Pacific Institute staff members give talks and lectures, conduct workshops, and participate in panels far and wide. Here are some of the places we’ve been:
March 2022
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Hosted “Changes in Avian Diversity and Abundance at the Salton Sea“.
February 2022
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher
– Gave a virtual “Lightning Lesson” on corporate water stewardship to the University of California, Santa Barbara Bren School alumni corporate sustainability network.
January 2022
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Joined the Southern California Water Coalition Quarterly Luncheon to provide updates about the Colorado River for “Preparing for a Drier Future Along the Colorado River.”
December 2021
Dr. Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher
– Joined a panel of experts for “Tools to Inform Water Stewardship Investments in Nature-Based Solutions as part of the AWS Global Water Stewardship Forum 2021.
Dr. Sonali Abraham, Research Associate
– Joined a panel of experts for “Urban Water Conservation in a Drought.”
November 2021
Jason Morrison, President
– Participated in the COP26 Water Pavillion and presented “Pacific Institue: An Urgent Call to Build Water Resilience.“
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Presented new research at COP26 for “Water Pathways to Reduce Energy Use and GHG Emissions.“
Jason Morrison, President;
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Spoke with waterloop for “Resilience Is More Than A Buzzword.”
October 2021
Dr. Sonali Abraham, Research Associate;
Heather Cooley, Director of Research; and
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher
– Presented at the WaterSmart Innovations Conference and Exposition.
Dr. Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher
– Participated in VERGE 21: The Climate Tech Event.
Dr. Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Hosted and presented during the webinar “Water for a Growing Bay Area.”
September 2021
Dr. Julia Szinai, Researcher;
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus; and
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Hosted new report briefing “The Future of California’s Water Energy Climate Nexus.“
Dr. Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher
– Participated in the webinar launch for the Nature-Based Solutions Benefits Explorer Tool.
Dr. Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Joined a panel of experts for the webinar “Evaluating Benefits of Stormwater Capture and Reuse: Why and How?”
August 2021
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus; and
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Participated in special briefing “Drought in the American West.“
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher
– Spoke at Ceres webinar “California Drought: Tackling Water Risks for Agriculture and Apparel.”
Jason Morrison, President;
Dr. Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher;
Dr. Ashok Chapagain, Senior Researcher;
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher; and
Lillian Holmes, Research Associate
– Participated in World Water Week sessions.
July 2021
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– Participated in the 2021 American Water Resources Association Connecting Land & Water for Healthy Communities conference to discuss how the “One Water” approach to water management can deliver healthy waterways.
June 2021
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate; and
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– Hosted the webinar “Stacked Incentives: Co-Funding Water Customer Incentive Programs.”
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher
– Spoke with Ripple Effect for the “What Is a Water Futures Market?” podcast.
May 2021
Dr. Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Joined a panel of experts exploring water challenges and solutions in the San Francisco Bay Area for “Meeting the Bay Area’s Water Demand” and “Water-Wise Development for the Bay Area,” presented by SPUR.
April 2021
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Presented at the “Tap into Resilience: WaterNow Alliance Virtual Summit” about onsite water systems in Silicon Valley.
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher
– Participated in “Nature-Based Solutions Webinar Series: From Theory to Practice” with the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, The Nature Conservancy, Danone, and LimnoTech.
March 2021
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– For World Water Day, Dr. Gleick gave the talk “The Future of Water” as part of the “Big Splash” event hosed by the UNESCO Chair and UNITWIN at the University of Birmingham, United Kingdom and the University’s new Institute of Global Innovation.
– Spoke at The Council for the Human Future‘s conference “Delivering the Human Future.”
Jason Morrison, President
– Participated in a panel of corporate leaders for “The Value of Water for Business.”
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Moderated a panel of experts for the “‘Brave Blue World’ Virtual Screening and Panel Discussion,” presented by the Pacific Institute and the California Water Environment Association.
Dr. Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher
– Presented at the webinar “How to Identify and Account for the Benefits of Nature-Based Solutions for Watershed,” organized by the UN Global Compact CEO Water Mandate, Pacific Institute, The Nature Conservancy, Danone, and LimnoTech.
Cora Kammeyer, Senior Researcher
– Moderated the panel discussion “The Potential of Onsite Non-Potable Reuse in Silicon Valley and Beyond” at the WateReuse Symposium.
February 2021
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Spoke to the Yale Club of Rhode Island for “The Science of Climate Change.”
January 2021
Lillian Holmes, Research Associate
– Participated in the webinar “Water Management Put Into Practice by Business Leaders (CEO Water Mandate – Water Action Hub)” with UN Global Compact Local Networks from the Latin America region.
December 2020
Dr. Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher; and
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate
– Participated in UN Global Compact webinar “Nature-Based Solutions & Water Resilience.”
November 2020
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Presented on water policy at the University of California, Santa Barbara Bren School of Environmental Science and Management.
– Spoke to the Elders Action Network about the world’s water challenges.
Dr. Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Spoke on “Squaring the Hydro Circle: Tapping Water Reuse in Silicon Valley” at the Water, Environment, Technology Forum hosted by Sustainable Silicon Valley.
Jason Morrison, President;
Heather Cooley, Director of Research; and
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Attended the California Water Action Collaborative virtual fall meeting.
Dr. Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher;
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher;
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate;
Tien Shiao, Senior Researcher; and
Sonali Abraham, Research Associate
– Participated in the virtual Sustainable and Resilient Resources Roundtable to speak on “Building Resilience Through Multiple Benefit Water Strategies.”
Jason Morrison, President;
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus; and
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Hosted Pacific Institute webinar “Water Recommendations for the Next Administration.”
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Spoke with Global Institute for Water Security/ The Walrus Lab for Let’s Talk About Water podcast “Bide(n) Time for America’s Water Resources.”
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Researcher
– Presented at the Alliance for Water Stewardship Online Forum 2020.
October 2020
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– At the virtual T20 Summit, Dr. Gleick participated on the panel “Food, Energy, and Water Visions: Balancing the Challenges of Now, Next, and Beyond.”
September 2020
Jason Morrison, President
– Participated in UN Global Compact panel.
– Participated in UN Global Compact Network Brazil panel.
– At Climate Week NYC 2020, Mr. Morrison participated in virtual SDG Business Forum.
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Spoke with KCPW for podcast “How Climate Change is Contributing to Western Wildfires.”
August 2020
Jason Morrison, President;
Tien Shiao, Senior Researcher;
Sonali Abraham, Research Associate; and
Dr. Hannah Baleta, Senior Researcher
– Hosted webinar “Lessons from India and South Africa: Setting Site Water Targets to Drive Action.”
Jason Morrison, President; and
Dr. Ashok Chapagain, Senior Researcher
– Participated in World Water Week webinar “Aligning Measurement and Metrics for Basin Resilience.”
Giuliana Chaves, Research Associate
– Participated in World Water Week with webinar “Building Resilience at All Levels – From Local to National.”
Jason Morrison, President; and
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Researcher
– Participated in webinar “How Does Business Prepare for Short-Term Shocks and Long-Term Resilience to Climate Change?” for World Water Week.
Dr. Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher
– Participated in World Water Week webinar “Nature-Based Solutions to Address Water Scarcity Due to Climate Change.”
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– Joined the “Cry Me a River: The High Costs of Water Demand Overestimates” webinar hosted by Sustainable Silicon Valley‘s Water, Environment, Technology Forum.
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Participated in a session for identifying and reducing the risks of climate-related water conflicts as part of World Water Week.
July 2020
Jason Morrison, President;
Heather Cooley, Director of Research; and
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate
– Hosted webinar “Water and the COVID-19 Pandemic: From Risk to Resilience.”
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Interviewed by the Pardee School of Global Studies for “The World After Coronavirus: The Future of Water.”
June 2020
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the virtual UN Global Compact Leaders Summit.
Tien Shiao, Senior Researcher
– Participated in the webinar “How Disclosure and Targets Can Drive Better Decision- Making.”
May 2020
Jason Morrison, President;
Heather Cooley, Director of Research; and
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Participated in the California Water Action Collaborative virtual spring meeting.
March 2020
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the virtual World Water Day Celebrations: Water and Climate.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate ; and
André Villaça Ramalho, Water Resilience Coalition Coordinator
– Participated in a webinar on the Water Resilience Coalition .
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate
– Spoke on a panel titled “Fashion and its Alternatives to Microplastics.”
February 2020
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Presented on sustainable landscapes for business properties in California to the Metropolitan Water District of Orange County and their member agencies in Fountain Valley, California.
– At California State University, East Bay in Hayward, California, provided a guest lecture on water and climate change.
Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– On WaterNow’s Tap into Resilience webcast, joined “Tapping into Multiple Benefits of Sustainable Water Management.”
Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– At the Alternative Irrigation Water Workshop in Bakersfield, California, presented “Reuse of Oilfield Produced Water for Irrigation in California.”
Jason Morrison, President
– Participated in the 32nd UN-Water Meeting in Rome, Italy.
