• Speech by Mr. Benedito Braga, president of the World Water Council at the Forum on Modern Water Governance and Technological Innovation (Beijing, October 18, 2018)
• Interview to Mr. Benedito Braga, president of the World Water Council, by the IWHR in October 2018
• Interview to Mr. Felix Reinders, President of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, by the IWHR in October 2018
• Interview to Mr. Peter Goodwin, President of International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research, by the IWHR in October 2018
• Interview to Mr. Michael Rogers, President of International Commission on Large Dams, by the IWHR in October 2018

  

Speech by Mr. Benedito Braga, president of the World Water Council at the Forum on Modern Water Governance and Technological Innovation (Beijing, October 18, 2018)

 

Excellency, Distinguished guests, Dear friends,

 

I would like to start by expressing my sincere gratitude to the Government of the People’s Republic of China for sponsoring this event and congratulate our member, the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research, for organizing the Academic Week and, in particular, this Forum on the occasion of its 60th anniversary.

 

As President of the World Water Council, it is a great pleasure t obe among committed friends of the water cause.

 

Water is an irreplaceable resource.

 

If you ask any person on this planet, including high level government officials and politicians, about the importance of water for our daily life, the answer will be unanimous: it is vital.

However, 844 million people still lack basic water services and 2.1 billion lack safely managed drinking water.

 

Fourteen of the world’s 20 megacities are now experiencing water scarcity or drought conditions. As many as four billion people already live in regions that experience severe water stress for at least one month of the year. Nearly half of those people live in India and China. With populations rising, these figures will escalate dramatically.

 

In the current context, business-as-usual will not achieve global water security. If we don’t innovate, we will not be able to make progress on the Sustainable Development Goals. 

 

This is why we are here today.

 

The world is in urgent need of innovative, resilient and efficient measures to address water security, and requires the participation of each and every one of us, in partnership.

 

An example of a strong and fruitful partnership is represented by the longstanding friendship between the World Water Council and the Government of China, which have recently launched the book “Global Water Security: Lessons Learnt and Long-Term Implications.” This book show cases the diversity of perspectives and alternatives around water security in ten different countries, and hence, represents an innovative approach, aiming at answering to the global water challenges through individual responses.

 

According to Confucius, “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don't adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” The transition to a more sustainable development model surely requires political will from governments, but it also starts with us, here, today through events like this, as well as through enhanced collaboration among us. 

 

It is our role to guide policy-makers, addressing the needs of our communities. I would like to focus today my message on the absolute necessity of sharing experiences across sectors and nations for the common good.

 

In order to connect to high-level decision-makers and influence the global agenda for a water-secure world, we must keep track of regional realities and keep promoting innovative experiences.

 

We will only contribute to solving water issues by multiplying and scaling up the many concrete solutions that have been developed around the world to better manage and protect our resources.

 

We are privileged to witness the attendance of so many distinguished water experts and resource persons, here today. You are all leaders in your own fields, and I am fully confident that your knowledge, experience and expertise will provide important insights on strengthening our shared responsibility around water.

 

Because water is a matter of unity and sharing.

 

This is why I look very much forward to our discussions today.

Thank you for your kind attention.

 

 

国际组织代表、世界水理事会主席本内迪托·布拉加在现代治水与科技创新高端论坛上的致辞

 

尊敬的领导、来宾、朋友们：

首先，请允许我在此，对中国政府给予此次论坛的支持表示感谢！同时也祝贺世界水理事会会员单位——中国水利水电科学研究院组建60周年之际组织这次学术活动周。

作为世界水理事会的主席，能与志同道合的水利友人相聚于此，我感到十分高兴。

水是一种不可替代的资源。

任意一个人，即便是政府高级官员和政治家，问问他水资源对于我们日常生活的重要性，答案都只有一个：至关重要。然而，全球范围内，仍有8.44亿人口的基本水需求无法得到满足，21亿人口缺乏安全饮用水。

