Circular Economy for Water Security

16 March 2021
​​​​​​​3:30 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (GMT +8)

Dwindling water availability, growing environmental concerns, complex health issues, and rethinking current economic growth models are all intrinsic to developing and implementing the circular economy in Asia. At its core, developing a circular economy is about achieving a set of social, economic, and environmental outcomes that underpin efforts toward more sustainable development models, while also ensuring social inclusion and equity.

Central to the circular economy approach is the principle that resources are used for as long as possible, recovering and regenerating products and materials at the end of each service life, therefore closing cycles. The circular economy derives value (e.g., water, energy, nutrients, organic matter) from waste streams by applying a business perspective and shifting the focus away from simple coverage.

The experience of implementing circular economy models in different parts of the world shows that major challenges include access to land or achieving financial sustainability of the circular economy business model. The global experience of the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) along with case studies in Ghana, India, and Sri Lanka demonstrate that successes can be achieved when there is an adequate investment climate and there are sustainable value chains to commercialize waste-based products.

This webinar is part of a series, titled Science and Innovation for a Water-Secure Future for All, organized by the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Water Sector Group and IWMI. The four-part series focuses on innovative approaches and tools that can contribute toward advancing water security and climate resilience in Asia and the Pacific.

Experts from IWMI will share different ways ADB developing member countries can strengthen resilience through tested water solutions, as well as discuss water accounting and how it can help in understanding and managing the water–food–energy nexus. Irrigation asset management will also be tackled, including presenting IWMI’s SAMS4i software package that helps manage key assets and assess spatial variability. Lastly, they will zero in on the circular economy through case studies that demonstrate success.

Register and see more about this event.