This presentation was given at the EPA’s National Water Event 2019, which took place on 29 and 30 May 2019 in Galway. This presentation by Sharon Kennedy from An Forum Uisce is on engaging society in water challenge.

1. Civic Offices, Limerick Road
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
Civic Offices, Limerick Road
Nenagh, Co. Tipperary
ENGAGING SOCIETY IN
WATER CHALLENGE
MAY 2019

3. THE CENTRALITY OF WATER
There is a need for greater public awareness
on the centrality of high quality water,
both as an end in itself
but also as a barometer of the wider environmental
and eco system health.

4. ENGAGING SOCIETY
Understanding that water is a scarce resource
to be protected and shared as a most precious good.

5. ENGAGING SOCIETY
Getting the balance between
Economic demands & environmental impacts;
Private goods & common goods
Knowledge & influence

6. TAPPING INTO DRIVERS –
PERSONAL & COMMUNITY
AWARENESS
UNDERSTANDING
ENGAGING
ACTIVE PARTICIPATION
EVIDENCE OF IMPACT

7. TAPPING INTO DRIVERS – STAKEHOLDER
CONCERNS AND INTERESTS
LEVELS OF INFORMATION AND INFLUENCE
BALANCE OF POWER
CONVERGENCE OF BUSINESS & ENVIRONMENTAL
OBJECTIVES

8. TAPPING INTO DRIVERS – STATE AGENCIES
LEGISLATION AND POLICIES
POLITICAL WORLD
LIMITED RESOURCES
URGENT V IMPORTANT

10. STRATEGIC PRIORITY 7

11. PUBLIC CONSULTATION
RANGE OF TERMINOLOGY CAUSING CONFUSION
DEFINING ‘THE PUBLIC’
CITIZEN ENGAGEMENT
STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

12. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT IN WATER GOVERNANCE
• Project to enable and support useful, evidence-
based recommendations on the delivery of
effective public engagement in ICM.
• Feeding into 3rd Cycle of River Basin
Management Plan.
• Best practice in Ireland, EU and further.
• Equity and inequity
• Relationship between science and community
knowledge

13. PUBLIC CONSULTATION PROCESSES
• Information – up to date, relevant, well
presented
• Use of text supported by data, maps, info-
graphics etc.
• Notifications
• Timelines
• Facilitating interaction

14. STRATEGIC PRIORITY 6

15. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
• Water environment & water services
• Water pollution
• Conservation
• Sustainable use of water

16. EDUCATION AND AWARENESS
• Translating and socialising the science for public
dissemination;
• Communicating relevant information amongst and
between the various bodies and the public;
• Exploring policy implementation relevance;
• Research programme.

17. THE CHALLENGE
To increase the consciousness of the public
of the vulnerability of our water resource and
on the interplay between individual behaviour,
community, sectoral and societal norms and national
policies.