Noted architect and thought-leader William McDonough, and Circle of Blue director J. Carl Ganter reimagine how the world can respond more effectively to its water crises in this interactive broadcast.

Speakers

J. Carl Ganter

J. Carl Ganter is co-founder and director of Circle of Blue, the internationally recognized center for original frontline reporting, research, and analysis on resource issues with a focus on the intersection between water, food, and energy. Carl — an award-winning photojournalist, reporter, and broadcaster — is recognized for developing the keen skills that helped to shape the multimedia journalism era. He received the Rockefeller Foundation’s Centennial Innovation Award (2012).

William McDonough

McDonough’s interests and influence range widely, and he works at scales from the global to the molecular. He is recognized globally as a leader in sustainable development. His vision for a future of abundance for all is helping companies and communities think differently. Together they are changing the world.

Torgny Holmgren

Holmgren is Former Ambassador at the Swedish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Head of the Department for Development Policy, Mr. Torgny Holmgren became SIWI’s Executive Director in 2012. Holmgren has served as an expert or board member on the World Economic Forum Global Agenda Council on Water, the World Water Council (Permanent Observer in the Board of Governors), the European Advisory Group of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and with Water Aid (Sweden).

John Oldfield

Oldfield led the efforts of WASH Advocates (2011 – 2015) to increase awareness of global water and sanitation challenges and solutions, and to increase the amount and effectiveness of resources devoted to those solutions throughout the developing world. He believes strongly that global water challenges are more solvable than difficult. John previously founded two implementing nonprofits in the water sector, and served as Executive Vice President with Water Advocates, an advocacy group in Washington, DC dedicated to increasing financial and political support for worldwide access to safe, affordable and sustainable supplies of drinking water and sanitation.

J. Carl Ganter: This is J. Carl Ganter and we’re getting ready here in the studios of Interlochen Public Radio to start another H2O Catalyst event. Standby, we’ll get started in just a moment.
Global water crises, from drought across some of the world’s most productive farmlands to the hundreds of millions of people without access to safe drinking water or adequate sanitation, are among the biggest threats facing the planet. I’m J. Carl Ganter, and this is H2O Catalyst, from Circle of Blue.
Today we’re coming to you live from Interlochen Public Radio, and joined by participants from around the world. Today’s program is produced in collaboration with the World Economic Forum Global Future Council on the Environment.
In the United States alone, basic water infrastructure is outdated, leaky, and in some cases like Flint, Michigan, the water has become dangerous to drink. At the same time, water scarcity and its value in China, India, South Africa, and the United States, is driving a global pivot away from coal production and combustion and toward water-conserving cleaner fuels. With water at the core of life, environment, and commerce, just how do we value water? And how do differences and similarities in values across cultures and geographies define or redefine policy, action, and use? This is our mission today. In just a few moments we’ll be joined by special guest Bill McDonough, architect and design thinker, and we’ll talk about shaping a new narrative for water, going from values to value. And we’ll hear from Torgny Holmgren from the Stockholm International Water Institute, and John Oldfield from Water, 2017 in Washington. And we’ll hear from you.
To set up our conversation, let’s start by going to Stockholm, where we’re joined by Torgny Holmgren, Executive Director of the Stockholm International Water Institute. Torgny, great to have you on the line.