全球最大的20座城市中，有14个正面临缺水与干旱的困境。仍有高达40亿人口每年至少有一个月面临严重的缺水压力，其中一半来自印度和中国。随着人口继续增长，这些数字还会大幅上升。

新形势下，如果沿用旧办法，将难以保障全球水安全。不创新，就无法推动可持续发展目标。

这正是我们今天聚首于此的原因。

这个世界急需创新、弹性、高效的行动来保障水安全，需要每个人都参与进来，协同合作。

世界水理事会与中国政府多年来建立起的友谊与合作关系，深入持久，成果丰硕，堪称典范。今年水理事会与中国水利部共同出版了《全球水安全：经验教训与深远影响》，全方位展示了来自10个国家多位专家学者在水安全领域的观点及创新做法，旨在通过个体的智慧回应全球水挑战。

孔子有云：“射有似乎君子。失诸正鹄，反求诸其身。”转变为可持续发展模式自然需要来自政府的政治意愿，也需要从我们做起，通过像今天这样的论坛活动，以及不断深化的合作。

引导决策者，兑现我们曾经许下的承诺，是我们的职责所在。今天的致辞，我想强调的一点是，为了人类的福祉，我们急需进行跨部门和跨国经验交流。为了沟通高层决策者，为了影响全球议事日程，为了全人类的用水安全，我们必须密切关注区域现状，持续推广创新经验。

全世界范围内已出现众多切实可行的方案。只有将这些成果加以推广扩大，才有可能为水问题的解决做出贡献，进而提升管理水平，保护水资源。

今天，如此众多受人敬重的水与资源专家齐聚此地，能够亲临见证，我们备感荣幸。在座的各位都是各自领域的领军人物，我坚信，你们的知识、经验与才能将带来重要的见解，能够帮助我们加强水领域的共同责任。

因为水，事关团结与分享。

正因如此，我特别期待今天的研讨。

谢谢大家！

 

Interview to Mr. Benedito Braga, president of the World Water Council, by the IWHR in October 2018

 

Your view about the global status quo and trend for global water security.

 

We live in an era where water security is paramount to ensure socioeconomic development and growth. Due to demographic pressure, accelerated urbanization and industrialization, coupled with climate variability and change affecting water availability and the frequency and severity of extreme events, achieving and maintaining water security is a global development challenge. For the seventh consecutive year, the latest World Economic Forum Global Risks Report places water among the five top-ranked global risks of highest potential impact over the next 10 years.

 

Nevertheless, far from being a problem, water is a determining factor in ensuring sustainable development. It is the enabler and the connector, the essential common thread that connects all the SDGs of the 2030 Agenda. Water is the lens through which growth must be viewed and planned if we are to eradicate poverty, build resilient communities and prepare for long-term sustainability.

 

The world is in urgent need of innovative, resilient and efficient measures to address water security, with the collaboration of everybody. We must together implement solutions that build upon shared responsibility and collective action among all stakeholders. 

 

Providing safe drinking water to communities requires political will, sound policies and increased investments for infrastructure, to serve all water users and activities. We need to seek synergy between water and energy, transport, food, land use and the environment and develop more effective water governance. Technologies also will play a very important role, since they can support and help inform decision-makers. 

 

We will be successful only if these solutions are designed with the engagement and commitment of diverse stakeholders from other sectors.

 

Let us not forget that implementing water security will allow security in most other domains: energy, environment, food, and health.

 

How do you look at the Chinese achievement in this field by now?

 

With the Yellow River being considered as the cradle of Chinese civilization, we all have much to learn from the Chinese knowledge on water.

 

Being one of the countries with the largest population, China has been facing serious challenges to safeguard water security. Limited water resources per capita, together with growth of water demand, uneven distribution of precipitation in time and space, and intensifying impacts of climate variability and change, especially flooding and waterlogging, have been posed significant risks to China’s economic and social development.

