The Summit explored issues surrounding the great
storage houses of fresh water in mountain regions of the
world. One-half of the world's people drink water that
originates in mountain areas. As downstream demand
increases, the potential for conflict over the ownership and
use of that water increases. As global climate changes and
airborne pollution increases, the quantity and quality of
water available downstream becomes compromised.
The Summit looked at a 20-year horizon. It
highlighted the vulnerability of mountain water towers. It
will included world-renowned scientists, advocates and
authors: people whose expertise and passion for clean water
for the 21st century has translated into creative
endeavours, scientific research and action. An integrated
approach informed all aspects of the event.
The Summit included daytime conference sessions and
evening events aimed at the general public. Daytime sessions
followed five sub-themes, focusing on issues of quality
and quantity of water in - and from - mountain areas.
Major themes:
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Program
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Special Evening Presentations
Summit Book
"Whose Water is It?" is a book of evocative and
provocative essays, exploring the plight of the world’s
water now and into the future. Guest contributors are
world-renowned scientists, advocates, authors and water
managers, including: David Suzuki, Margaret Catley-Carlson,
David Schindler, Maude Barlow, Marq de Villiers, Aaron Wolf,
Lester Brown, Robert Glennon, Peter Gleick and Hans Schreier.
Edited by Bernadette McDonald of The Banff Centre and
Douglas Jehl, national correspondent for the New York Times,
and published by National Geographic, this publication is a treasured keepsake of International Year of Fresh
Water.
read more...
All participants of the Mountains as Water Towers Summit
received a hardcover copy of the book during the Summit
book launch.
Summit proceedings will also be published after the
Summit – one copy will automatically be sent to each
participant, and additional copies will be available for
purchase.
About our Sponsors:
Sponsored by Parks Canada, Petro-Canada, Environment Canada and Health Canada, National Geographic, The Calgary Foundation,
TD Friends of the Environment Foundation, Western Economic Diversification Canada, Bow River Basin Council, Alberta Environment, International
Research Development Centre, and the Commonwealth Foundation. Program undertaken with the financial support of the Government of Canada provided through the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA); Programme réalisé avec l'appui financier du gouvernement du Canada agissant par l'entremise de l'Agence canadienne
de développementinternational (ACDI).
The Summit is offered in co-operation with Partners FOR the Saskatchewan River Basin, Alberta Ecotrust, Mountain Forum
(North American node), and Columbia Basin Trust.
Join the Summit mailing list:
If you might be interested in attending a future Banff
Mountain Summit, please add your name to our
e-mailing list. Having your name on that list will
ensure that you receive information about all future Banff Mountain
Summit programs.
