{"id":25215,"date":"2015-12-02T15:43:47","date_gmt":"2015-12-02T20:43:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/?p=25215"},"modified":"2015-12-02T15:43:47","modified_gmt":"2015-12-02T20:43:47","slug":"water-policy-for-megacities","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/law.marquette.edu\/facultyblog\/2015\/12\/water-policy-for-megacities\/","title":{"rendered":"Water Policy For Megacities"},"content":{"rendered":"

This week, over 30,000 diplomats and delegates are converging on Paris for what has been called one of the largest gatherings of world leaders in history<\/a>.\u00a0 The Paris climate summit has captivated the attention of the world, including both supporters and critics of a potential climate pact.\u00a0 \"Megacity<\/a>Another, much less publicized conference is getting underway in Paris today, December 2: the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (\u201cUNESCO\u201d) \u201cEaumega 2015\u201d conference<\/a>.\u00a0 The name is taken from the beginning of the French phrase for \u201cWater, Megacities, and Global Climate Change.\u201d<\/p>\n

It\u2019s no coincidence that the two conferences are being held simultaneously and in the same city.\u00a0 Most scientists predict that the impacts of a changing climate on water will be severe, and may include increasingly unstable and extreme weather patterns: heavier rainfall and increased flood risk in some areas, and increased periods of drought in other areas, coupled with changes in water availability due to quantity and quality restrictions.<\/p>\n

In light of these risks, forward-looking water policy is particularly important for megacities \u2013 generally defined as cities with a population over ten million \u2013 due to their sheer size, often complex governance models, and social heterogeneity.\u00a0 Many are located in coastal areas that may experience rising sea levels.\u00a0 As I have discussed in previous blog posts, water impacts will also be felt in related industries such as energy and agriculture<\/a>.\u00a0 The UNESCO conference is an opportunity for megacity representatives to initiate dialogue on\u00a0adapting to or mitigating the effects of climate change on water resources in megacities.<\/p>\n

Chicago \u2013 a megacity in which Marquette Law School has taken an increasing role and interest (see, for example,\u00a0here<\/a>, here<\/a>, here<\/a>, and here<\/a>) \u2013 is among ten megacities that are both represented and being studied at the Paris \u201cEaumega\u201d conference.\u00a0 Chicago\u2019s policymakers are presenting five new water policy initiatives.\u00a0 They are:<\/p>\n