Water, Nature and Resilience in Cambridgeshire: Turning Challenges into Action
October 12 @ 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
An evening of discussion, collaboration and networking, including the launch of the Water Living Lab for Greater Cambridge.
How can Cambridgeshire secure a thriving future in the face of growing pressure on water, nature and climate resilience?
Join regional leaders, innovators, practitioners and decision-makers to explore practical solutions to some of the most significant challenges facing Cambridgeshire today, and to help shape a shared agenda for action.
Cambridgeshire is one of the most water-stressed regions in England. As pressures from climate change, population growth and environmental degradation intensify, water security is becoming a defining challenge for the region’s prosperity and resilience.
The Water Living Lab is a new initiative which brings together estates, infrastructure and expertise from across the region to test, evaluate and scale practical approaches to water resilience, climate adaptation and nature recovery. Led by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), and developed in partnership with organisations across Cambridge, including Churchill College, the Water Living Lab aims to accelerate the adoption of solutions that can strengthen environmental resilience while supporting the region’s future development.
As a founding partner in the Water Living Lab and host of this event, Churchill College is helping demonstrate how organisations can respond to these challenges in practice. The official opening of the newly retrofitted Sheppard Flats earlier in the day reflects the kind of innovation and applied learning that the Water Living Lab seeks to encourage and marks an important milestone in the College’s long-term strategy to adapt to a changing climate, improve biodiversity and support the wellbeing of its community.
A keynote from Tony Juniper, Chair of Natural England, will explore the environmental and economic challenges facing the East of England, from water scarcity and biodiversity loss to the energy transition and the pressures of growth. He will consider what a serious regional response would require and why action is needed now.
This will be followed by a panel discussion chaired by James Cole, Chief Innovation Officer at CISL, examining how organisations can move from shared ambition to collective delivery. Bringing together voices from local government, major landowners, water companies, academia and innovative businesses, the discussion will explore how different sectors can align around common goals and work together to deliver practical, measurable change.
Panellists include:
- Councillor Katie Thornburrow, Leader of Cambridge City Council
- Lizzie Sears, Development Manager, The Crown Estate
- Dr Paul Leinster CBE, Independent Chair, Water Resources East
- Krystian Zajac, CEO, Watergate AI
The seminar will take place in the Wolfson Hall and will be followed by a drinks reception from 6:45pm.
Entry is free, but booking is essential: Water, Nature and Resilience in Cambridgeshire – Fill in form