Lessons from the social sciences for the UK’s Water Grand Challenges: water demand and water efficiency

Description

This document is a transcript of a speech delivered to Joint Water Evidence Programme (JWEP) by Dr Alison Browne on 6th June 2019. She was invited to speak directly to the theme on Water Efficiency.

JWEP Water Grand Challenges Workshop Description:

In the years ahead the policy landscape for Water Quality and Water Services will be shaped by delivering the aims of the 25 Year Environment Plan and the opportunity to develop innovative policy following EU Exit. This workshop will bring together academics, government researchers and policy makers to:

•identify future grand challenges for water;
•consider how to deliver research to best inform the longer term plans; and
•consider the evidence required to pursue policy changes in order to bring about environmental improvements.

Aims and objectives

We have arranged this workshop to help policy makers focus on long term challenges to the water environment. The workshop brings together senior policy makers and thought leaders from academia to discuss evidence regarding the water environment and the challenges that it faces over the next 50 years. The workshop will define and address the long-term knowledge gaps relating to water quality and water services.

It is envisaged that the outputs from the workshop will create further discussions between government policy and evidence teams. This will form the basis of research proposals to be tabled at the Joint Water Evidence Programme (JWEP) Steering Group meetings. These strategic, longer term research projects will sit alongside shorter, tactical research projects to deliver a programme of work going forward.

Period	6 Jun 2019
Held at	Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), United Kingdom
Degree of Recognition	National