Asia Pacific Voices for Climate Resilient Inclusive WASH

Session presenters (From left): Prof. Phil Duncan, Michelle Hobbs, Collin Benjamin, Tema Wickham, Lou-Ellen Martin, and moderator, Regina Souter.

Climate change is impacting women and marginalised groups in disproportionate ways. Recognition and meaningful action on this front is key to getting Sustainable Development Goal 6 – water and sanitation for all (SDG6) back on track through including marginalised groups, addressing climate change and scaling up gender transformative approaches and tools.

This insightful session, Asia Pacific Voices for Climate Resilient Inclusive WASH, provided a strong platform for voices from women leaders from the Asia Pacific region to share their actionable messages, strategies and solutions from community to policy and institutional levels on how to accelerate the implementation of sustainable and climate resilient water resource management for inclusive climate resilient WASH and the prioritisation of effective water stewardship at all levels.

Knowledge and perspectives on this critical intersectionality highlighted the important links of water and WASH to gender equality, food security, climate change, community health and resilience demonstrating the importance of gender transformative approaches in the Asia Pacific region and globally.

Presentations were followed by engaging riverside chats and a lively panel discussion.

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Key takeaways

• We need to work harder at valuing, raising and listening to the voices, knowledge and capacities of women, indigenous people and marginalised people , who have unique water system understanding and are at the forefront of the devastating impacts of climate change.
  
  
• Enabling diverse voices is critical in shaping locally-led, sustainable solutions that ensure equitable access to clean water and sanitation for all (SDG6), healthy ecosystems and a climate resilient future.
  
  
• But no one can do it alone –locally-led solutions need support. SDG6 can only be achieved with a concerted effort by governments and their societies, with help from development partners,  to put more emphasis and resources towards inclusive water and WASH for the health, wellbeing, and resilience of all communities.

Speakers

• Regina Souter, Director, International WaterCentre, Griffith University (Moderator)

• Lou Ellen Martin Branch head, Water Regulation and Governance Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (Opening Remarks) 
• Michelle Hobbs, Indigenous Water Scientist, Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University

• Prof. Phil Duncan, Galambany Professorial Fellow University of Canberra, Industry Adjunct Fellow & Hon Dr Griffith University

• Tema Wickham, WASH Project Manager, Plan International Pacific, Solomon Islands

• Collin Benjamin, Lecturer and Researcher, Solomon Islands National University

Panel discussion during the session

This session was proudly convened with the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian Department of Climate Change, the Environment, Energy and Water, International WaterCentre at Griffith University, Plan International, Solomon Islands National University (SINU), Australian Water Partnership and Water for Women