Cities in Action: Expert Conversations for Urban Hydrology Solutions
IIHS, in collaboration with the Hixon Center for Urban Sustainability, Yale University has launched, 'Cities in Action: Expert Conversations for Urban Solutions', a four-part webinar series. In the second edition, focusing on Urban Hydrology, we will have have Jagdish Krishnaswamy, Dean, IIHS School of Environment and Sustainability (SES) to moderate the conversation between S. Vishwanath, Advisor, Biome Environmental Trust; and Gerald Bright, Assistant Director of Program Development - Mayor's Office of Clean and Green Initiatives, Philadelphia.
In this webinar, experts will explore comparative approaches to developing sustainable water systems in cities – now home to over 50% of the global population. Urban areas often have a large water footprint, relying on distant rivers and reservoirs, and groundwater extraction threatens the sustainability of increasingly depleted and sometimes contaminated aquifers. Furthermore, local hydrological processes are significantly altered by impermeable surfaces, loss of green spaces, and infrastructure. These changes make cities vulnerable to rapid runoff and flooding during extreme weather events, which have intensified with climate change and sea-level rise. The risk of polluted runoff exacerbates threats to human and ecosystem health.
As these challenges mount, there has never been a greater need for effective solutions. However, cities are also hubs of innovation, with nature-based solutions like bioswales on the rise alongside strategies for wastewater recycling and rainwater harvesting. The science shows that blue and green infrastructure not only support water security and reduce flood risks, but also mitigate heat stress and provide quality of life improvements. This webinar will investigate challenges and opportunities in urban water management across biophysical, ecological, and socioeconomic dimensions, with experts sharing actionable insights from case studies in U.S. and Indian cities.
