GOVAQUA project

GOVAQUA-project identifies, assesses, develops and validates innovative governance instruments and approaches to support and accelerate a transition towards sustainable and equitable water use in Europe. Such a transition is urgently required to reconcile different water uses and environmental needs. By adopting an inter- and transdisciplinary methodology that combines case studies with living labs, the GOVAQUA team will systematically analyse and compare existing water governance systems across Europe. The focus is on water use and its impacts in agriculture, industries, energy production, water utilities and the role of citizens. GOVAQUA will deliver new knowledge, participatory tools and good practice guidelines laying out pathways towards sustainable and equitable water future. GOVAQUA is funded by European Union (Horizon Europe) and UK Research and Innovation. The project started in February 2023 and will end in January 2027. The project consortium connect 11 partner organisations: Finnish Environment Institute from Finland, Ecologic Institute from Germany, University of Twente from Netherlands, University of Cordoba and Water Technology Center from Spain, International Office for Water and French National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment from France, WWF Romania and Alliance for Water Stewardship, UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and The Rivers Trust from United Kingdom. The project is coordinated by the Finnish Environment Institute and lead by Dr. Suvi Sojamo and Prof. Antti Belinskij.