 

Faced with this severe situation, the Chinese government has reacted by raising water security to the level of National strategy and has implemented a series of actions and reforms to accelerate the development of the water sector. By combining a more integrated approach and a systematic governance with increase investments in water infrastructure and technology, in the past 30 years, China has made tremendous progress in developing, and managing its water resources. Most of major rivers are now protected from floods and irrigation development has reduced the impact of droughts.  The water infrastructure built through increased investments basically meet economic, social and ecological demands for water use. Today China has become the world leader in hydropower and has been able to enhance the influencing role of water resources in promoting economic transformation.

 

The Chinese National Strategy for water fully corresponds to the objectives of the World Water Council, by putting the priority on securing water and placing human development at the heart of its thinking and I firmly believe that policies like “The Most Stringent Water Resources Management System” are extraordinary examples of how political will and determination can achieve positive change.

 

The water community that the World Water Council represents, has found a very powerful partner in China to carry our mutual will to make water a reality for all and to promote the importance of water as a mean for an improved quality of life.

 

The inspiring leadership of the Chinese Government has strengthened the Council’s position for increased investment to develop water services and infrastructure to yield economic, environmental and social returns. 

 

How do you look at the IWHR achievement in this field over its 60 years of development?

 

The collaboration between the Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research and the Government of China is an excellent example of how research and development in support of decision makers can achieve extraordinary results.

 

During the last 60 years, IWHR has been faithfully committed to its mission of pursuing the prosperity of its Country and the well-being of Chinese population.

 

Through hard work and a philosophy based on the concept of "harmonious co-existence between human and nature", the Institute has contributed to the admirable development of the water and energy sectors of its nation.

 

Over the decades it has continually expanded and not only it has grown into an indispensable scientific and technological support of the Chinese government for decision making and a backbone technical consultant in water related areas, but it has also become an excellent and internationally recognized research institute.

 

What is your expectation or wishes for IWHR in the future?

 

I commend the exemplary efforts of the Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research and its many valuable contributions to the management of water resources.

 

I firmly believe that when a Government takes informed decisions based on research and technology development, the results are excellent, as demonstrated by the progress made by China in the field of water resources management.

 

The extraordinary achievements of IWHR in hydropower development, flood control, irrigation management, water supply and other water related areas, including water technology and construction, will surely serve as inspiration for other countries, accelerating the progress toward sustainable development.

 

I wish the Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research many more years of success and internationally recognized accomplishments.

 

 

 

环球水声 | 本内迪托·布拉加：中国水科院为中国水利及能源行业的可喜发展做出突出贡献

 

2018年金秋十月，中国水科院组建60周年学术活动周在京召开，共设置1场全体大会及11场学术分会，来自全球近40个国家的代表参会，探讨水问题，共享发展成果，共商发展对策。为梳理学术成果，分享专家观点，共享水科故事，特推出“环球水声 - 国际嘉宾话水科”系列报道，以期激发学术灵感，共推水利科技进步。

 

2018年10月，世界水理事会主席本内迪托·布拉加（Benedito Braga）接受了采访。

他说，水安全对于经济社会发展至关重要，也是保障可持续发展的决定性因素，是联合国2030议程其它所有可持续发展目标的助力与纽带，需要全球各界齐心协力，采取创新、灵活、高效的措施，并与能源、交通、粮食、国土及环境等相关部门联动，形成合力，提升治水能力，保障世界水安全。

中国是世界上人口最多的国家。面对水资源短缺、用水需求陡增、降水时空分布不均等严峻挑战，中国政府将水安全上升到国家战略层面，采取一系列有力措施，运用系统综合治理手段，加大水利基础设施及科技研发投资，对水资源进行了卓有成效的利用与管理，取得了巨大成就。如今，中国江河安澜，农田灌溉有效降低了干旱的负面影响，水利基础设施建设从根本上缓解了经济、社会及生态的用水压力。中国还是世界水电开发的领导者，有力推动了国内经济转型。中国推行的水战略与世界水理事会的目标不谋而合，最严格水资源管理制度是政治意愿推动正面变革的绝佳典范。

