https://www.c40.org/news/c40-and-the-grundfos-foundation-expand-partners...
- C40 and the Grundfos Foundation have worked together on the Water Safe Cities programme since 2020
- As the effects of the climate crisis worsen, resilience efforts to improve water security and protect against flooding and drought are key to ensuring safe and sustainable futures for cities worldwide
- The new iteration of the program will focus on: delivering water-safe solutions, mainstreaming multi-sector collaboration, and leading a global movement of city action on water resilience.
Since 2020, C40 has worked with the Foundation to map regional challenges and quantify the impacts of water-related risks to provide valuable support to accelerate sustainable water management actions in cities.
The new iteration of the program will focus on three vital areas: delivering water-safe solutions, mainstreaming multi-sector collaboration, and leading a global movement of city action on water resilience.
To protect residents and guarantee sustainable and equitable access to water, cities must embrace adaptation and collaboration. By 2050, more than 7.4 million people living in C40 cities will be in areas at risk from flooding, costing C40 cities US$ 136 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) each year over the next three decades. More frequent and severe droughts are projected to broaden existing inequity and cost C40 cities an additional combined loss of US$ 111 billion annually.
19 cities have already joined the Water Safe Cities Accelerator, pledging to protect their most vulnerable communities and take transformative action to achieve access to clean water, safeguard from floods and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions in city water and wastewater systems.
Cities are already taking positive action:
- Signatory cities Los Angeles and Phoenix are diversifying water resources by implementing systems to recycle wastewater to use as drinkable water in the future.
- In Bogotá, city officials are dealing with severe water scarcity through both short- and long-term solutions such as water rationing, expansion of reservoir capacity, and the reforestation of key watershed areas.
- Tshwane, also a signatory of the Water Safe Cities Accelerator, has created a new working group to set up an early warning system to protect front-line communities from flooding.
With the Grundfos Foundation’s financial support and expert insight, C40 will deliver a robust framework for city-level water action, supporting cities with comprehensive risk assessments, policy guidance, water projects budgeting and direct interventions in infrastructure and governance. These tailored solutions will address specific urban water challenges, helping cities achieve the Water Safe Cities Accelerator targets and improve overall water resilience.
C40 will also provide additional research and knowledge products, foster environments for cities and partners to develop and test innovative solutions, and build partnerships to scale best practices.
C40 Head of Water Programmes, Pedro Ribeiro, said: “The Grundfos Foundation’s support over the past five years has been pivotal in placing water resilience—and especially water adaptation—at the heart of C40’s work and the global water agenda through the Water Safe Cities programme.
“Given the complexity of water-related hazards and urban water governance, solutions to certain challenges often exceed the capacities and resources available within municipalities, water departments, and water utility companies.
“This is where the involvement of private sector companies, such as Grundfos, becomes essential in offering to cities cutting-edge innovative solutions and sharing valuable insights gained from supporting other cities in overcoming similar challenges.”
Grundfos Foundation CEO, Kim Nøhr Skibsted, said: “It has always been in Grundfos’ DNA to help people manage and provide access to water, and we are very proud to back this important partnership with funding from the Grundfos Foundation. I want to thank the signatory cities of the Water Accelerator for their courage and determination in tackling water-related climate challenges and for leading the way for cities all over the world.”
