The Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme
The recognition programme offers an outstanding opportunity to self-reflect on the utility’s Climate Smart journey, present actions to an international audience, and share aspirations to achieve a climate smart water sector. The first edition of the IWA Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme was launched in 2022. Stories and actions by Climate Smart Utilities worldwide were presented and celebrated at the IWA World Water Congress and Exhibition (WWC&E), held in September 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark. The second edition will take place in 2023 and selected utilities will be invited to present their story at the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (WDC&E) on 10-14 December 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The 2023 edition has a special focus on low- and middle-income countries and seeks to raise awareness of the steps being taken by water and sanitation utilities operating in challenging conditions to respond to climate change. This initiative seeks to recognise ambitious and innovative utilities in low- and middle-income countries that are leading the way towards a low carbon water and sanitation sector, embracing the change needed to adapt to and mitigate climate change while raising awareness among citizens and industries, engaging regulators, and inspiring other utilities to take action.
This first edition was brought to the water community thanks to the support of Xylem. The second edition is supported by AfWASA. Submissions are assessed by an independent jury.
The main goals of the programme are to:
- Increase awareness, by inviting utilities and IWA members to share the best practices through Climate Smart Stories, organising webinars, sharing and publishing relevant publications and research, and through a web platform with resources.
- Inspire action, by encouraging utilities to improve their climate resilience and adaptation, and by sharing Climate Smart narratives, steps and best practices, as presented in the Application Guidance. IWA also offers a peer-to-peer exchange platform through the Community of Practice meetings and website.
- Celebrate the work in progress: the recognition programme is an excellent way to gain recognition and share best practices towards becoming a Climate Smart player in the water sector. This also contributes to increasing awareness and inspire action.
Applications are open
Applications are now open until 30 October 2023. The applicant utility should submit a narrative summarising their Climate Smart vision and key actions taken, especially considering how these relate to the three main pillars of:
- Adaptation: Improving resilience to adapt to climate change (i.e., planning for adaptive infrastructure that combines centralised and decentralised approaches)
- Mitigation: Assessing and aiming to reduce GHG emissions (i.e., transitioning to being resource factories, through the production of biogas or resource recovery of nutrients and by-products, and reducing GHG emissions.)
- Leadership: Leading and inspiring others to take Climate Smart action for a water-wise future (i.e., engaging citizens and industries to reduce micropollutants in wastewater, protect of water sources, reduce costs of treatment and the associated energy use, as well as building resilience through water reuse approaches in view of water scarcity
The programme is an excellent way to gain recognition and share best practices towards becoming a Climate Smart player in the water sector. The recognition programme offers an outstanding opportunity to self-reflect on your Climate Smart journey, present your actions to an international audience, and share your aspirations to achieve a climate smart water sector. Joining the recognition programme is also an effective way to facilitate knowledge exchange and international collaboration with other utilities.
Selected utilities will be recognised in a formal event during the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition (WDC&E) on 10-14 December 2023 in Kigali, Rwanda. These successful utilities will also receive a recognition certificate. The five most inspiring narratives will be selected for a presentation during the WDC&E. IWA will cover the travel costs (air/ground transportation and accommodation) for one representative for each selected utility to present at the WDC&E.
You can apply using the online application form. Alternatively, it is possible to apply through the offline form and emailing it to climate@iwahq.org
For more guidance on the application process, see the application guidance document.
Timeline
12 September 2023: Applications Open
30 October 2023: Deadline for Applications
16 November 2023: Successful applicants/utilities are notified
10-14 December 2023: Presentations and recognition event to be held at the IWA Water and Development Congress & Exhibition in Kigali, Rwanda
Results of the 2022 Edition
The first edition of the Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme was launched in April 2022 and the recognition event formally took place during the IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition on 11-15 September 2022 in Copenhagen, Denmark.
The application window for the first recognition programme closed in July 2022 with 56 applications received from 34 countries and 2 territories, highlighting a truly global outreach of the programme.
The programme has received applications from utilities in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Burkina Faso, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Germany, Honduras, India, Italy, Macao, Malawi, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Senegal, Somalia, Spain, Uganda, UK, USA and Yemen. The applications represent a diverse array of realities and contexts.
Following a robust review, 42 applications submitted by utilities will be recognised and celebrated through the IWA Climate Smart Recognition Programme. Find out more.