过去60年间，中国水科院始终不忘初心，牢记国家繁荣昌盛、人民安居乐业的神圣使命，秉持人与自然和谐共处的先进理念，艰苦奋斗，为中国水利及能源行业的可喜发展做出了突出贡献。经过几十年持续发展，中国水科院已成为水利行业不可或缺的技术骨干，为国家提供了强有力的科技支撑及决策支持，获得了国际社会的广泛认可，为其它国家树立了光辉榜样，也推动了可持续发展的进程。

祝愿未来中国水科院百尺竿头更进一步，再创举世瞩目的丰功伟业。

 

受访人简介

本内迪托·布拉加（Benedito Braga），世界水理事会主席，巴西圣保罗州政府卫生与水资源事务秘书长、巴西圣保罗大学理工学院土木与环境工程教授。布拉加先生曾任联合国教科文组织国际水文计划委员会的委员，参与制定其第5阶段的计划（1995-2000）。曾任国际水文计划政府间理事会主席（2008-2009），巴西圣保罗州能源与卫生事物秘书长高级顾问（2010），古本基智囊团（葡萄牙里斯本）水与人类未来研究部委员（2010-2012），巴西国家水利署董事会成员（2001-2009），以及国际水资源协会主席（1998-2000）等，出版专著25本。（撰稿人：蔡金栋   王妍炜）

 

 

Interview to Mr. Felix Reinders, President of International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, by the IWHR in October 2018

 

The Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research is one of the organizations that have excellent relationships with the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage. We've got a long history of working together, exchanging ideas, and also receiving tremendous support not only from a research base, but also financially. They have supported ICID in various ways. We are very grateful that IWHR of the contributions over the years, make it possible for us not only to host international workshops, but also talking to young professionals, training them, providing them with the instrument for taking it further because they are the researchers, they are the experts for tomorrow.

And IWHR plays a significant role in terms of combining their efforts, in terms of research, in terms of looking at different techniques, different ways of applying water. And we as a group from the International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage have the privilege to visit the research facilities here in China where we were fascinated by the enormity of the work that has been conducted by excellent researchers not only in terms of monitoring, not only looking at crops but the engineering aspect. All have played a significant role in terms of meeting food security in China, and they are an example for the rest of the world.

What was prominent was the candidacy of Dr. Gao Zhanyi who was elected in 2011 the president of ICID. He brought, as an individual but also as a part of IWHR, excellent initiatives that were initiated in ICID. For instance, the Heritage of the Irrigation Systems that play a significant role in our history, in country's histories. And of course also the World Irrigation Forum that bring together not only high level delegates from countries, but also some expertise in talking to one another, exchanging ideas, and therefore also making a difference in irrigated agriculture.

The engagement of IWHR with ICID is of great importance and is at a very high level. There are many organizations that we have relationship with, and they are all important to us. IWHR plays a significant role, especially in Asia, in bringing together nations with the trainings they have hosted. Four years ago, one of my great colleagues attended that, and through the interaction with and support of IWHR, the training was a huge success. Those are the top level of cooperation and contribution, which were ally appreciate.

IWHR is of great importance not only for China but also for the great Asian in terms of establishing linkages, excellent research, and transferring that knowledge.

I learned that this year IWHR is celebrating its 60th birthday. It is a milestone for any organization, in terms of looking back at what have been achieved, but also looking forward to what needs to be done. We are facing huge challenges in terms of water, resources, human capital, food security, and IWHR has a tremendous role to play going forward. As president of ICID, I would like to congratulate IWHR for its 60th birthday. May they go from strength to strength! Congratulations, IWHR!

