The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)

🌍 𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 | 27 October 2025, 10:00 EST Join Dr. Mojtaba Sadegh, Lead of Climate and Wildfire Analytics, for a Science Talk on “The Wildfire Paradox: Rising Human Exposure Despite Declining Burned Area.” This session explores why wildfire risks to people and infrastructure continue to rise even as global burned areas decline. Dr. Sadegh will discuss the science behind this paradox, examining the complex interplay of climate change, land management, and human settlement patterns — and what it means for building resilience in a warming world. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/eyWJJv9e

Today we celebrate 80 years of the United Nations working for peace, human rights & sustainable development — and the impact emerging from the global UNU Hub Network. At the UNU Hub at University of Calgary, students and partners from the Blackfoot Confederacy, Canada, and around the world are co-creating water and climate solutions grounded in Indigenous knowledge and community leadership. UNU-hub at CCNY- R-SIRUS (The City College of New York), a Hub Open House invited students and faculty to explore how remote sensing, innovation, and engineering can advance resilient and inclusive urban systems. At the UNU Hub at Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), engineers and scientists are designing breakthrough climate solutions that protect natural resources, communities, and economies — driving progress toward the SDGs. Together, we are bridging knowledge and action to build a more sustainable, resilient future for all.

𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲 2025 | #UN80 Today, as we mark 80 years since the founding of the United Nations, we celebrate the shared vision that continues to guide our collective work — peace, human rights, sustainable development, and dignity for all. At UNU-INWEH, we are proud to be part of this global family — advancing the UN’s mission through science, policy, and capacity development to address critical global security and development challenges at the intersection of water, environment, and health, contributing to a sustainable future for people and the planet. We stand together to fulfil the extraordinary promise of our United Nations, reaffirming our commitment to collaboration, knowledge, and innovation in building a better world for everyone.

💧 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐃𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 21𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐲 – 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐢𝐧 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭 Water is no longer a background issue. It has become one of the defining forces of the 21st century — shaping human security, health, and sustainable development. Over 2 billion people already live in water-stressed regions, and by 2030, as many as 700 million could be displaced due to water scarcity. The media has a critical role to play — not just as a messenger, but as a catalyst for change. By making water challenges visible, urgent, and relatable, the media can help shift the narrative from crisis to prevention, and from blame to solutions. To explore this vital intersection, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), in partnership with HEC Montréal and Radio Republik Indonesia (RRI), is hosting a global webinar on 13 November 2025. The discussion will be led by Professor Gary Lewis, a distinguished expert in environmental security with 35 years of experience at the United Nations, including senior roles at UNEP, UNDP, and UNODC, as well as service as UN Resident Coordinator in Iran. Join this important conversation on how media can help shape a more water-secure and sustainable future.

🌍 𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 | October 22, 10:00 EST A Perspective on Urbanisation and Climate Change: Cities at the Frontline of the Climate Crisis Join Dr. Prathap Ramamurthy, Associate Professor at the UNU-hub at CCNY- R-SIRUS – Remote Sensing and Sustainable Innovations for Resilient Urban Systems (R-SIRUS), as he explores how cities—home to most of the world’s population—are both vulnerable to and drivers of climate change. This Science Talk will examine how urbanisation shapes local climate dynamics, the role of data and technology in building resilience, and how cities can lead in mitigating and adapting to climate impacts. 📅 Open to all | Register to join: https://lnkd.in/e4zPWGRy

UNU-INWEH was honoured to support this important dialogue in Geneva, organized by the Women in Water Diplomacy Network. It was truly inspiring to hear from Honourable Adviser Rizwana Hasan, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Bangladesh, on advancing inclusive and cooperative water governance. Empowering women’s leadership in water diplomacy is essential to achieving resilient, peaceful, and water-secure futures for all.

We are proud to announce UNU-INWEH’s new partnership with the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA). During the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Professor Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, and Ms. Aarti Holla-Maini, Director of UNOOSA,  signed a Memorandum of Understanding to establish a UN Platform for Space-based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UN-SPIDER) Regional Support Office (RSO) in Canada. The new office will serve as a regional hub, helping countries access space-based data and earth observation tools to strengthen disaster monitoring, risk assessment, and emergency response. It will enhance capacity in remote sensing, promote knowledge exchange, and foster collaboration among governments, research institutions, and UN agencies. This initiative contributes to the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, supporting efforts to turn satellite data into actionable insights that save lives, safeguard livelihoods, and build resilience—particularly in regions most vulnerable to natural hazards.

Africa University and UNU-INWEH Launch Strategic Partnership on Food Security and Sustainable Development We are proud to announce a new collaboration between Africa University (Mutare, Zimbabwe) and UNU-INWEH — formalised through an MoU signed at the FAO headquarters in Rome. This partnership brings together Africa University’s pan-African leadership and UNU-INWEH’s global expertise to advance research, education, and innovation in food security, sustainable agrifood systems, and environmental resilience. A key outcome of the partnership is the new Joint MSc in Food Security and Sustainable Agrifood Systems, developed with the support of FAO. The 18-month programme will train the next generation of leaders and innovators driving sustainable transformation across Africa and beyond. United Nations University

On September 25th, UNU-INWEH had the pleasure of hosting Prof. Dr.-Ing. Andreas Timm-Giel, President of the Hamburg University of Technology (TUHH), at our office in Richmond Hill, Canada. The visit began with a guided tour of the The David Dunlap Observatory, joined by Councillor Michael Shiu of Richmond Hill’s Ward 6. Once operated by the University of Toronto and now preserved by the City of Richmond Hill, the observatory remains an important site of local heritage and scientific discovery. We extend our sincere thanks to our partners at the City of Richmond Hill for their warm welcome and support. At UNU-INWEH, discussions with Prof. Timm-Giel centred on the future of engineering in a changing world and our ongoing collaboration with TUHH through the UNU Hub on Engineering to Face Climate Change — an initiative advancing innovation and resilience through research, education, and sustainable solutions. We thank Prof. Timm-Giel and our valued partners at TUHH for a productive and inspiring exchange that reaffirms our shared commitment to tackling global challenges through science, technology, and international cooperation.

We were proud to support the Women in Water Diplomacy Network event in Geneva, celebrating Bangladesh’s progress in transboundary water cooperation with Hon. Adviser Rizwana Hasan as Guest Speaker. Thank you to Slovenia and the Water Convention/Protocol on Water & Health for their collaboration.