Jason Morrison, President; and
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– At the Alliance for Global Water Adaptation‘s Business Adaptation Sessions in Redmond, Washington, Mr. Morrison and Ms. Cooley participated in a stakeholders’ workshop on water resilience issues for corporations.
January 2020
Jason Morrison, President
– Participated in the 32nd UN-Water Meeting in Rome, Italy.
– Participated in the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.
December 2019
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Attended the annual Colorado River Water Users Association annual conference in Las Vegas.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate
– Spoke at the Pro-Spring Riverheads Program Meeting in Minas Gerais City, Brazil.
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the Water Action Event at COP 25 in Madrid, Spain.
– Spoke at a CEO Water Mandate event on the role of the private sector in addressing SDG 6, hosted by the Global Compact Network Brazil in Sao Paulo.
November 2019
Karina de Souza, Senior Researcher
– Attended the Alliance for Water Stewardship’s Global Water Stewardship Forum 2019 in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher; and
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Spoke at the Sustainable Water Markets Symposium in Santa Barbara, California.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate
– Moderated a panel on collective action on climate resilience and water security at the Brazilian Conference on Climate Change in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
– Participated in a panel on expanding the supply of sanitation services in Brazil at the Sustainable Development Goals Festival in Sao Paulo.
– Moderated a panel on new technologies and products in Brazil and worldwide at the World Toilet Conference in Sao Paulo.
Jason Morrison, President;
Heather Cooley, Director of Research; and
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Attended a California Water Action Collaborative meeting in Mountain View, California.
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate
– Attended a symposium focused on the health of the Spokane River watershed in Spokane, Washington.
October 2019
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Attended the Salton Sea Summit, co-hosted by the Pacific Institute at the University of California, Riverside’s Palm Desert campus in Palm Desert, California.
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher; and
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Attended the Water Smart Innovations Conference in Las Vegas. Dr. Diringer co-presented “Multiple Benefits of Sustainable Landscapes.”
Dr. Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– Spoke at the California Central Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board’s public workshop “Challenges and Solutions: The Intersection of Water Quality and People Experiencing Homelessness on the Central Coast” in San Luis Obispo, California.
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the BHP Water Stewardship Roundtable in Washington, D.C.
– Attended the VERGE 19 conference in Oakland, California.
Tien Shiao, Senior Researcher
– Participated in the “Context and Science Based Environmental Targets” panel and the “Corporate Water Stewardship throughout Supply Chains” panel at the 2019 Responsible Business Conference in Santa Clara, California.
September 2019
Heather Cooley, Director of Research;
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher; and
Dr. Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– Ms. Cooley spoke on “One Water and the Triple Bottom Line” at the U.S. Water Alliance One Water Conference in Austin, Texas. Dr. Diringer and Dr. Feinstein attended the conference.
Karina de Souza, Senior Researcher; and Senior Researcher Dr. Amy Herod
– Presented at the session “Comparing Apples with Apples: Towards a Common Water Accounting Framework for Better Investment Decisions” in Paris.
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– Presented at a quarterly meeting for the San Francisco chapter of the Environmental and Water Resources Institute of the American Society of Civil Engineers. Her presentation is entitled “Climate Change and the World’s Water Challenges.”
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus; and Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Dr. Gleick moderated the panel “Rising to the Challenge: Scaling Freshwater Solutions” at the 2019 Planetary Health Annual Meeting at Stanford University in Stanford, California. Ms. Cooley spoke on the panel.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate
– Presented the SDG 6 scenario, and gaps to reach it in Brazil, at a warm-up event to the World Toilet Summit to be held in November in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Jason Morrison, President; and
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Researcher
– Discussed Resilience and Adaptation and the Nature-Based Solutions Action Track at the UN Climate Action Summit in New York, New York.
Dr. Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Presented on “Evaluating Economic and Environmental Benefits of Water Reuse for Agriculture” at the WateReuse Symposium in San Diego, California.
– Attended the Google Geo for Good Summit in Mountain View, California.
August 2019
Karina de Souza, Senior Researcher
– Facilitated a panel discussion, while other staff attended, “Collective Action to the Last Mile/Kilometer.” The session was co-convened by the CEO Water Mandate.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Presented at “Strategies for Reducing Conflict Over Natural Resources,” co-convened by the Pacific Institute, at World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Researcher
– Presented at “The Role of the Private sector for Achieving the SDGs: Creating Impact from Youth Ideas.”
Jason Morrison, President
– Along with other staff, attended “WASH4Work – Company Engagement Event,” co-convened by the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, at World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden.
Peter Schulte , Senior Digital Engagement Associate
– Participated in an interview at “SIWI Sofa: Water Action Hub 3.0: Online Collaboration and Knowledge,” convened by the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate. The event took place during World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden. President Jason Morrison attended.
Tien Schiao, Senior Researcher
– Presented at “Showcase: Contextual Water Targets,” co-convened by the CEO Water Mandate, while other staff will attend.
July 2019
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Researcher
– Participated in a panel on water and sanitation at “SDGs in Brazil 2019: The Role of the Private Sector” in New York, New York.
– Participated in the United Nations Global Compact Experts Network Retreat in New York, New York.
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Spoke on the Pacific Institute’s sustainable landscapes work at a monthly meeting of Metropolitan Water District members in Los Angeles.
June 2019
Sonali Abraham, Research Associate;
Dr. Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher; and
Darcy Bostic, Congressman George Miller Water Policy Leadership Intern
– Attended a thought leaders workshop in Sacramento, California on solutions for underperforming drinking water systems in California. The workshop was held by the Pacific Institute and California Urban Water Agencies.
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Presented “When the River Meets the Sea” at the Getches-Wilkinson Center’s annual summer conference in Boulder, Colorado.
– Attended the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Salton Sea informational update in Sacramento. Along with six other organizations, the Pacific Institute submitted comments on California’s Salton Sea program and suggestions for expediting project implementation.
Dr. Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– Spoke on underperforming drinking water systems at the California State Water Resources Control Board needs assessment workshop on Sacramento, California.
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Delivered the opening keynote at Skeptical 2019, “The Beacon of Science in a Fact-Free Fog,” in Burlingame, California.
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Researcher
– Spoke at a UNICEF Resource Partners meeting in New York, New York.
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate; and
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the California Water Action Collaborative (CWAC) spring meeting in Tahoe.
– Spoke at the Cities of Tomorrow Conference in Silicon Valley, California.
May 2019
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Presented “The Salton Sea and Water Use Efficiency and Salinity Management in the Imperial Valley” at a University of California, Riverside Environmental Sciences seminar in Riverside, California.
Karina de Souza, Senior Researcher
– Attended a focus group for the Corporate Reporting Dialogue Roundtable in London.
Dr. Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– Spoke at the California State Water Resources Control Board Needs Assessment on Drinking Water in Sacramento, California.
– Participated in a “thought leaders” workshop, “Failing Drinking Water Systems,” with California urban water agencies in Sacramento, California.
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Presented the Prize Laureate Lecture for the 2019 BMI Prize at Tel Aviv University in Tel Aviv, Israel.
– Presented at “Rains to Bay: A Deep Watershed Dive” in Palo Alto, California.
Dr. Amy Herod, Senior Researcher
– Attended a focus group for the Corporate Reporting Dialogue Roundtable in Paris.
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate
– Spoke on water and conflict at the the Bay Area Water Works Association in California.
April 2019
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Helped organize and spoke at a tour of California’s Salton Sea, attended by 40 people, representing local elected, staff and local agencies, environmental organizations, and community groups. The tour was also attended by Janet Wilson of The Desert Sun.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Spoke at a seminar on the diversification of the California water supply portfolio at Stanford University in .
– Spoke at the California State Water Resources Control Board workshop “Access to Sanitation for People Experiencing Homelessness.”
– Spoke at a symposium for the University of California, Berkeley’s Center for the Built Environment on the “Water-Energy Nexus: Holistic Solutions for Climate Change and Resiliency.”
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Presented on “Water, Climate, and Security: Building Resilience in a Fragile World” at the 2019 World Bank Water Week.
Jason Morrison, President
– Delivered a public lecture and moderated an event at World Water Day “Leaving No One Behind”) in Jakarta, Indonesia.
– Presented on “Global Water Risks and Opportunities” and moderated an event on “Water: A Business Risk and Opportunity” at Propelling Sustainable Water Management in a Water Stressed Future in Mexico City, Mexico.
March 2019
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Attended and commented at a California State Water Resources Control Board Salton Sea workshop in San Diego.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research;
Jason Morrison, President;
Tien Shiao, Senior Researcher; and
Abbey Warner, Research Associate
– Attended the 2019 Santa Ana River Watershed Conference in Fullerton, California, along with several Pacific Institute researchers.
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– Attended the WaterNow Alliance 4th Annual Summit in Austin, Texas.
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Provided the opening keynote speech at the 2019 WateReuse California Annual Conference in Garden Grove, California.
– Presented on water and conflict in the Middle East at the Atlantic Council event in Washington, D.C.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate
– Participated in a panel at an event for the documentary film “A Agua que Falta” (The Water that is Missing) in Sumaré, São Paulo, Brazil.
