Gabriel Eckstein

President of International Water Resources Association

On behalf of the International Water Resources Association(IWRA), our hosts - Daegu Metropolitan City, Korea Water Resources Association, and K-water - and our supporter - Ministry of Environment - I am delighted to invite you to attend IWRA's XVII World Water Congress in Daegu, Republic of Korea, from November 29 – December 3, 2021. For more than forty-five years, the triennial IWRA World Water Congresses have served as critical milestones in global, regional, and national water science and policy developments. The event has provided researchers and decision makers the necessary space and opportunity to share experiences and developments, articulate new needs and objectives, and engage in lively discussions that have positively impacted our world.   
 
Building on IWRA's last Congress, which was held in 2017 in Cancun, Mexico under the theme of Bridging Science and Policy, in Daegu in 2021, the main theme of IWRA's XVII World Water Congress will be Foundations for Global Water Security and Resilience: Knowledge, Technology and Policy. This theme was conceptualized with the knowledge that the Congress will take place in the post-2015 implementation phase of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and will follow reviews of sustainable development goal (SDG) 6 at various UN High Level Political Forums. It also was developed with the expectations that the agenda will be shaped by key global events leading up to the 9th World Water Forum scheduled for Dakar, Senegal, in 2021. Accordingly, IWRA's XVII World Water Congress will serve as a bridge between these important events, and will engage with scientific, engineering, legal, financial, social, cultural, policy, and political aspects of SDG implementation by the public and private sectors as well as by civil society.  
 
Since its creation in 1971, IWRA has been recognized as a global thought leader on water resources management. It has also been responsible for spearheading numerous initiatives on smart water management, water pollution, integrated water management, and other efforts. In Daegu in 2021, IWRA will continue its commitment to bring together knowledge makers and policy makers working in the water sphere, and to further enhance water resources management around the world. Accordingly, I welcome you to join us at IWRA's XVII World Water Congress I especially invite you to submit abstracts on your work as a means of becoming more directly engaged in this important milestone, and helping us strengthen the foundations for global water security. I look forward to welcoming you to Daegu in the Republic of Korea in November 2021!

Kwon Young-jin

Mayor of Daegu Metropolitan City

On behalf of Daegu Metropolitan City and our 2.5 million citizens, it is my great pleasure to announce that IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress will be held in Daegu, Republic of Korea, from November 29 – December 3, 2021.  
 
Daegu has deep interest in global water issues and water industry development since the city successfully hosted the 7th World Water Forum in 2015. Recognized as Korea’s water hub, Daegu city continues to forge global partnership in efforts to solve global water challenges by annually hosting the Korea International Water Week and World Water Cities Forum. We are also establishing the Korea Water Cluster which is the core infrastructure for sustainable and innovative water technology development.  
 
We are now facing a real, global water crisis. About 700 million, a 10th of the whole population on earth still do not have enough access to clean water. In developing countries, almost 80% of diseases are coming from contaminated water, which ultimately kills a thousand children every day. What’s worse, the world population is expected to reach 9 billion by the year 2050. That would drive up water demand almost 40% and put 25% of people on earth under serious water shortage.  
 
Water crisis is a global crisis. It’s no longer a small issue simply handled by a city or a country. This requires us now to make effective water management and share our thoughts for water saving, equal access to water supply in different regions and social class.  
 
In this regard, it is very meaningful to have IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress under the theme of “Foundations for Global Water Security and Resilience: Knowledge, Technology and Policy”. For five days, water experts, institutions, public and private sector and citizens will share know-how and expertise in solving water problems and overcoming water crisis. It will give participants a great opportunity to share experiences, promote discussion, and present new knowledge, research results and new developments regarding effective water resource management and equitable water supply.  
 
I firmly believe that the Congress will create a concrete, dynamic and fruitful meeting to make a real impact on water resource management around the world.  
 
I’d like to seek your support and active participation in IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress.  
 
I look forward to welcoming you to Daegu, Republic of Korea in 2021!

DEGHYO BAE

President, Korea Water Resources Association

Professor in the Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering at Sejong University

On behalf of the Korea Water Resources Association (KWRA), it is my great pleasure to express sincere welcome to IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress, which will be held in Daegu, Korea from November 29^th to December 3^rd, 2021.