If one goes forward in any organization, you must have a clear vision, which is set out to direct everyone to go forward. ICID has the vision for 2030, alleviating poverty and hunger in a water free world. I believe with the support of IWHR we can achieve that. IWHR demonstrates over the years how they are committed to the betterment of everyone, not only people in China, but also the organizations they are working with, including ICID. We trust this cooperation will continue, and hand in hand we will supply water in the right way in the right place and enhance food security for all.

Happy birthday, IWHR!

 

环球水声 |菲利克斯?瑞恩德尔斯：中国水科院为保障中国粮食安全发挥重要作用，为全球其他地区树立榜样

2018年金秋十月，中国水科院组建60周年学术活动周在京召开，共设置1场全体大会及11场学术分会，来自全球近40个国家的代表参会，探讨水问题，共享发展成果，共商发展对策。为梳理学术成果，分享专家观点，共享水科故事，特推出“环球水声 - 国际嘉宾话水科”系列报道，以期激发学术灵感，共推水利科技进步。

国际灌排委员会（ICID）主席菲利克斯?瑞恩德尔斯(Felix Reinders)先生接受了采访。

他说，中国水利水电科学研究院是世界，尤其是亚洲举足轻重的水利水电科研机构，为保障中国粮食安全发挥了重要作用，为全球其他地区树立了榜样。

中国水科院同包括国际灌排委员会（ICID）在内的国际涉水机构联系密切，交流深入，是国际水利舞台上积极和重要的参与者。2011年，中国水科院高占义教授成功当选ICID主席，这是中国水科院与ICID合作的一个重要里程碑。多年间中国水科院还为ICID输送了共四名副主席。在中国水科院的推动和倡议下，世界得以深入了解中国古老的灌溉智慧和先进的灌溉技术。中国的都江堰、灵渠等灌溉工程获得了ICID“世界灌溉工程遗产奖”，中方主办或协办的世界灌溉论坛等多边活动，成功聚集了海内外水利人才，进行了思想的碰撞。此外，中国水科院作为ICID中国委员会秘书处的挂靠单位，还为ICID在中国的业务发展，如举办学术研讨会、组织青年人才能力建设等，提供了可贵的资金和人力支持。

今年是中国水科院组建60周年！这是中国水科院回顾历史、汲取智慧、谋划未来的大好时机！中国水科院致力于成为世界一流的水利水电科研院所，并为此制定了详细的战略规划。相信中国水科院定能朝着目标不断发展，衷心祝福中国水科院事业蒸蒸日上，为中国乃至世界的更好明天而奋斗！

 

受访人简介

菲利克斯?瑞恩德尔斯(Felix Reinders)，现任国际灌排委员会主席。专业领域包括水资源管理与灌溉工程，包括管理、科研、设计、技术转让、培训、教学等方面。现任南非农业研究委员会农业工程研究院灌排工程部的管理者，从事灌溉研究、开发、测试与设计的协调工作；并在多个其他国际组织任职。

主要业绩包括：作为主要作者编写了南非新水法框架下的《农业节水与需水战略》；主持有关中心支轴式喷灌机渗透计的研究，并获得该领域的国际认可；编写《南非国家农业地下排水设计指南》；建立田间灌溉系统效率测试实验室；制定并检验了优化灌溉管道直径的经验公式等。（撰稿人：王妍炜孟圆 蔡金栋）

 

 

Interview to Mr. Peter Goodwin, President of International Association for Hydro-Environment Engineering and Research, by the IWHR in October 2018

 

1. Your view about the global status quo and trend for sustainable hydro-environment development.

 

The priorities and challenges for the Hydro-environment and Hydraulics Engineering global community are captured succinctly within the Sustainability Development Goals developed by the United Nations. Specifically, we live in a world where clean water is a scarce resource and we are experiencing greater variability in the frequency and intensity that this water arrives in our watersheds. Water is essential for human health, food production, economic development and sustaining our natural environment. This was emphasized in an elegant way by President Xi Jinping at the Opening Ceremony of the B20 Summit in Hangzhou (3 September 2016):

“. . . . green mountains and clear water are as good as mountains of gold and silver. To protect the environment is to protect productivity and to improve the environment is to boost productivity.”