Jason Morrison, President
– Presented at the “Brighter Futures: Powered by 5G and IoT” workshop in Santa Clara, California. Pacific Institute Research Associate Cora Kammeyer attended the event. Learn more here.
February 2019
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Spoke at The Resource Revolution of Water Reuse workshop in San Francisco, California. Learn more here.
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Participated in the the University of California, Irvine Forum for the Academy and the Public Conference “Fire & Ice: The Shifting Narrative of Climate Change” in Irvine, California. Learn more here.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate
– Presented at the first 2019 meeting of the Industry Water Resources Network. Ms. Moreira’s lecture, entitled “Initiatives and Opportunities in Water Resources for Industry,” engaged high-level representatives in Brazil’s industrial sector. Learn more here.
January 2019
Dr. Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– Participated in the Independent Review Panel at the public meeting on the Department of Conservation’s Underground Injection Control Program at Cal-State University, Bakersfield. Learn more here.
– Presented on indicators of adequate water and sanitation service at the California State Water Resources Control Board Staff Workshop “Factors Identifying ‘At Risk’ Water Systems.” Learn more here.
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the 30th UN-Water Meeting in Rome, Italy. Mr. Morrison attended the SDG 6 Integrated Monitoring Initiative Steering Committee meeting, among other meeings. Learn more here.
2018
December 2018
Dr. Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– Led a workshop on the findings and recommendations of the Pacific Institute report “Measuring Progress Toward Universal Access to Water and Sanitation in California” in Sacramento, California. Learn more here.
Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Dr. Gleick delivered two talks at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) annual meeting in Washington, D.C. The first talk focused on freshwater sustainability, while the second explored the role of hydropower in a changing climate. Learn more here.
November 2018
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Presented at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management Sustainable Water Markets Annual Symposium in Santa Barbara, California.
– Participated in Salton Sea Management Program 10-Year Plan Committee Meeting in Coachella, California.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Attended the California Economic Summit in Santa Rosa, California.
– Dr. Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Awarded the 2018 Carl Sagan Prize in San Francisco, California.
– Delivered a lecture on the future of freshwater sustainability at the University of Nevada, Reno UNR Student World Water Forum and a special Hydrology colloquium.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira; Jason Morrison, President; and Tien Shiao, Senior Researcher
– Attended Rio Water Week in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Learn more here.
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate
– Presented a poster on mapping water-related conflicts across the globe at the Geospatial Analysis for International Development Symposium in Berkeley, Califorina.
October 2018
Michael Cohen, Senior Researcher
– Attended the State Water Resources Control Board Meeting on the Salton Sea Management Program.
Dr. Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– Co-presented with Nicole Beck from 2NDNATURE on “Communicating the Benefits of Stormwater Capture Projects” at the California Stormwater Quality Association (CASQA) Annual Conference in Riverside, California.
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Attended the California Water Action Plan Update 2018 Plenary in West Sacramento, California.
Amy Herod, Senior Researcher; and Jason Morrison, President
– Delivered a keynote speech at the 2018 Textile Sustainability Conference in Milan, Italy.
– Provided the keynote address and and participated in a follow-up panel discussion at the 15th Annual Bottled Water Summit in Evian, France.
– Participated in a panel discussing “Partnerships and Collaboration for Sustainability” at the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM) Forum in London.
– Spoke at the VERGE 18 Conference and Expo in Oakland, California.
Dr. Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Presented at the U.S. Committee on Irrigation and Drainage (USCID) annual conference in Phoenix, Arizona. The theme of the conference is “Water Reuse and Non-Traditional Water Sources for Irrigated Agriculture.”
September 2018
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Spoke on a panel on food, agriculture, and working lands at the Climate and Health Forum in San Francisco.
– Participated on a panel at the 2018 Energy & Water Nexus Summit in Oakland, California.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research;
and Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the Water Pavilion, a water-themed event affiliated with the Global Climate Action Summit.
Laura Feinstein, Senior Researcher
– Joined a panel on “Data Needs in Water Issues” at the Roundtable Discussion on Federal Priorities for Improving Water and Sanitation Access in Rural Communities at the Rural Water and Sanitation Forum in West Sacramento, California.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Delivered the keynote speech on water, peace, and conflict at the 2018 Nobel Peace Prize Forum in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate;
and Jason Morrison, President
– Participated in a PRI investor California field trip focused on the state’s water issues.
Jason Morrison, President
– Joined a panel on business water risk at the PRI in Person Conference in San Francisco.
– Joined a panel titled “Strategies to Adapt to Climate Change: Circular Economy and Water Resources Recovery” at a Global Climate Action Summit affiliate event in San Francisco.
August 2018
Heather Cooley, Director of Research;
and Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher
– Hosted a webinar for Water Research Foundation exploring the findings of a report on integrating water efficiency into long-term demand forecasting.
Giuliana Chaves Moreira
– Participated in a water panel at the 8th Virada Sustentável (“Sustainable Turning”) event in São Paulo, Brazil.
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate;
Giuliana Chaves Moreira, Research Associate;
Jason Morrison, President;
Tien Shiao, Senior Researcher;
Peter Schulte, Senior Digital Engagement Associate; Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate;
and Abbey Warner, Research Associate
– Participated in World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden on behalf of the UN Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate, which the Pacific Institute is co-secretariat for. Staff also collaborated with the Water, Peace and Security (WPS) partnership at World Water Week.
July 2018
Heather Cooley, Director of Research;
Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher;
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate;
and Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Hosted a meeting in Los Angeles with a group of diverse stakeholders to examine how the multiple benefits of water investment strategies can be incorporated into decision making.
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Researcher, Corporate Water Stewardship Co-Lead
– Participated in a number of events at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development from July 9th to 18th in New York. Ms. Ha presented at a session on global progress on water and sanitation, where she discussed UN-Water’s Sustainable Development Goal 6 Synthesis Report. She also presented on the Business Alliance for Water and Climate.
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Presented on California urban climate resilience and water sustainability at the Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland.
Jason Morrison, President
– Participated in a number of events at the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in New York, including speaking on catalyzing private sector engagement on water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH).
June 2018
McKenzie Bradford, Congressman George Miller Intern;
Heather Cooley, Director of Research;
Sarah Diringer, Senior Researcher;
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate;
Jason Morrison, President;
Morgan Shimabuku, Research Associate; and
Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Participated in a meeting hosted by the Pacific Institute in Los Angeles with a group of diverse stakeholders to examine how the multiple benefits of water investment strategies can be incorporated into decision making.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Delivered the commencement address at the Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, where he was awarded an honorary degree. Dr. Gleick discussed the need for new voices in the field of business and sustainability, and the vital role businesses can play in supporting the sustainability of the planet.
Giulia Chaves Moreira, Senior Researcher
– Moderated at the Environmental Action Seminar 2018 in Rio de Janeiro. Organized by the Federation of Industries of the State of Rio de Janeiro (FIRJAN), the event focused on how green infrastructure can support the achievement of United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 6 and 15.
Anne Thebo, Senior Researcher
– Presented at the National Socio-Environmental Systems Center symposium “Boundary Spanning: Advances in Socio-Environmental Systems Research” in Annapolis, Maryland.
May 2018
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate
– Delivered the keynote speech at the Friends of Great Salt Lake 2018 Issues Forum in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Gave a talk on Cape Town and water crises facing major cities at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco.
– Led a workshop for river advocates on practical tips for evaluating future water demand at River Rally 2018 in Olympic Valley, California.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research;
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate; and
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the spring meeting of the California Water Action Collaborative in Irvine, California.
Heather Cooley, Director of Research; and
Sarah Diringer, Senior Research Associate
– Attended the Sustainable Water Resources Round Table Meeting: Restoration and Management for Sustainability in Sonoma County, California. Heather Cooley presented on upcoming water policy, while Sarah Diringer presented as part of a panel on multiple benefits of water investments.
Giulia Chaves Moreira, Senior Researcher
– Spoke at a technical event in SANASA Campinas on Water Supply and Sanitation Utility SA.
Anne Thebo, Senior Research Associate
– Presented at the Water Research Foundation Research Conference: Advancing Reuse and Integrated Water in Atlanta, Georgia. Her presentation was titled: “Geospatial Evaluation of the National Potential for Agricultural Water Reuse.”
April 2018
Heather Cooley, Director of Research
– Gave a talk on Cape Town and water crises facing major cities at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco.
Laura Feinstein, Senior Research Associate
– Joined a panel on water affordability at the Water Affordability Symposium in Sacramento, California.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Presented on a panel on the availability of water sea level rise at the 2018 Saint Louis Climate Summit.
March 2018
Laura Feinstein, Senior Research Associate
– Joined a panel discussing water affordability at the 27th annual California Water Policy Conference at the UC Davis Conference Center in Davis, California.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Presented “The Future of Water: From Human Rights to Climate Change” at the College of Charleston’s 2018 Spring Convocation in Charleston, South Carolina.
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Research Associate
– Spoke at a session titled “New Business Models & Financing of Water Projects at the Permanent Mission of Denmark to the United Nations on World Water Day in New York, New York.
