Rapid urbanisation and climate change are challenging cities and water utilities globally, particularly in developing regions. The IWA ‘Alliance for Water Sensitive Design & Planning’ (BrUKInd WSDP) Group is a multidisciplinary team from the Global South and North dedicated to using water-sensitive design and planning (WSDP) to enhance urban resilience and climate adaptation. Our mission revolves around three core pillars: promoting Global North-South and South-South collaboration, advancing climate adaptation and mitigation through WSDP (including sustainable drainage system (SuDS) and blue-green-grey infrastructure (BGGI)), and facilitating knowledge exchange on innovations in planning, design and governance. Our vision aligns with SDG 6, focusing on water and sanitation, while also supporting related goals such as SDG 11 and SDG 13. 

WSDP BrUKInd builds on successful collaborations, such as the UK Royal Academy of Engineering-funded water quality resilience project in Brazil and the UKRI Global Challenges Research-funded ‘RESoURce@Brandia’ project (see our article in The Source magazine), which focused on incorporating SuDS in peri-urban areas of Brazil and India. Our team has hosted workshops, seminars, and field visits across the UK, Brazil, and India, fostering global knowledge exchange and capacity-building since 2017. 

Global North-South Partnerships on Climate Adaptation and WSDP 

In November 2024, three research networks—Klimapolis, CIAMClima, and INCT Klimapolis—organised ‘The São Paulo Meeting 2024: The Challenge of Global Cooperation for Urban Adaptation’ conference, and WSDP BrUKInd was invited as a co-organiser. This event addressed the impact of climate change on cities, with a particular focus on urban adaptation in the Global South, especially Brazil. Topics included urban drainage, water management, air pollution, urban health, and sustainable infrastructure. The conference highlighted the role of SuDS and BGGI in climate adaptation and explored global cooperation for enhancing governance, policy, and community engagement in adaptation strategies. The conference emphasised transdisciplinary dialogues and sharing experiences among administrators, scholars, and civil society. WSDP BrUKInd was invited by the Consul General of Germany in São Paulo, who hosted a reception to celebrate the success of German-Brazilian scientific cooperation on climate change. 

Insights from the Conference 

By joining forces with Klimapolis, CIAMClima, and INCT Klimapolis, we are strengthening Global South-North and South-South collaborations, aligned with SDG17 (Partnerships for the Goals). This partnership fosters problem-solving, capacity-building, and policy influence, bridging knowledge gaps and encouraging diverse perspectives.  

Key insights from conference include: 

• While the Global North has established urban drainage systems, these are less prevalent in the Global South. However, the Global South offers valuable lessons on adapting to temperature rises and drought management, particularly through community-driven approaches. 

• Citizen science plays a vital role in engaging vulnerable communities in climate adaptation. A bottom-up approach, especially in informal settlements, is essential for effective decision-making. 

• NGOs in the Global South are crucial in mobilising communities and advocating for innovative climate policies and practices. 

• In the Global South, local champions, volunteers, and academic networks are key to driving climate adaptation efforts. 

• Translating state-level policies into local actions is critical for effective climate adaptation.  

• An integrated, catchment-based approach to water, wastewater, storm drainage and water-body eco-services is essential. 

• Climate adaptation requires decision-making supported by scientific data. Technology must complement the people-process-technology triad in planning. 

• Successful adaptation relies on collaboration across sectors, with communities playing a central role in decision-making. 

• Transparent data policies are necessary to advance climate adaptation research and ensure effective, science-driven solutions. 

These insights align with the IWA’s Water-Wise principles, emphasising the importance of a multidisciplinary, cooperative approach to climate adaptation. The global exchange of knowledge and expertise is vital for building urban resilience to climate change. 

Acknowledgment  

In addition to the funded research projects, the team has been financially supported by Anglia Ruskin University, UK, Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, Chennai in India and Mackenzie Presbyterian University in São Paulo, Brazil over these years.  

Click here to view the recorded videos

Click here to view the event page

Authors: Maryam Imani, Suresh Rohilla, Ana Paola Koury, Balaji Narasimhan, Chris Maidment, Renato Anelli, S. Murty Bhallamudi