The Congress will be held with the central theme “Foundations for Global Water Security and Resilience: Knowledge, Technology and Policy”, highlighting the role of water in sustainable and resilient development. Essential for life and fundamental for social development, water is foundational to sustaining the world. Sustainable development requires not only resources, but also changes that must occur at various levels, and these changes require resilience. The key to sustainable and resilient water management lies in innovative technologies as well as social changes implemented by water policies. Consequently, the solutions require contributions from different sectors and disciplines. In this regard, I hope that IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress will act as a platform to share our visions, knowledge, and experiences across all aspects of sustainable water development and management.

Founded in 1967, KWRA has been promoting the scientific knowledge and leading the policy-making for water resources management in Korea. In doing so, close cooperation with international communities has always been one of the top priorities. KWRA, in collaboration with International Water Resources Association, will make every effort for IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress to be successful.

We cordially welcome all participants, convinced that the outcomes of the Congress will be fruitful and an important step to continue creating innovative approaches towards sustainable water development and management. Participants in this Congress will also be pleased to enjoy Daegu and its vicinities where historic spirit of Korea lives on.

Thank you.

Jae Hyeon Park

President & CEO of K-water

I would like to express my gratitude for your keen interest in IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress, an international event aims to solve global water problems which will be hosted in Daegu, the water-centered city of the Republic of Korea.

Recently, the importance of water security and resilience has been growing as demand for water has dramatically increased due to complex issues such as drought caused by global warming, population growth, economic development and the urbanization of developing countries. In particular, a severe regional imbalance of water resources exists due to the disproportion between freshwater (accounts for only 0.7 percent of the Earth’s water resources) and precipitation which is mostly concentrated in the areas where less than a third of the world’s population lives. 「Water and Energy」(UN World Water Development Report-2014) predicts that 40 percent of the world's population will suffer from severe water shortages in 2025. This crisis is calling on us to take a more integrated view of dealing with water management and promote international cooperation.

K-water, a co-host organization of IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress, is promoting joint research with the Asia Water Council (AWC) and the UNESCO International Centre for Water Security and Sustainable Management (i-WSSM) on international policies for securing water security and sustainable growth. K-water, as the chair of the AWC, Asia’s largest water consultative body, has not only been leading the way in solving global water issues but also conducting a number of technology exchanges with foreign water organizations as well.

During IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress, K-water will share the collaborated research outcomes, successful policies, technologies and know-how accumulated over the past 50 years, and contribute to finding practical measures for both developing and underdeveloped countries. In addition, we will inherit and develop the outcomes produced by IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress into the 2nd Asia International Water Week which will be held in Indonesia October, 2021 to contribute to securing global water security and sustainable growth beyond Asia.

Through this Congress, we look forward to bringing various ways of cooperation from water stakeholders around the world to come up with a more reasonable and balanced solutions to the water problems. Lastly, I sincerely appreciate all the hard work and devotion that is required for this meaningful event to be successful.

Han, Jeoung Ae

Minister of Environment, The Republic of Korea

It gives me a great honor that IWRA’s XVII World Water Congress will be held in the world’s leading water industry city, Daegu, Republic of Korea, from 29 November to 3 December 2021.

Water is the essence of our life that is vital not only for humans but also for nature.

Throughout history, water investments and management have been crucial contributions to the evolution of human civilization and life. Ensuring safe drinking water also has always been our basic human right.

Water security, accordingly, has been one of the defining challenges of our time. This challenging outlook on water security, with an increased severity in floods and droughts brought about by climate change, is an urgent call for better managing water risks.

Korean government, as part of efforts for resolving those challenges, has driven and settled the integrated water management by applying reasonable and balanced policy in order to leave no one without access to safe drinking water.

Our policy for integrated water management reflects the vision for safe water supply as well as being an innovative water industry powerhouse. Technology advancement derived from the 4th industrial revolution has expanded the scope of water industry as well.

Korean water industry recently has also widened its scope by encompassing smart water management and water related energy sector. In recognition of significant development of water industry development, Korean Ministry of Environment has supported the competent actors in public and private sector for their global expansion.

I sincerely believe that the 17th IWRA World Water Congress will provide the right place for sharing knowledge and experiences accumulated as well as introducing advanced technologies.

I truly hope the results of our sharing and discussion during the congress in 2021 eventually contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
I cordially express my appreciation for your support and participation at the 17th IWRA World Water Congress 2021 in Daegu.