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Adapting water economics education to a dynamic world
Water economics students visit a local wastewater treatment plant.
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.”
Read the full article in Time here.
Sustainable Futures initiative launched
On September 19, the University of Waterloo launched the Sustainable Futures initiative; - a collaboration that brings together the Water institute, the Waterloo Climate Institute and the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Energy to accelerate holistic approaches to advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a f