Giuliana Moreira, Research Associate;
Jason Morrison, Pacific Institute President and Head of the CEO Water Mandate;
Tien Shiao, Senior Research Associate;
Peter Schulte, Senior Digital Engagement Associate; and
Abbey Warner, Research Associate
– Attended the 8th World Water Forum in Brasilia, Brazil, on behalf of the CEO Water Mandate, for which the Pacific Institute is co-secretariat.
Sarah Diringer,Senior Research Associate and Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate
– Attended the Imagine H2O 2018 Water Gala in San Francisco.
Sarah Diringer, Senior Research Associate
– Presented “Integrating Efficiency into Water Demand Forecasts” at the American Water Works Association Sustainable Water Management Conference in Seattle.
–Presented during a session titled “Connecting Science, Tools and Processes for Watershed Management and Securing Freshwater Ecosystem Services” at the 2018 Natural Capital Symposium at Stanford University in Stanford, California.
Anne Thebo, Senior Research Associate
– Presented “Drivers of Agricultural Water reuse: Regional Differences and Stakeholder Groups” at the California Water Reuse Conference in Monterey, California.
February 2018
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Presented the 2018 George Z. Tokieda Memorial Lecture, entitled “The Future of Water: Science and Policy,” at the Fourth Annual Science Symposium in New York.
January 2018
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director;
Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate;
Jason Morrison, President; and
Anne Thebo, Senior Research Associate
– Attended the Sustainable Viticulture Forum: Technology and Water, co-sponsored by the Pacific Institute, in Forestville, California. The forum explored the potential for scaling innovation irrigation technologies and practices and improving water supply reliability, among other topics.
2017
December 2017
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director
– Participated in a “Water Security Risk and California Trade” panel at the Water Conference 2017, presented by the Pacific Council on International Policy. The panel explored how California farmers are responding to their water risks and what is needed for them to become more water secure.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Participated in a panel discussion on water and conflict worldwide at the Hague Planetary Security Conference. Panelists used the Pacific Institute’s Water Conflict Chronology and the World Resource Institute’s Aquaduct online platform to inform their analysis of water and climate as drivers of conflict.
November 2017
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Delivered the keynote speech at the University of the Pacific Law Review Symposium “The Human Right to Water: Turning Principles Into Action” in Sacramento, California.
– Gave a panel presentation on global water challenges and opportunities at the London 2017 UBS Global Security Conference in London.
Jason Morrison, President
– Spoke at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Water Action Day during COP23 in Bonn, Germany.
Tien Shiao, Senior Research Associate
– Spoke in two sessions at the CDP’s 2017 Water Forum in Mumbai, India. Her presentations were titled “Thirsty for Change? Ensure Long-Term Business Growth in a Water Stressed World” and “The Business Alliance for Water and Climate: Preparing for and Adapting to New Climate Realities.”
October 2017
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate
– Participated in the state’s Salton Sea All Committees Meeting in Coachella, California. The meeting was held to review and provide feedback to the State on the work plan for the 10-Year Management Plan and to review a refined committee structure and work plan for 2018.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director
– Moderated a discussion on the Role of On-Site Water Reuse in the Future of the San Francisco Bay-Delta Estuary conference in San Francisco, California. The discussion highlighted the opportunities and challenges presented by onsite water reuse, which encompasses onsite capture and reuse of stormwater, grey, and black water.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director; Cora Kammeyer, Research Associate; Jason Morrison, President; and Abbey Warner, Research Associate
– Participated in the “Water & Long Term Value” conference in San Francisco, California. The conference, coordinated by Skytop Strategies with the Pacific Institute as lead sponsor, brought together a prominent list of speakers and global players in water stewardship to explore the role water plays in company performance, why investors care, and how companies can benefit from stewardship. Pacific Institute President Jason Morrison provided an opening presentation on “Water Security: The Defining Issue of the 21st Century” and served as a panelist for the discussion on “Policy Outlook on Water: 2017 and Beyond” along with Lisa Hook, Sustainable Innovation Manager of Woman + Water, Gap Inc.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus
– Participated in a panel discussion at the University of North Carolina’s Water and Health Conference in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. The discussion focused on the linkages between environmental health and human health in the context of climate change and global urbanization, exploring what can be done to strengthen and build global communities’ water and sanitation systems to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals 6.1 and 6.2.
Jason Morrison, President
– Attended the launch of Water University in Naperville, Illinois, where he participated in a panel discussion on corporate goal setting around water Water University is a hands-on training facility for clients and associates of Ecolab’s global water management business, Nalco Water. Water University aims to provide tools and training to help businesses manage water more strategically.
Tien Shiao, Senior Research Associate
– Attended the 2017 Textile Sustainability Conference in Washington, D.C., where she discussed context-based water targets and their applicability to the apparel sector.
September 2017
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate
– Moderated two discussions at the Americas Latino Eco Festival in Denver, Colorado. The first panel explored climate change, water, and resilient communities, while the second focused on the effects of the shrinking Salton Sea on local communities.
– Spoke at the State Water Board Salton Sea workshop, discussing comments on the draft stipulated order and identifying the need for funding and expedited project implementation as the two greatest challenges facing the State of California’s efforts on the Salton Sea.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus:
– Discussed the future of water as part of the Taplin Environmental Lecture series at Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey.
– Spoke about the future of water at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine’s meeting “Grand Challenges in Environmental Engineering and Science” at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco. Other experts discussed the future of global food and energy amid climate change and a rapidly expanding global population.
Jason Morrison, President and Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Research Associate:
– Attended the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit during the seventy-second session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. They discussed the work of the United Nations Global Compact’s CEO Water Mandate on water issues around the world, as well as a new Action Platform on water which will be launched in January 2018.
August 2017
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– Served on a panel at the Second Annual California Water Data Summit.
– Presented on “Climate Change and Water in California” at the Climate Corps fellowship program orientation. Climate Corps is a fellowship program that places emerging environmental professionals with California nonprofits, governments, and for-profit organizations for a dedicated 10-months of service.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus:
– discussed water resource management and interstate water conflicts at the National Conference of State Legislatures Legislative Summit in Boston. He shared insights for innovative solutions for state policymakers, and stressed that states must consider each other’s needs to ensure sufficient supply for all users
Jason Morrison, President:
– Attended World Water Week in Stockholm, along with Senior Research Associate Mai-Lan Ha, Research Associate Cora Kammeyer, Senior Research Associate Tien Shiao, Senior Digital Engagement Associate Peter Schulte, Senior Research Associate Anne Thebo, and Corporate Sustainability Intern Morgan Campbell.
July 2017
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus:
– gave a lecture at Singularity University on global water.
Peter Schulte, Senior Digital Engagement Associate:
– conducted a webinar for member companies of the International Council on Mining & Metals (ICMM) to explore what it means for mining companies to respect the human right to water.
June 2017
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate:
– participated in the Southern California Water Dialogue’s “The Salton Sea and Southern California’s Water Future” at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California headquarters, in Los Angeles. He described the importance and urgency of addressing the mounting problems at the Salton Sea – including the recent dramatic reductions in the numbers of fish-eating birds such as pelicans, cormorants, and herons – in the context of water supply reliability for the 19 million people in Southern California who depend on Colorado River water, and the failure to date of the State of California to demonstrate the urgency required.
Laura Feinstein, Senior Research Associate:
– presented to the Central Valley Water Board on Oilfield Produced Water for Crop Irrigation, a newly-launched collaboration between Duke University, RTI International, Cal-State University Bakersfield, and Pacific Institute, funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute for Food and Agriculture. The project seeks to advance evidence-based decision making and policy development in using oilfield produced water for beneficial irrigation to proceed and expand safely, and strengthen stakeholder knowledge and engagement in the practice.
May 2017
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate:
– participated in a panel discussion on the long-term environmental condition of the Salton Sea at the California State Bar Environmental Law Section’s “Your Voice: The Desert, the Sea, the Air and You” conference at Riverside City College.
Jason Morrison, President:
– participated in a panel on water and climate issues and a panel on the potential for businesses to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals at the International Water Resources Association’s XVI World Water Congress in Cancun, Mexico.
Peter Schulte, Senior Digital Engagement Associate:
– attended the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Project Working Group workshop for the creation of GRI’s water reporting standards in Amsterdam. Along with other experts, he provided input to help shape the organization’s water-related reporting metrics, which aim to help businesses, governments, and organizations better understand and communicate the impact of business on sustainability issues, including those related to freshwater.
April 2017
Laura Feinstein, Senior Research Associate:
– testified at a hearing of the State Assembly Committee on Natural Resources concerning AB 1328, a bill to require disclosure of chemicals used in the oil and gas production process, in Sacramento. The bill was developed based on recommendations from a report co-authored by Pacific Institute on well stimulation technologies, including hydraulic fracturing (or “fracking”).
