Water in Times of Climate Change

Dr. Jan Jorrit Hasselaar, theologian and economist, is Director of the Amsterdam Centre for Religion and Sustainable Development, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam. He is research fellow of the University of the Western Cape (South Africa). Hasselaar chaired the working group ‘Sustainable Development’ of the Council of Churches in the Netherlands (2011-2018). Elisabeth IJmker has a background in public policy and international development. She works on religion and societal challenges at the Vrije Universiteit, which she combines with a political career as local representative in the city council of Amsterdam.

This book is built on a unique process of consultation which took heart, mind and body into account – a linkage of wisdom shared by academics, policy makers, and ordinary citizens. The narratives in the book reflect the processes, the realities and the advocacy for change much needed in today’s pandemic-riddled world of inequities. The theme of water is that of life itself. Intrinsic to all health: planetary, governance, and urban and rural human realities, water defines the essence of our lives and the imperatives of our individual and institutional accountability for today – and for a tomorrow. - Azza Karam, Secretary General of Religions for Peace International and Professor of Religion and Development at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Water is life’s enabler, the catalyst to build a better future for all. Water brings us all together, forging inspiring coalitions, empowering all across society. Water is about us humans, it changes us, from within. This book shows the need to embrace these different values of water. It inspires the global water dialogue and helps us strengthen our water partnerships, for hope and the power to change course. - Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs for the Netherlands People of faith believe that water is a source of life, a symbol of cleansing, sometimes even sacred. In reality the opposite is often true: water may be scarce, stolen or toxic. Water may give life and provide sanitation, but in South Africa we also face realities of extreme drought and children drowning in pit toilets. This volume is unique, as it brings together civil society, religion, government, business, and academia to find ways of working together to address these tensions and challenges around water and climate change. - Prof. Ernst Conradie, Department of Religion and Theology, University of the Western Cape

• Introduction (Prof. Ruard Ganzevoort), Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (Dr John Chryssavgis, Jan Jorrit Hasselaar), 1. The Need for Dialogue, An academic perspective (Prof. Vinod Subramaniam), A governmental perspective (Prof. Caroline Nevejan), Kadir van Lohuizen, photos, An economic perspective (Prof. Jan Peter Balkenende), A religious perspective (Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew), 2. Global Perspectives on Water and Climate Change, Closing session of Amsterdam International Water Week (Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew), Reflection by Bianca Nijhof, Global challenges on water and climate change (Prof. Jeroen Aerts), 3. Voices of the Next Generation: How Dare You?, Water Quality Management (Liang Yu), Caring for our water cycle (Françeska Tomori), Water crisis and social inequalities (Monserrat Vásquez L), Taking action (Bas Zaalberg), Interdisciplinarity in solving global challenges (Samira I. Ibrahim), 4. Voices from Those Who Dare, Building with nature (Pieter van Oord), Faith for Earth Programme (Dr Iyad Abumoghli), Water and religion (Cardinal Turkson), Reflection by Hein Pieper, 5. Water-Sensitive Cities, Jakarta, Amsterdam, Cape Town, Reflection by Thabo Makgoba, 6. A Covenant of Hope, Covenant of Hope, Reflection by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, Reflection by Gerhard van den Top, Reflection by Jos Douma, Reflection by Richard Kooloos, 7. The Role of Religion in Society, The Netherlands as pluralist society (Prof. Jan Anthonie Bruijn), Religion and Security (Prof. Ernst Hirsch Ballin), Religion as force for good (Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew), Conclusion: Concrete steps into a hopeful future.