How can trade help save water resources?

The panel, held on 27 August 2012, focused on the relationship between trade policy, water and food security and covered the issues of virtual water trade and its impacts on the global water supply; effects of climate change on food security and availability of water resources; economic, social and environmental implications of water footprint-related trade measures; development of water footprint labels, and compliance of water-related trade measures with WTO rules.

The panel featured Professor Tony Allan from King’s College London, the father of the virtual water trade concept, Baris Karapinar, cluster leader of WP5 on Trade and Climate Change, Malena Sell, senior programme officer, Environment and Natural Resources Division of the International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), and Kateryna Holzer, NCCR Trade WP5 doctoral fellow. The panel attracted many people from the water and trade communities, as well as representatives of international organisations, NGOs and academia.