– participated in a webinar for Carpe Diem West on the impacts of climate change and the California water crisis on communities in the San Joaquin Valley.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus:
– provided the keynote speech at the Third Summit on Resilience: Water Cooperation and Conflict: The Local and Global Challenge at Pace University in New York, New York.
http://www.pace.edu/dyson/news-and-events/third-summit-on-resilience-landing
– pspoke in the opening plenary session at the American Association of Geographers (AAG) Annual Meeting: Bread and Water in the 21st Century” in Boston, Massachusetts.
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Research Associate:
– participated in a United Nations panel entitled “Achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6: The Role of Wastewater,” highlighting the release of the World Water Development Report “Wastewater: The Untapped Resource,” in New York.
– spoken on water and the Sustainable Development Goals at CDP’s Water and Forests event in New York, New York.
Jason Morrison, President and Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Research Associate:
– led an event titled “Transforming the Water Landscape through Stewardship” in New Delhi, India as part of the UN Global Compact’s Making Global Goals Local Business initiative. The event focused on looking at how corporate water stewardship can help to meet the new Sustainable Development Goals.
Also in April, the Pacific Institute co-hosted a workshop with the Freshwater Action Network, South Asia on “Empowering Civil Society to Improve Business Respect for the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation” in New Delhi, India. The workshop will convene 25 representatives of Indian-based civil society organizations to learn how to use the United Nations CEO Water Mandate’s Guidance for Companies on Respecting the Human Rights to Water and Sanitation in their ongoing engagements with companies in India.
March 2017
Laura Feinstein, Senior Research Associate:
– presented a webinar on water affordability for the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water Justice Leadership Training series from Oakland, California.
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate:
– presented information and technical expertise for the Water Foundation’s Salton Sea Leadership Tour, which brought state legislators and senior administrative officials to the Salton Sea in Coachella Valley, California.
– participated in the “Lifeline of the Southwest: Working to Avoid a Colorado River Shortage” panel at the Water Education Foundation’s Annual Executive Briefing in Sacramento, joining state and federal water leaders from Arizona, California, and Nevada to discuss the current status of Lake Mead, Lower Basin allocations, the potential for water shortages, the importance of the Salton Sea, the status of negotiations with Mexico, and the Lower Basin Drought Contingency Plan.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus:
– spoke at Earth Month @ OU 2017 at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma, during World Water Week.
– spoke on the human right to water at WATERSHED: World Water Day at the Vatican.
Jason Morrison, President:
– attended UN-Water’s World Water Day Summit and Expo in Durban, South Africa. At the summit, Jason served as a panelist in a session entitled “Water Reuse and Resource Recovery: Best Practices, Innovation and Capacity Development.”
February 2017
Laura Feinstein, Senior Research Associate:
– presented on a panel on water affordability for the State Water Resources Control Board in Sacramento, California, where she provided input on a plan under consideration to offer bill discounts to low-income water customers in California.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and Chief Scientist:
– Attended a workshop at the Vatican on the human right to water. The event aimed to create an interdisciplinary space for debate, thoughtful analysis, and proposals toward public policies in water and sanitation management that promote greater social justice, solidarity, and sustainable development.
January 2017
Michael Cohen, Senior Research Associate:
– Participated in the opening panel at the California Irrigation Institute’s 55th Annual Meeting in Sacramento, where he discussed the importance of the Colorado River for California’s water supply.
Several staff members attended summit meetings presented by the Pacific Institute and the Environmental Justice Coalition for Water on the effects of the California drought on vulnerable communities across the state. The meetings were held in Fresno and Sacramento, California, and brought together members of impacted communities, as well as local and state decision-makers, nonprofit leaders, and researchers to discuss strategies for building communities’ resilience in the face of future droughts. The staff in attendance were: Heather Cooley, Water Program Director; Laura Feinstein, Water Senior Research Associate; and Rapichan Phurisamban, Water Program Research Associate.
2016
December 2016
Jason Morrison, President:
– attended the California Economic Summit in Sacramento, California, where he discussed the potential for corporate water stewardship partnerships to meaningfully contribute to achievement of California Forward’s Million Acre Foot Challenge and provided an update on the California Water Action Collaborative’s recent decision to align its efforts with the goals in the Governor’s Water Action Plan.
November 2016
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
– participated in an interactive workshop on the Salton Sea at the University of California – Irvine in Irvine, California.
– participated in the panel discussion “The Future of Water in Southern California” at the University of California – Irvine in Irvine, California.
– joined representatives of other NGOs in presenting comments and recommendations to the State Water Resources Control Board at the Board’s Salton Sea workshop in Sacramento, California.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director
– spoke at the California Water Association (CWA) 75th Annual Fall Conference on a panel about California’s long-term water-use standards and targets in Monterey, California.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and Chief Scientist:
– delivered the keynote address on the soft path to water at the 2016 International Integrated Water (Iwater) Show in Barcelona. The event brought together global experts to discuss the main issues in water management around the world.
– presented the keynote discussion “A Vision for Energy, Climate, and the Future of Water” at the Berkeley Energy and Resources Collaborative 2016 Resources Roundtable at the University of California–Berkeley in Berkeley, California.
Mai-Lan Ha, Corporate Sustainability Program Senior Research Associate:
– launched the CEO Water Mandate in Brazil as part of the UN Global Compact Forum 2016 in São Paulo, Brazil. She gave a presentation on the importance of good water stewardship practices for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, and how this can be accomplished in Brazil.
Jason Morrison, President:
– attended the Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) Global Water Stewardship Forum and annual general meeting in Edinburgh, Scotland. While there, he participated in a facilitated panel discussion focusing on advancing coordination between AWS and other water initiatives.
Several staff members attended the California Water Stewardship Leader’s Summit in Sacramento, California. The summit was held by the Pacific Institute, as secretariat of the CEO Water Mandate, along with the California Water Action Collaborative (CWAC). The staff in attendance were: Heather Cooley, Water Program Director; Laura Feinstein, Water Senior Research Associate; Jason Morrison, President; Rapichan Phurisamban, Water Program Research Associate; Heather Rippman, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate; and Stefanie Woodward, Corporate Sustainability Research Associate.
October 2016
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– spoke at the the Mayors Innovation Project “Fostering Resilience: Leading on Sustainable Water Solutions” summit in Fountain Valley, California. Her talk focused on the potential and cost of water conservation and efficiency measures, as well as the need for improved demand forecasting approaches.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and Chief Scientist:
– delivered the keynote address “Managing Water Assets Reframed: Rethinking Innovation” at the Water & Long-Term Value 2 conference in San Francisco, California. In his address, he described how the Pacific Institute is reframing how governments, communities, and the private sector are tackling the growing challenges of water scarcity, conflict, and climate change.
– served on the “Water Storage, Conservation and System Optimization: What Is Most Needed for California’s Future?” panel at the 25th Annual Environmental Law Conference at Yosemite in Fish Camp, California.
Jason Morrison, President:
– presented “Building Resilience & Long-Term Water Security: Aligning Corporate Water Stewardship with California’s Water Policy Agenda” at the Water & Long-Term Value 2 conference in San Francisco, California. He also moderated a panel entitled “The Role of Business in Helping to Achieve the California Water Action Plan: Opportunities & Obstacles” at the same event.
September 2016
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– served on a Water Technology Panel at the Diplomacy Begins Here: Contributing to the World Through Innovation in Agriculture, Water, and Energy: Northern California summit in Oakland, California. Panel discussions highlighted how Northern California uses policy, diplomacy, and international trade to further economic development and promote cooperation on the sustainable use of shared resources.
– participated in the Urban Water Demand Roundtable in Denver, Colorado. The goal of the event was to facilitate knowledge exchange that advances policy-relevant academic and professional research collaborations for urban water demand.
– began serving on the 35-member Urban Advisory Group at meetings in Los Angeles and Sacramento, California. The purpose of the group is to help California develop new water use targets for the state’s urban water agencies, as called for in Governor Jerry Brown’s May Executive Order. Through these efforts, Ms. Cooley aims to advance water conservation progress achieved during the drought into lasting, meaningful policies that will promote water-use efficiency throughout the state.
Heather Rippman, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate:
– served on a panel entitled “How Corporates Are Driving Water Infrastructure Solutions in Cities” at VERGE 2016 in Santa Clara, California.
Mai-Lan Ha, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate; Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director and Head of the CEO Water Mandate; and Heather Rippman, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate:
– co-hosted an event with WaterAid and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development entitled “Scaling-Up WASH Action in Companies’ Supply Chains: Promoting Sustainable Growth” as part of World Water Week on September 1 in Stockholm, Sweden.
August 2016
Mai-Lan Ha, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate; Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director and Head of the CEO Water Mandate; and Heather Rippman, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate:
– held meetings on the topic “Corporate Water Stewardship in Support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda” as part of World Water Week on August 28 and 30 in Stockholm, Sweden.
July 2016
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– presented “Trends in California’s Water Footprint” to researchers at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in Berkeley, California.
Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and Chief Scientist:
– along with Stanford University Associate Professor Noah Diffenbaugh and Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture Karen Ross, participated in a panel discussion on whether California is headed for a “megadrought” at a Climate One event sponsored by the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, California. Listen to a podcast of the event here.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
– presented at the Water Public Workshop: Corporate Water Stewardship in Support of the Water-Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Several staff members attended the San Francisco Bay Area Drought and Equity Summit in Oakland, California. The Summit was hosted by the Pacific Institute in partnership with the Environmental Justice Coalition of Water and eight community-based organizations and brought together various stakeholders to discuss the drought’s impacts on low-income residents and strategies to mitigate those impacts. The staff in attendance were: Heather Cooley, Water Program Director; Ayana Crawford, Water Program Summer Intern; Kristina Donnelly, Water Program Senior Research Associate; Laura Feinstein, Water Program Senior Research Associate; Peter Gleick, President Emeritus and Chief Scientist; Deb Janes, Development and Communications Director; Heather Rippman, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate; and Christine Tyler, Corporate Sustainability Intern.
June 2016
Peter Gleick, President:
– delivered the keynote speech at the Silicon Valley Energy and Sustainability Summit in Redwood City, California.
– served as a panelist at the Pacific Standard event “And Not a Drop to Drink: The Fresh Water Crisis” in Santa Barbara, California
May 2016
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-presented “The Salton Sea and the New Normal: A Managed Environment in the Context of Prolonged Drought” in a public talk at the University of California Riverside in Riverside, California.
Peter Gleick, President:
-met with the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to discuss the nation’s water infrastructure crisis in Washington, D.C.
-delivered the keynote speech at the Society for Freshwater Science’s annual meeting in Sacramento, California. The talk examined the nature of freshwater problems and possible solutions for a sustainable water future.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
– gave the keynote speech at the Global Environmental Facility’s (GEF) International Roundtable, “Partnering with the Private Sector for Sustainable Financing from Source-to-Sea” [] in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
– held a meeting with company, UN, and civil society representatives in conjunction with the Global Compact Network Ceylon (GCNC) to explore the role that businesses can play to help address some of the major water challenges facing Sri Lanka. This meeting was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
April 2016
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-testified at the Little Hoover Commission’s public hearing on the Salton Sea in Sacramento, California.
-participated in the SWRCB’s Salton Sea workshop in Sacramento, California. (The Pacific Institute’s joint comments for the January SWRCB Salton Sea workshop are now available here.)
March 2016
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-presented “The Salton Sea: The Next Chapter” at the 9th Annual Imperial Valley Renewable Energy Summit in Holtville, California. The talk emphasized the pressing the need for action on behalf of the Salton Sea.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-along with University of California Santa Barbara professor Bob Wilkinson, delivered the keynote presentation on sustainable water solutions at the WaterNow Alliance’s Inaugural Summit in Tempe, Arizona.
Peter Gleick, President:
-attended the first national White House Water Summit on World Water Day, where he discussed national water strategies and policies with senior White House staff and other key stakeholders in Washington, D.C.
-served on an expert panel at the America’s Water Initiative forum “America’s Water: Innovation at Work” at Columbia Water Center in New York City, New York.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-in his capacity as Head of the CEO Water Mandate, spoke at the launch event for the initiative “Better Water, Better Jobs”, hosted by the Permanent Mission of Sweden on World Water Day in New York City, New York.
-presented on water stewardship collective action to Conservation International’s Business & Sustainability Council in Los Angeles, California.
February 2016
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-participated on the Salton Sea Long Range Planning Committee’s review of proposed import plans for the Sea, raising many of the questions and concerns described in the Pacific Institute’s general review of the concept of Salton Sea import/export plans.
Peter Gleick, President:
-gave the keynote speech at the Planning and Conservation League’s Annual UC Davis Environmental Symposium, “The Future is Now… Moving on Land Use, Water and CEQA”.
-presented on regional water issues at Acterra: Action for a Healthy Planet in Palo Alto, California.
-participated in a panel discussion on the future of water at the Presidio Graduate School in San Francisco, California.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-launched the CEO Water Mandate’s partnership with Global Compact Network South Africa, which is administered by the National Business Initiative (NBI), in Johannesburg and Cape Town, South Africa.
-moderated a discussion panel on restoring degraded watersheds and ecosystems at the “Disruptive Resilience: Chief Technology Officers Map America’s 2030 Water Future” conference in San Francisco, California.
-participated in a panel focused on the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 on water and sanitation at the 24th meeting of UN-Water’s Senior Program Managers in Geneva, Switzerland.
January 2016
Peter Gleick, President:
-presented on the California drought at the California Institute for Water Resources’ 2016 Forum in Panama City, Panama.
-presented on climate change, the California drought, and new approaches to water management at the American Meteorological Society (AMS) Annual Meeting in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-briefed the UN Principles for Responsible Investing’s (PRI) Water Risk Group on the CEO Water Mandate’s activities via webinar from Oakland, California.
2015
December 2015
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-presented on trends in California’s water footprint (1992-2012) at the American Geophysical Union Fall Conference in San Francisco, California.
-presented on seawater desalination at the California Assembly Select Committee on Water Consumption and Alternative Sources Hearing in Los Angeles, California.
-participated in a panel on emergency drought regulations at the State Water Resources Control Board workshop in Sacramento, California.
Peter Gleick, President:
-presented at the American Geophysical Union Fall Conference in San Francisco, California.
-gave the keynote speech at the 2015 Nebraska Conservation Summit in Omaha, Nebraska.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-presented on the Business Alliance for Water and Climate (BAfW) and the role of water stewardship in climate resilience at the COP21 climate negotiations in Paris, France.
-along with other Institute staff, attended the second in-person meeting of the California Water Action Collaborative (CWAC), a consortium of NGOs and food and beverage companies with operations in California seeking collective action projects that address the drought and long-term water security in California.
November 2015
Peter Gleick, President:
-gave the keynote presentation at the Oklahoma Governor’s Water Conference and Research Symposium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
-presented on water challenges and solutions at the Chabot Space and Science Center in Oakland, California.
-provided testimony at the California State Assembly’s First Hearing of the Select Committee on Sea Level Rise and the California Economy in Sacramento, California.
-presented on his book “Bottled and Sold: The Story Behind Our Obsession with Bottled Water” at the University of San Diego in San Diego, California.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-presented on the nexus between corporate water stewardship and sustainable development at the 8th Annual Green Summit hosted by the Swedish-American Chamber of Commerce in New York, New York.
October 2015
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-spoke on the “Going Nuts Over Water” panel at the Environmental Law Conference in Yosemite, California.
-presented on desalination at the UC Irvine Annual Fall Symposium on Emerging Issues in Environmental Law Practice in Irvine, California.
-served as a panelist discussing the drought and Western water at the Commonwealth Club in San Francisco, California.
Peter Gleick, President:
-discussed responses to California’s drought at GreenBiz’s VERGE 2015 event in San Jose, California.
-presented on the impacts of climate change on water supplies and agricultural production at the New York Times’ second annual Food for Tomorrow Conference in New York, New York.
-gave the keynote address at the UNESCO Right to Water Conference during the 5th Annual Comparative Human Rights Conference at the University of Connecticut in Storrs, Connecticut.
-presented on climate change and the future of water at the 23rd annual California Law Conference in San Francisco, California.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-presented presented the CEO Water Mandate’s Water Stewardship Toolbox and Water Action Hub in the “Water stewardship: from ideas to implementation to innovation” conference in Johannesburg, South Africa
September 2015
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-moderated a panel entitled “Innovative Tools to Stretch the Supply” at the Water Education Foundation’s biennial “Colorado River Symposium” in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-served as a session panelist discussing the desalination at the Bay Planning Coalition’s Energy and Water Nexus Summit 4 in Oakland, California.
Peter Gleick, President:
-presented on the state of California’s water supply at UCLA’s Hammer Museum in Los Angeles, California.
-gave a lecture at Sacramento State University entitled, “The Future of Water in a Changing Climate“, in Sacramento, California.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-served as a panelist at the Keurig Green Mountain-hosted CURRENT 2015 Water Summit in Stowe, Vermont. The session, entitled “Addressing Shared Water Risks Through Collective Action,” featured Morrison presenting the CEO Water Mandate’s recently released best practice guidance on water stewardship collective action. Adrian Sym, Executive Director of the Alliance for Water Stewardship, was a co-presenter at the session, sharing his perspectives on the keys to success when corporations and other stakeholders collaborate on watershed protection plans and improving water policies.
August 2015
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-served as a session panelist discussing the possibilities and challenges of desalination at the 2015 One Water Leadership Summit hosted by U.S. Water Alliance in San Francisco, CA.
Peter Gleick, President:
-presented “Climate change and extreme hydrologic events: Links to the California Drought” at the California Climate Change Symposium in Sacramento, CA.
-served as a moderator of a panel at the 2015 One Water Leadership Summit hosted by U.S. Water Alliance in San Francisco, CA.
-presented “California Drought Impacts: Case Studies of Water Use” at the California Energy Commission’s Joint Agency Workshop on California’s Drought Response in Sacramento, CA.
July 2015
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-presented at the 2015 Summit on Water Technology and the California Drought: Leveraging Technology to Build a Drought-Resilient California, hosted by the California State Government in Sacramento, CA.
