Brian Richter

Water shortages are now affecting half the world’s population, disrupting food and energy security as well as urban water supplies in many cities.  The overuse of water and associated drying of rivers, lakes, and aquifers has become a leading cause of freshwater species imperilment.  Climate change forecasts foretell even greater challenges in many water-scarce regions. These threats to our water future can be ameliorated, but it will require bold and concerted action on the part of governments, city leaders, and farmers. This presentation will highlight the key solutions that must be implemented.

Brian Richter has been a global leader in water science and conservation for more than 30 years.  He is the president of Sustainable Waters, a global water education organization, where he promotes sustainable water use and management with governments, corporations, universities, and local communities. He previously served as Managing Director for the Global Water Program of The Nature Conservancy, an international conservation organization.  Brian has consulted on more than 150 water projects worldwide.

He serves as a water advisor to some of the world’s largest corporations, investment banks, and the United Nations, and has testified before the U.S. Congress on multiple occasions. He also teaches a course on Water Sustainability at the University of Virginia. He co-authored a book with Sandra Postel entitled Rivers for Life: Managing Water for People and Nature. His latest book, Chasing Water: A Guide for Moving from Scarcity to Sustainability, has now been published in five languages.