Crossing the planetary boundary for freshwater: what's at stake?

Among the nine planetary boundaries identified by the Stockholm Resilience Centre in 2009, six have been transgressed to this date: climate change, biodiversity erosion, disruption of the biogeochemical cycles of nitrogen and phosphorus, introduction of novel entities in the biosphere, land system change and, recently, global use of freshwater.

On 22 November, from 5pm to 6.15pm, Jean-Raynald de Dreuzy and Sara Fernandez will discuss the stakes of crossing this planetary boundary. Why was it transgressed? What are the consequences? Is it possible to turn back the clock? Our speakers will address these issues from a scientific perspective considering water not just as a resource, but also a common good. The exchange will be followed by Q&A session with the participants.

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Profile of speakers:

Jean-Raynald de Dreuzy is a CNRS Research Director assigned to the CNRS-Université de Rennes Géosciences Rennes joint research unit, and vice-president of research at the Ecole Normale Supérieure de Rennes. His research focuses on the water and elements cycle, from the water catchment scale to the regional scale. He is notably working on the interactions between surface and subsurface transfers, aquifer contamination and changes in resources as a result of climate change. He co-facilitates OneWater Challenge 2 on water footprint and Targeted Project 4 (PC).

Sara Fernandez is Chief engineer Ponts, Eaux, Forêts (ICPEF), holder of an accreditation to direct research in geography (University Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne), researcher at INRAE, director of the Mixed Research Unit INRAE-ENGEES "regional management of water and the environment" (UMR GESTE, MA8101). Her research focuses on the links between environments, knowledge and power in the field of water, with particular attention paid to commensuration processes and their territorial and temporal dimensions. She is notably working on public action instruments, equipment and facilities dedicated to managing water shortages, managing industrial pollution and restoring aquatic environments.