panel of witnesses called to share their views on the state of freshwater in Canada.
Adapting water economics education to a dynamic world
In an era defined by the complex interplay of climate change, population growth, and globalization, efficient and equitable management of water resources is more crucial than ever. Water scarcity, pollution, and unequal access to water and sanitation have emerged as pressing issues, underscoring the necessity for a well-prepared workforce armed with a deep understanding of water economics.
In the Media: Ecuadorians vote to stop oil drilling in the Amazon rainforest
Ecuadorians voted on Sunday to stop an oil-drilling project in the Yasuni region of the Amazon with 59% voting yes on a proposition that will end the practice.
Dr. Roy Brouwer, an environmental economist at the University of Waterloo, who conducted a study on the economic value of the Amazon rainforest, says that Indigenous populations tend to place an extremely high value on the environmental sanctity of the forest.
“They've lived in the Amazon for 11,000 years. How are you going to compensate these people by taking away their livelihood, cutting the forest and having them move out of the area where they live for 11,000 years? There's no monetary compensation for that.”