💧 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.
The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
Higher Education
Richmond Hill, Ontario 21,934 followers
The UN Think Tank on Water. Targeted research. Capacity development. Public outreach.
About us
UNU-INWEH is one of the United Nations University (UNU) institutes, an academic arm of the UN. The University’s 13 research and training institutes are located in 12 countries and address a range of global development challenges. UNU-INWEH specializes on water for development, working, primarily, with countries in the Global South, and addressing water issues of global significance. Water is the entry point to all UNU-INWEH’s activities, including environment and health. The Institute addresses primarily continental water resources challenges. UNU-INWEH works to bridge the gap between the wealth of evidence and research that exists on water resources, and the practical needs that political leaders and decision makers in low- and middle-income countries have. UNU-INWEH is linked to key processes in the UN system, and represents the entire UNU in UN-Water – a cross-agency group in the UN and international partners working on water and sanitation issues globally. UNU-INWEH’s research has a diverse range of stakeholders, including politicians and policymakers in developing countries, concerned with water, health and environment issues; donors and implementing agencies from the North and the South; scientific community in water-related research institutions and academia; UN agencies and other international and regional organizations and networks; host country and national partners in Canada, media; and civil society. UNU-INWEH was established in 1996, as a public service agency and a subsidiary body of the UNU. Its operations are secured through long-term host-country and core-funding agreements with the Government of Canada. The Institute is located in Richmond Hill, Canada. UNU-INWEH is the only Institute in UNU that focuses entirely and solely on water issues. It is also the only entirely water-focused UN entity in Canada.
- Website
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https://unu.edu/inweh
External link for The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
- Industry
- Higher Education
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Richmond Hill, Ontario
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1996
- Specialties
- Environmental policy-bridging, Water Security, Wastewater, WASH, Water and Gender, River Basins, Training Programmes, Water, Environment, Health, E-learning, Integrated Water Resource Management, Capacity Building, Climate Change and Water, and Water Management
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
225 E Beaver Creek Rd
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 3P4, CA
Employees at The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH)
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Marc Muller
Head of human-water systems research group at Eawag, Prof at Notre Dame & UN University
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Mir Matin
Manager, Geospatial, Climate and Infrastructure Analytics Program
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Mohammed Mahmoud, PhD
CEO and Founder of the Climate and Water Initiative | Lead for Middle East Climate and Water Policy at the United Nations University Institute for…
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Dr. Rohit Ramchandani
Dr. of Public Health | Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health | Adj. Professor…
Updates
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🌍 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
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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.
The Women in Water Diplomacy Network was honoured to convene a high-level dialogue in Geneva on 14 October 2025, welcoming Honourable Adviser Rizwana Hasan, Minister of Environment, Forest and Climate Change of Bangladesh, as Guest Speaker. Held on the margins of the 6th Joint Meeting of the Working Group on Integrated Water Resources Management and the Working Group on Monitoring and Assessment of the UNECE Water Convention/Protocol on Water & Health, this dialogue celebrated Bangladesh’s accession to the Water Convention and the country’s leadership in advancing inclusive, cooperative transboundary water governance. We extend our sincere appreciation to the Government of Slovenia and the UN Water Convention for their continued partnership and support, and to The United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) for co-organizing and supporting this important gathering. Together, we reaffirm that inclusive decision-making is strategic decision-making — and that advancing women’s leadership in water diplomacy is essential to building resilient, peaceful, and water-secure futures for all. 🌍 Many thanks to all our speakers and participants and all who made this event happen: Tanja Miškova Maria Amakali Sonja Köppel Sogol Jafarzadeh Aleš Bizjak Kaveh Madani Rémy Kinna Lucia de Strasser Erik Aarnos Mara Tignino Laura Turley Anna Brach Francesca Bernardini Kaveh Madani Mikiko Tanaka Diana Duarte Rizzolio Petra Hamers Dimka Stantchev Skeie Kishwar Jahan Chowdhury Konstantina Toli
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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🇨🇭 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐔𝐍𝐄𝐂𝐄 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 2025 𝐢𝐧 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐯𝐚 🇨🇭 Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, joined global experts, policymakers, and practitioners at the 12th Session of the Group of Experts on Energy Efficiency [UNECE Sustainable Energy] to explore how advancing energy efficiency can serve as a cornerstone of sustainable development. The discussions focused on embedding efficiency into national and regional energy strategies — reaffirming that the cleanest and most affordable energy is the one not used. Improving energy efficiency across buildings, transport, and industrial systems remains one of the most cost-effective and immediate pathways to reduce emissions, strengthen energy security, and support net-zero ambitions. Prof. Madani emphasised the importance of rethinking energy efficiency not merely as a technical measure but as a strategic resource — vital for achieving equitable, resilient, and sustainable growth in an increasingly energy-constrained world.
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🌍 𝐒𝐂𝐈𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐊 | 15 October 2025, 10:00 EST Join Dr. Ju Hyoung Lee, Research Fellow in Environmental Remote Sensing and Spatial Hydrology at UNU-INWEH, for a Science Talk on “Reframing Carbon Offset Policies This session explores how carbon offset policies can move beyond exclusionary conservation models toward inclusive, satellite-based systems that promote sustainability while upholding Indigenous rights. Dr. Lee will discuss innovative approaches to balancing carbon management, environmental protection, and social justice through data-driven governance. 🔗 Register here: https://lnkd.in/e_rpnqS6
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Exciting News from Dar es Salaam! The UNU-INWEH BASIN team proudly unveiled the Water and Behaviour Program at the BASIN Annual Consortium Workshop in Tanzania 🇹🇿 🎓 Meet the team behind the program: • Professor Grace OLUWASANYA – Project Management & Quality Control • Dr. Rohit Ramchandani – Program Design & Lead Instructor • Dr. Abraham Marshall Nunbogu – Course Instructor This milestone marks the unveiling of the first of three courses on Water and Behaviour, offering a sneak peek into behaviour-centred design processes. The program is part of the BASIN research initiative under the CLARE programme, funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and International Development Research Centre (IDRC) Canada. For the first time, consortium partners received a comprehensive overview of the program, which focuses on applying behavioural and psychological sciences to address water security challenges across Africa. The full Water and Behaviour Program is set to launch in 2026. We’re thrilled to share this milestone with our colleagues and all consortium partners! WaterAid Water Witness International University of Malawi - UNIMA The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) Kulima Integrated Development Solutions (Pty) Ltd Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change & the Environment Nelson Mandela African Institute of Science and Technology (NM-AIST)