The Water Minister has issued their Climate Innovation Challenge. It is about inspiring water corporations to act on climate change. It’s about coming up with intelligent solutions to tackle the challenges the industry is facing now and into the future.
In collaboration with the Minister for Water and DEECA, Intelligent Water Networks (IWN) invites all Victorian water corporations to participate in the Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge. It is an exciting new initiative encouraging innovation, collaboration and sustainable thinking.
The water industry climate change challenges
As an industry interconnected to environmental conditions, climate change poses significant challenges to the water sector.
Decreased rainfall and hotter temperatures directly affect water availability. At the same time, natural disasters like floods and bushfires create further impacts, with the potential to cause costly infrastructure damage, outages, or excessive water demand.
As climate change brings less predictable weather patterns and an increased likelihood of extreme weather events, the need for new adaptive measures has never been more critical.
Proactively building climate change resilience
The Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge is a unique opportunity for water corporations to demonstrate their commitment towards creating positive outcomes in the face of these climate change challenges.
It encourages a collective mindset across the water sector to help strengthen our climate resilience and shape the future of our industry.
$85K Fund for innovative solutions
With a generous prize pool of $85,000 up for grabs, the Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge calls on water professionals to find innovative solutions to mitigate the climate change issues impacting the industry – whether it be through reducing the impacts or creating new opportunities through them.
Given the range of climate change impacts, the challenge has the potential to tackle various concerns, including issues like carbon emissions, water scarcity, waste management or any other method that alleviates the effects of climate change.
The challenge also includes a broad range of professions within the industry.
It welcomes diverse possibilities, whether stormwater harvesting or recycled water projects, new technological trials, or ideas promoting behavioural change, such as effective water-saving campaigns. All are encouraged to apply.
Projects that are already in scope will also be accepted.
Quotes from the Intelligent Water Networks (IWN)
“IWN are excited to harness the creativity and innovative thinking of our industry to make a real difference in how we respond to the impacts of climate change.
The Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge is not just about finding solutions; it’s about fostering a community of forward-thinkers united in their commitment to securing a sustainable future for our industry.
Together, we can develop solutions that benefit the water sector and contribute to a healthier and more sustainable environment for all.”
Jason Cotton, Program Director, Intelligent Water Networks
How to make a submission
Submissions for the challenge will be accepted until 22 September 2023.
For further information or to submit a project, visit the Water Minister’s Climate Innovation Challenge at climateinnovationchallenge.org.au.
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