International Workshop at Lund University

Filippo Verre - December 3/4, 2024

Filippo Verre, President of AB AQUA, participated in the international workshop "Rivers, Sacred Values, and Environmental Attitudes", held at Lund University on December 3-4, 2024. The event brought together experts and scholars from around the world to explore the intersections between cultural values, environmental approaches, and water resource management, with a particular focus on contexts of conflict and infrastructural development.

During the workshop, Filippo Verre delivered a presentation titled "The Sacred Flow: Environmental and Cultural Attitudes Toward the Irrawaddy River Amidst Chinese Infrastructure Development in Myanmar", focusing on the importance of sustainable water resource management in complex scenarios. The presentation analyzed the case of the Irrawaddy River, one of the most significant and culturally rich waterways in Southeast Asia, highlighting its centrality to local communities’ livelihoods and its exposure to environmental challenges posed by China-backed infrastructure projects.

Dr. Verre emphasized how the development of dams and other interventions along the Irrawaddy is generating tensions between the economic needs for modernization and the traditional values of local populations, for whom the river represents not only an economic resource but also a spiritual and cultural symbol. In his presentation, he stressed the crucial role of inclusive hydro-strategic policies that address not only technical and economic aspects but also social and cultural dimensions.

Through an interdisciplinary approach, Filippo Verre discussed how infrastructure development can be balanced with the preservation of river ecosystems and the respect for cultural identities. His analysis showcased innovative solutions, such as integrating low-impact technologies and promoting participatory dialogue with local communities, advocating for a paradigm shift toward water resource management that is truly sustainable and respectful of the sacred values of the involved communities.

Filippo Verre’s participation in the workshop reaffirmed AB AQUA' s commitment to identifying water strategies that contribute to harmonious and sustainable development, once again underscoring the importance of addressing environmental challenges through a global and inclusive approach.

The slides presented during Dr. Verre's presentation can be found at this link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dlEpPrfcIh23XF5AUOJMsP69TgPAw8JU/view?usp=sharing.