Many countries across the world, from Switzerland to Afghanistan, have become dependent on water resources in river basins that drain high mountain regions, for urban supply, irrigation and hydro- electric power. Mountain river flows are supplied by melting snow and ice. But climate change is accelerating the melting of glaciers. At present, melting ice provides a subsidy to river flows, encouraging optimism about future supplies. But when glaciers are gone, water yields will fall: the age of Peak Water will be over.

Should we be optimistic or pessimistic about water futures? How far can we understand and predict the future availability of water from icy and snowy mountain basins?

Event programme:

• Welcome remarks by Bill Adams, Claudio Segré Chair Of Conservation and Development,

  Centre for International Environmental Studies (CIES), Geneva Graduate Institute

• Lecture by Professor Stuart Lane, Institute of Earth Surface Dynamics (IDYST), University of

  Lausanne (UNIL).

• Q&A session with the public

  This event is organised by the Centre for International Environmental Studies (CIES) and is part of the Sustainability Week Geneva.