To raise awareness about the great urgency required to address water-related challenges, the Netherlands is launching the We Value Water campaign. You can participate by downloading our We Value Water communication kit. The kit includes: virtual backgrounds, a GIF, ready-to-use social media posts and, the NL sticker which you can put on your corporate communications, and customisable visuals to show that you are part of the campaign and stand for the value of water.
Droughts in Somalia. Water rationing in Rome. Record high Rhine water levels in the Netherlands. You do not have to be a hydrologist to realise that there is a growing global water crisis. Billions of people do not have access to safe drinking water at home or lack safely managed sanitation. Water scarcity is increasing, water quality is decreasing and water ecosystems are under threat, which all contribute to decreasing water availability, affecting vulnerable communities the most. Projections suggest the world may face a 40% shortfall in water availability by 2030 (UN 2016). Water shortages are now affecting more than three billion people around the world, as the amount of fresh water available for each person has plunged by a fifth over two decades, data has shown. The World Economic Forum has ranked water risk consistently as a major threat to the global economy for the past eight years.
As the world population increases, so does the need for high quality, safe and nutritious food. Our challenge? To increase supply, without damaging the environment. Farmed fish could potentially meet this growing demand and environmental criteria. In Kenya, FoodTechAfrica works with local partners to develop a sustainable aquaculture sector using localised Dutch technology.
As more and more people move from rural to urban areas, municipalities face the challenge of keeping urban environments liveable. Public green space, such as parks and forests gives people extra breathing room for the city. It has a profound effect on our physical and mental health and bring communities together. With that in mind, Dutch designer Carve and Omgeving and contractor Krinkels transformed part of an old mine in Belgium into an adventure playground.
After a very successful CES2021, part of the Dutch delegation continues to showcase its innovative tech solutions for global challenges during the virtual Netherlands Innovation Roadshow 2021. After the kick-off in Boston and New York on 18 January, the roadshow moves to innovation hubs Singapore, Chicago, Russia, South Korea, Israel, and further afield. Until February 15, entrepreneurs can explore new markets and establish contacts with like-minded people all over the world. Join us for tailor-made market expansion sessions and meet our innovation and startup liaison officers at embassies and consulates throughout the world. Let’s discuss how together we can make this world a better place. Are you interested in international innovation and R&D trends, looking for international contacts or do you want to get in touch with one of our tech diplomats? Please reach out!
Average global temperatures are set to rise by 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the century. Even though, in the Paris Agreement, most of the world’s governments have pledged to keep this figure at least below 2 degrees, and preferably below 1.5. With the last five years being the warmest on record, the climate is changing more rapidly than scientists predicted. This has led to more frequent and intense extreme weather events and natural disasters. In the past year, 50 million people became victims of flooding, drought and extreme weather. Consequently, successive World Economic Forum (WEF) Global Risk Reports increasingly cite climate issues as a major threat.
Around 70 percent of the working population in Jordan is employed by small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The large majority of these companies have difficulties to get financing. Fintech platform liwwa is there to support them.