Peter Gleick, President:
-participated on a panel at the 2015 Summit on Water Technology and the California Drought: Leveraging Technology to Build a Drought-Resilient California, hosted by the California State Government in Sacramento, CA.
-spoke at the World Affairs Council event entitled “Not a Drop to Drink: Dealing with Drought” in San Francisco, CA.
June 2015
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-presented “Urban Water Reliability and the Salton Sea: Can We Have Both?” at the 2015 Martz Summer Conference of the Getches-Wilkinson Center in Boulder, Colorado.
-testified at the Little Hoover Commission’s “Salton Sea Environmental Mitigation and Restoration” hearing in Sacramento.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-presented at a water rate workshop held by the California Water Resources Control Board on recently released best management practices for water utilities.
Peter Gleick, President:
-gave the keynote speech at Facebook’s Sustainability@Scale conference on challenges and solutions to both global and California water issues in Menlo Park, California.
May 2015
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-provided comments at the State Water Control Board hearing on the California Ocean Plan, in which they discussed regulations for desalination facilities in Sacramento, CA.
Peter Gleick, President:
-attended a meeting for the Council of Scientific Society Presidents where he received the 2015 Leadership and Achievement Award in Washington D.C.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-served as a session panelist at the Alliance for Thought Leadership and Action for Agri-Water conference, co-convened by the Hindustan Unilever Foundation and 2030 Water Resources Group. Entitled “Blended Public and Private Finance for Agri-Water,” the panel discussion explored ways of circumventing barriers to upscaling good agricultural water management practices in India. Later in the conference, Morrison moderated a roundtable discussion that focused on brainstorming themes for collective action, including harmonizing emerging practice-based vocabulary in agri-water in India.
-provided the keynote address at a Global Compact Network India convening entitled, Driving the Uptake of Corporate Water Stewardship in India and South Asia Through the Lens of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda in New Delhi, India.
-served as a panelist at Ceres’ annual conference in San Francisco for a session focused on “Valuing Every Drop: Making Decisions that Reflect Water’s True Value.” Morrison’s input focused on the CEO Water Mandate’s recently released good practice guidance on corporate respect of the human rights to water and sanitation, as a practical tool to help companies manage water in a way that reflects societal values.
April 2015
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
– joined a celebration dedicating the Laguna Division Conservation Area, a 1,200-acre wetland restoration project along the Colorado River, as part of the 10th anniversary celebration of the MSCP. The Pacific Institute developed and promoted the idea of the Laguna restoration project starting in 2007 and is delighted to see the project come to fruition.
Peter Gleick, President:
-gave the keynote on global water challenges and implications for Minnesota businesses at the Center for Ethical Business Cultures in Minneapolis, MN.
March 2015
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-presented “The Salton Sea: Linking California and the Colorado River” at the Urban Water Institute’s Spring Water Conference in Palm Springs, discussing the potential for the catastrophic collapse of the Salton Sea to disrupt water supply reliability in the rest of the state.
-spoke at the State Water Resources Control Board’s Salton Sea workshop, noting the need for the state to honor its funding commitments to ensure protection of public and ecosystem health in the region, and to preserve California’s water supply reliability. The Institute’s written comments are available here. Video of Mr. Cohen’s verbal comments to the Board are available here.
– participated on “The Salton Sea: Haven’t They Solved This By Now?” panel at the California Water Policy 24 conference in Claremont, California, noting the importance of the State of California honoring its mitigation and restoration commitments to the Salton Sea.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-discussed responses to the drought among California’s urban water utilities at the Urban Stakeholder Committee meeting in Fountain Valley, CA.
February 2015
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-participated on the environmental health aspects of fracking in California at Berkeley’s Environmental Health Sciences Department Annual Research Symposium.
Peter Gleick, President:
-gave the keynote at the Abdullah S. Kamel Symposium at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. – speaking on the future of the water-energy nexus
January 2015
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-presented on the opportunities for water conservation and efficiency, water reuse, and stormwater capture at the North Bay Watershed Association Board meeting in Novato, CA.
-made a presentation on the impacts of the California drought at the Botin Foundation/Rosenberg International Forum on Water Policy workshop titled “Managing Drought and Scarcity in Semi-Arid Lands: The Cases of California and Spain.”
Peter Gleick, President:
-presented “The Risks of Climate Change and Extreme Hydrologic Events – From Food to National Security” at the National Weather and Climate Summit in Breckenridge, CO.
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Research Associate:
-participated in a day-long meeting at the UN-Water’s Annual Conference, “Water and Sustainable Development, From Vision Action” for business sector stakeholders in Zaragoza, Spain.
Peter Schulte, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate:
-contributed to the CDP’s Supply Chain Report with a guest commentary on the business case for corporate water stewardship within supply chains.
2014
December 2014
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-participated on “The Salton Sea: The Next Chapter” at the Association of California Water Agencies’ 2014 Fall Conference in San Diego, CA.
-spoke about the third-party impacts associated with the Imperial Valley-San Diego water transfer, to the Sustainable Water Markets fellows at the Bren School in Santa Barbara, CA.
-moderated a panel called “Basin Study Next Steps: Taking the Long View” at the Colorado River Water Users Association’s annual conference in Las Vegas, NV.
Peter Gleick, President:
-Spoke at the American Geophysical Union Fall meeting in San Francisco, CA. He gave two lectures on the new challenges linking water, climate and food security and adapting to the hydrologic impacts of climate change.
November 2014
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
-spoke at the Sustainable Water Resources Roundtable about California’s water footprint at NASA Ames in Moffett Field, CA.
Kristina Donnelly, Water Program Research Associate:
-graduated from The Water Education Foundation’s Water Leaders Program, producing a final report and presentation on the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act.
Peter Gleick, President:
-presented at the World Affairs Council on water scarcity in California and abroad at the Los Altos Youth Center in Los Altos, CA
-spoke on a panel at the New York Times Food for Tomorrow Conference on feeding the world in the midst of a growing population, climate change, and declining natural resources at the Stone Barns Center for food and agriculture in NY
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-represented the CEO Water Mandate Secretariat in Dehli, India at a convening of water experts focused on sharing experiences and insights on how multi-stakeholder water stewardship initiatives (WSIs) can be improved, in order to lever greater positive impact for society, and to reduce the risks for stakeholders involved
Peter Schulte, Corporate Sustainability Senior Research Associate:
– in collaboration with Tien Shiao from World Resources Institute – presented the CEO Water Mandate’s Corporate Water Disclosure Guidelines to the Global Reporting Initiative’s organizational stakeholders via webinar
October 2014
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
-presented “Protecting Community Health: What if we do nothing? The Threat to the Imperial and Coachella Valley” at a meeting in Palm Springs, CA
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– presented at the WaterSmart Innovations conference on the applied lessons learned on energy efficiency to the water sector in Las Vegas, NV
-moderated a panel on coordinating water and energy efficiency programs at the WaterSmart Innovations conference in Las Vegas, NV
-presented at the Bay-Delta Science Conference on the untapped potential of California’s water supply in Sacramento, CA
Peter Gleick, President:
– presented at The Sierra Business Council’s Peak Innovation conference in Tahoe City, CA
-gave a key note address, “Urban Water in the 21st Century,” at the Panamanian Association for the Advancement of Science (APANAC) in Panama City
-presented a talk, “Drought, Climate, Food, and Water, at the Water food Conference in Seattle, WA
-served on a panel about water and climate change in the U.S. at the “New Directions for U.S. Policy Conference” at Stanford University
-served as a discussion panelist speaking about the California Water Bond at the Brower Center in Berkeley, CA
-spoke at an event focusing on climate change and water at the Common Wealth Club in San Francisco, CA
Mai-Lan Ha, Senior Research Associate:
-spoke at the House of Sweden in Washington, DC at an event called: Addressing Water Use in Textile Production – at the heart of sustainable business, organized by the Swedish Textile Water Initiative
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-served as a discussion panelist on a water-focused session of the Responsible Electronics 2014 Annual Conference hosted by the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition in Burlingame, CA
-attended the inaugural convening of the Oslo Water Initiative, which focused on water-related collective action for sustainable development. He presented the initiative’s work on collective action and water stewardship within the context of the Post-2015 Sustainable Development Agenda
-presented the Water Action Hub to the Mississippi River/Gulf of Mexico Watershed Nutrient (Hypoxia) Task Force in Alton, Illinois
-attended the annual VERGE SF conference, serving as a panelist on the Water Technology Solutions: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly session
Peter Schulte, Corporate Sustainability Research Associate:
– presented on corporate water stewardship and disclosure practice with the Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition in Burlingame, CA
September 2014
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– presented the “Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing on Water Use in California” at the 13th International Water Association Specialist Conference on Watershed and River Basin Management in San Francisco, CA
– presented on the “Untapped Potential of California’s Water Supply” at the California Urban Water Conservation Council quarterly plenary in Sacramento, CA
– presented on the advantages and disadvantages of seawater desalination at the Delta Science Brown Bag in Sacramento, CA
– presented on two panels at the Assembly Select Committee on Coastal Protection “Seawater Desalination Impacts and Perspectives” in Sacramento, CA
Peter Gleick, President:
– testified before the California Water Commission to present our latest drought work. View the Powerpoint presentation here.
