Nexus Conference - focusing on looking at the Nexus through an Urban Lens announces first speakers and there is still time to submit an abstract

The deadline for abstract submissions has been extended until November 15, 2017. Registration is now open, with "early bird" discounts available until November 15, 2017.    Confirmed speakers include: •                     Elliott Harris: UN Assistant Secretary-General UNEP •                     Liz Thompson: former Energy and Environment Minister Barbados •                     Pauliina Murphy: Head of International Government Engagement at Aviva •                     Maruxa Cardama: Special Advisor Cities Alliance •                    Jeb Brugmann: Director of Solutions Development and Innovation 100 Resilient Cities •                     Dr Claudia Ringler: Chair of the FE2W Network •                     Louise Karlberg: Director of Stockholm Environment Institute USA •                     Naiara Costa: Head of the Secretariat for Together 2030 •                     Louise Baker: Coordinator External Relations, Policy and Advocacy UN  Convention to Combat Desertification •                     Jamie Bartram: Director of The Water Institute at UNC. •                     Franziska Schreiber: Project Manager Adelphi •                     Marianne Haslegrave: Director Commonwealth Medical Trust •                     Dr. Catalina Spataru: UCL Energy Systems and Networks •                     Felix Dodds: Chair of the UN 2011 Conference Sustainable Societies – responsive Citizens •                    Dr. Minu Hemmati: Multi-Stakeholder Institute Founder •                     Mathew Kurian Academic Officer at UNU-FLORES where he leads the Capacity Development and Governance unit.

The Water Institute is reconvening the Nexus conference in 2018 (April 16-18) . This will be the second Nexus Conference that we have organized. The first, in 2014, made a significant input to the negotiations for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through the Chapel Hill Declaration. The 2018 Nexus Conference will focus on looking at the Nexus through an urban lens in particular: the science-policy interface; partnerships; solutions; review of Sustainable Development Goal commitments (2018 and for the Heads of State review in 2019); sharing of tools, indicators and methodologies; and the identification of gaps. Proposals should focus on the interface between some of these Nexus areas: Water; Energy; Food; Climate Change; Health; Urban development; Migration and mobility. We are looking for examples of different methodological approaches, indicators being used, comparative studies, solutions, toolkits, successful partnerships, gaps to be addressed, and reviews of the implementation of the relevant SDGs that address Nexus issues. Nexus 2018 is guided by an advisory board of experts from governments, intergovernmental organizations, academia, and other key stakeholders. We are currently seeking sponsors for the Nexus 2018 conference. More information on sponsorship benefits is available on the conference website. If you are interested in sponsoring the conference, please contact Heather Pace.