Toshio Koike focusses in his keynote speech on the relationship between climate and water related disasters and relates them to the sustainable development goals. He addresses recent developments in the field of risk identification, reduction and management to achieve increased preparedness. He highlights the association of climate change and heavy rainfall events, their increase, frequency and intensity. Mr. Koike examines the global energy and water cycle and states that the warming of the climate system is unequivocal. He highlights that the framework to strengthen resilience should be holistic and should include the comprehension and understanding of all members of society and embrace technology. Governance for sound decision making needs to be strengthened, investors for appropriate investment need to be encouraged and science need to be developed further.

Toshio Koike (PhD) is currently director of the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management in Tsukuba, Japan. His research interest includes the water cycle and climate sciences and their applications to water resources management. Being a doctor of engineering he has a research and lecturer background at the University of Tokyo and the Nagaoka University of Technology, Japan and acted as Advisor to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (MEXT). He holds important positions at the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management under the auspices of UNESCO (ICHARM), Public Works Research Institute (PWRI) in Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan, and has created or contributed to important water cycle and climate research institutions as Vice-chair of Coordinated Energy and Water Cycle Observations Project (CEOP) of GEWEX, among others. He is also chairing River Council of Japan and the Asia-Pacific Water Forum (APWF) Steering Group on Water and Climate Change. Among the many prominent awards he has won recently he was awarded the “Award for Contribution to the IPCC NOBEL Peace Prize” from WMO and UNEP” in 2008.