– gave that keynote speech at the Business of Water Summit in Las Vegas, Nevada on water related business risks.
– gave a talk on water and conflict at a session announcing the creation of the UNESCO Category 2 Centere on water conflict and cooperation at Stockholm World Water Week 2014
– presented the Institute’s research on the economic costs of climate change at the USC Schwarzenegger Climate Symposium attended by Governor Jerry Brown and Arnold Schwarzenegger
– gave a lecture on peak water, climate change, and conflict as part of the Frontiers in Geosciences Colloquium at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico
-presented “Water security and Conflict” at a meeting hosted by the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency in Springfield, Virginia
July 2014
Michael Cohen, Water Program Senior Research Associate:
– presented “What If We Do Nothing? The Threat to the Imperial and Coachella Valleys” at the Clinton Health Matters Initiative “The Salton Sea: Restoration for a Healthy Future” Forum in El Centro, California on July 1.
Peter Gleick, President:
– provided testimony to the Department of Energy Quadrennial Energy Review in San Francisco on the critical links between energy, water, and climate.
– delivered the keynote address at the US EPA Office of Water Conference in Washington, DC on “Peak Water, Climate, and National Water Strategies.”
– met with senior staff at the White House Council on Environmental Quality on national water strategies.
– addressed major media in a tele-press-conference on the Institute’s new research with NRDC on “The Untapped Potential of California’s Water Supply.”
– gave a talk at Singularity University at Moffett Field, Calif., on global water challenges and solutions.
– participated on a panel at the 2014 Investigative Reporters and Editors Annual Conference in San Francisco on water issues and Western drought, moderated by KQED’s Lauren Sommer.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
– joined Integrity in Water Stewardship Initiatives project team co-lead Janek Hermann-Friede of Water Integrity Network to present the project team’s work at a GIZ-hosted strategic workshop focusing on the donor agency’s International Water Stewardship Programme on June 25 in Nairobi, Kenya.
– represented the CEO Water Mandate Secretariat at a meeting organized by the UN Global Compact Uganda Local Network on June 27 in Kampala, Uganda, focusing on corporate water stewardship collective action in the country. Attended by over 20 Uganda Local Network members and key stakeholders, the half-day meeting constituted the launch of a country chapter of the CEO Water Mandate.
June 2014
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– described some of the water management challenges in California and strategies to move toward more sustainable management of water resources in Los Angeles.
– provided introductory remarks at the California Urban Water Conservation Council’s Landscape Symposium, Growing a New Normal in California Landscapes.
– briefed California legislators and their staff on the opportunities for efficiency, water reuse, and stormwater capture to address California’s water management challenges.
– co-facilitated a meeting with northern California water utilities on conservation pricing.
– gave a webinar presentation about the water-energy nexus to local government representatives
Catalina Garzon, Community Strategies for Sustainability and Justice Program Director:
-presented on a Public Policy webinar sponsored by the California Food and Justice Coalition on our partnership with the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project to develop and strengthen tools for collaboration between agencies and impacted communities in local climate change adaptation planning.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-presented “Protecting Community Health: What If We Do Nothing? – The Threat to Imperial and Coachella Valley” at the Clinton Health Matters Initiative’s The Salton Sea: Restoration for a Healthy Future forum in El Centro, CA
May 2014
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– talked with students at Stanford University on the challenges and opportunities associated with the drought in California.
– described some of the water management challenges in California and strategies to move toward more sustainable management of water resources at the CEO Water Mandate event, “Working Together to Address Acute Water Challenges: Water-Related Collective Action in California and the Colorado River Basin.”
– provided introductory remarks at the California Urban Water Conservation Council’s Landscape Symposium, “Growing a New Normal in California Landscapes.”
Catalina Garzon, Community Strategies for Sustainability and Justice Program Director:
– co-facilitated a community workshop on taking action to improve indoor and outdoor air quality with Araceli Tellez of the Alameda County Healthy Homes Program and Jose Lopez of Communities for a Better Environment. Over 20 participants attended the workshop, which was conducted in Spanish and included hands-on activities on how to make healthier home cleaning supplies as well as how to reduce idling from diesel trucks on neighborhood streets. The workshop kicked off a series of trainings in Alameda County co-sponsored by the Ditching Dirty Diesel Collaborative and Regional Asthma Management and Prevention to engage under-represented residents in transportation and land use planning.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
– attended the Money2Water / Global Water Investment Summit and presented on the potential for addressing shared water challenges through collective efforts across societal spheres, capitalising on respective stakeholders’ expertise, capacities and resources.
– attended a daylong WWF-Coca Cola co-hosted event, entitled, “Water for Our Future,” the outputs of which are intended to inform next year’s 7th World Water Forum in Korea. Morrison’s panel discussion on water stewardship and green growth is available to watch online.
April 2014
Catalina Garzon, Community Strategies for Sustainabilty and Justice Program Director:
– co-presented with CURYJ staff and volunteers on our photo-novela Forgotten Voices on youth justice issues with Latino young men at the Research Justice Symposium at UC Berkeley sponsored by the DataCenter and the American Cultures Engaged Scholarship Program.
– presented on a plenary panel with community partners on engaging vulnerable communities in planning for community resilience to climate change at the inaugural Resilient and Sustainable Cities Symposium at Laney College sponsored by the City of Oakland.
Peter Gleick, President:
– gave a guest speech for a film screening of Last Call at the Oasis which showed at the Museum of Science in Boston, Massachusetts
– gave a talk, “Water: Challenges of Extremes,” at Northeastern University for School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs
– participated on a panel at the Berkeley Energy and Resource Collaborative 2014 Resources Round Table on the California Drought in Berkeley, California.
– gave the keynote address, “Growing, Growing, Gone,” at the 2014 McGeorge Law Review Symposium in Sacramento, California
– participated on a panel called “The World Under a 204 Degree Warming,” at the Earth League Annual Workshop in Santa Fe, New Mexico
– gave a public lecture titled, “The Past, Present, and Future of the World’s Water,” as part of the 2014 Distinguished Lecture of the Water Institute at the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
March 2014
Michel Cohen, Senior Research Associate:
– attended “Minute 319 Ceremony Celebrating Water for the Environment,” to celebrate the return of the Colorado to the Delta.
– spoke optimistically about the first glimmers of progress at the Salton Sea at “Running Dry: A Symposium on Drought and Water Scarcity in the West,” in Palm Springs.
Heather Cooley, Water Program Director:
– participated in a Circle of Blue webinar on the lessons California could learn from Australia’s Millennium Drought.
– participated in a panel on the opportunities for partnerships between water and energy utilities on conservation and efficiency programs at the PG&E Water Conservation Showcase in San Francisco.
Catalina Garzon, Community Strategies for Sustainability and Justice Program Director:
– co-facilitated a breakout discussion at the Bay Area Resilient Cities Initiative Kick-off event with Renee Domingo, Director of the City of Oakland’s Emergency Services Department, to inform the development of a multi-stakeholder resilience planning process in Oakland.
Jason Morrison, Corporate Sustainability Program Director:
-participated in focus group discussion to help inform and shape the field assessment work for the CEO Water Mandate’s project on managing integrity in water-focused collective action at the watershed scale at GIZ’s offices in Pretoria, South Africa.
– co-presented (with Janek Hermann-Friede of the Water Integrity Network) their organizations’ joint research on how to improve the integrity and effectiveness of corporate water stewardship partnerships at the Water Integrity Workshop held at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris, France.
February 2014
– outlined a positive vision for California’s water at the Planning and Conservation League Annual Meeting at the UC Davis School of Law.
– gave testimony on urban water efficiency in the context of the drought to the California State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB).
– gave the keynote address on the national water situation at “Water Scarcity & Solutions: Global to Local” at Pomona College.
Jessica Parra-Fitch, Popular Education Associate:
– co-facilitated a community workshop on zoning and land use decision-making for community leaders in the First Five Program in East Contra Costa County.
January 2014
Kristina Donnelly, Water Program Research Associate:
– spoke on a panel at the California Irrigation Institute’s Annual Conference, entitled “Building a Water and Energy Efficient California.”
Catalina Garzón, Community Strategies for Sustainability and Justice Program Director:
– presented on a panel entitled “Breaking the Impasse: Balancing the Interests of Public Health and Housing in Affordable Infill Development Projects” as part of Urban Habitat’s Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute speaker series.
– completed the 2013-2014 Next Generation Leaders of Color sponsored by Compasspoint Nonprofit Services. The intensive 10-session professional development program provides training on nonprofit management skills such as financial management, supervision, and organizational sustainability for mid-level managers in health and human services nonprofit organizations.
Peter Schulte, Corporate Sustainability Research Associate:
– participated in Nike’s Corporate Responsibility Report Stakeholder Workshop to discuss how Nike’s sustainability practices and related efforts can be strengthened and expanded.