Introduction & Moderation

Guido Broggi – Head of Strategy, Development and Partnerships, Greening the Islands Foundation

Presentation of the webinar objectives.

Setting the scene “Financing Water Resilience and Sustainable Business Models”

Emilio Gabrielli – Sequana, Global Director – Desalination and Water Scarcity and Partner of Greening the Islands Foundation

Drawing on six European cases from the RETOUCH NEXUS project (Malta, Spain, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany), the presentation will show that there is no single island business model and that context determines the right mix of technology, economics and governance. It will highlight the opportunities in circular solutions such as wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting and water saving, and set out the questions that make a business model viable.

Keynote Speech – Non-Conventional Water Resources for Island Resilience

Borja Blanco – CEO Aqua Adviser / Partner Aqua Positive / GTI Specialist

The role of non-conventional water resources in strengthening water security and resilience in island territories. It will examine how desalination, wastewater reuse, rainwater harvesting and managed aquifer recharge can complement conventional water sources and reduce pressure on limited freshwater resources. The presentation will highlight practical approaches, technological considerations and opportunities for integrating these solutions into sustainable and climate-resilient island water management strategies.

Keynote Speech – Development and demonstration of innovative technologies for sustainable water management in the Greek islands

Konstantinos Plakas – Senior Researcher at the Central Directorate of the Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH) and Director of the Natural Resources and Renewable Energies (NRRE) Laboratory of the Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute (CPERI) of CERTH

The Greek islands face increasing water stress due to limited freshwater resources, climate change, seasonal tourism demand, and over-extraction of groundwater, which can lead to saltwater intrusion and the degradation of local water sources. These challenges are being addressed by CERTH through competitive European and national research projects, which provide and demonstrate innovative applied solutions with an emphasis on smart water management, sustainable desalination, and water reuse for resilient islands and inland rural communities. The presentation highlights how technological innovation, improved infrastructure, and integrated approaches can help the Greek islands secure reliable water supplies while addressing environmental and resource-efficiency challenges.

Addressing water scarcity under climate, social and economic change: AQUAMAN Living Lab and NBS Catalogue of Solutions – Co-creation and transfer approach, with insights from/for Euromed and Italian coastal regions and islands

Fernando Nardi, PhD – Associate Professor of Hydrology and Hydraulic engineering, DICII – Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science, University of Rome Tor Vergata

with Edda Donati, PhD – Postdoctoral Fellow, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Department of Civil Engineering and Computer Science (DICII)

The AQUAMAN project addresses severe water scarcity in Mediterranean island and coastal communities caused by climate change and tourism pressures. By leveraging Living Labs and stakeholder co-creation, the project adapts proven European solutions to local contexts—combining innovative technologies with Nature-Based Solutions like rainwater harvesting and wastewater reuse. AQUAMAN highlights the importance of local community ownership and integrated governance to build long-term island water resilience.

Building Water-Resilient Islands: Global Lessons in Infrastructure, Energy and Investment

Christos Charisiadis – Founder & Managing Consultant, Brine Consulting

Drawing on examples from islands worldwide, this presentation explores how network efficiency, water reuse, desalination, energy and storage contribute to reliable water services. It examines why infrastructure must be planned as an interconnected system and how financing and operational accountability can support measurable improvements in water resilience.

Integrated Water Governance: an Example from Malta

Kylie Spiteri – Professional Executive Economics, The Energy and Water Agency of Malta

Examine the role of integrated governance and effective policy frameworks in strengthening sustainable water management in island territories. Using Malta as a case study, it will explore how coordination across institutions, sectors and stakeholders can support more efficient water resource management, improve resilience to water scarcity and enable the implementation of long-term solutions. Attention will be given to stakeholder collaboration, cross-sector planning and governance approaches that can be adapted to other island contexts.

Climate Smart, Resilient Development

Jia Li, PhD – Global Lead, Adaptation & Resilience, One Climate Group, World Bank

Q&A
Moderated by Borja Blanco

Interactive discussion with participants on key challenges, opportunities and pathways towards resilient and sustainable water systems in islands.

Closing Remarks

Jia Li, PhD – Global Lead, Adaptation & Resilience, One Climate Group, World Bank

Summary of key messages and lessons emerging from the webinar, bringing together insights from the case studies, innovative solutions, governance approaches and financing perspectives as well as the World Bank Group’s flagship activities on adaptation & resilience policy and implementation.