 

The speech then expands on the commitment by China to a green, low carbon and recyclable economy. These priorities are being expressed in a similar manner in many other countries.

 

These goals face several severe challenges:

?    Increasing population on landscapes that are already close to the capacity of current land utilization. Increasing populations require more water - either through tapping natural rivers or using existing water resources more efficiently.

?    Changing land use practices (for example: urbanization, intensive agriculture, road and rail embankments and levees that separate rivers and coasts from floodplains and wetlands) that alter the patterns of rainfall runoff or drainage.

?    Introduction of invasive (non-native) plant and animal species that out-compete the native flora and fauna. This can change entire ecosystems so that key food sources for important species are diminished.

?    Transboundary issues need to be addressed in a way that optimizes the outcomes of economic development and ecological recovery that cross geo-political boundaries. Watershed and ecosystems invariably cross local, provincial and sometimes national governments. It is therefore important that hydro-environment experts can structure the science and engineering alternatives in a way that can inform decision-makers and be understood by the public.

?    Climate Change. Many regions of the world are experiencing unprecedented conditions that have not been experienced since records have been taken. Until the last few years, we made predictions of the magnitude of floods, droughts, highest expected storm surge or wave height based on a careful analysis of the historic record. These predictions were used to design infrastructure to protect society from catastrophic flooding or prolonged droughts. However, the increased variability being experienced in many regions means that we cannot rely solely on the past to predict future conditions. Examples of the severity of the effects of climate change is evidenced by the more that 500 million people living on low-lying river deltas that are increasingly vulnerable to sealevel rise and greater frequency and intensity of storms (Giosan, L. et al., 2014. Nature. 516. 31-33).

 

These pressures on the environment are not simple and interact with several sectors of the economy and the quality of life. Demands of energy generation, food production, fisheries management, transportation, manufacturing must be balanced against concerns for endangered species, recreation and the natural environment.

 

The biggest challenge facing the Hydro-environment experts is maintaining and improving the quality of life for society within a healthy earth system. This requires large teams of experts representing many disciplines of engineers, scientists, economists and social scientists to explore and articulate alternative futures based on different management strategies we adopt today in a way to inform the decisions made by policy-makers and leaders.

 

2. How do you look at the Chinese achievement in this field by now?

 

China has some of the largest and most dynamic rivers in the world, for example, the Yellow river transports more sediment to the ocean than any other river. China also has one of the largest populations that depend on these rivers and are impacted in flood and drought events. Therefore, China has a long and illustrious history in the realm of hydraulic engineering, understanding how rivers behave and developing techniques for managing extreme events to minimize the loss of life or property. As an example, one of the marvels in the world for hydraulic engineering is the Dujiangyan Irrigation System that received the 2013 IAHR World Heritage Award. The brilliance of this project, constructed around 256 BC, is not only that the diversion passes through a cut made in the mountain, but that it can divert the waters of the MinJiang River to the fertile Chengdu plains without requiring significant maintenance of sediments at the site of the diversion. The deposition of sediments at the inlet of large water diversions is a major problem elsewhere in the world. This ancient solution has puzzled and delighted the international engineering community for decades.

 

Chinese expertise continued to flourish in the intervening centuries, often before other countries were even considering water supply and wastewater management. More recently, over the past four decades, China initiated one of the most advanced and aggressive water infrastructure development programs in the world. Starting with the Three Gorges Project, this program has advanced the known technical limits of dam construction, dealing with unprecedented water pressures for hydropower generation and innovative ways of ship passage - such as the new ship lifts using new cable technologies at the Three Gorges Dam. These types of projects inevitably have environmental consequences, and China is developing deep expertise in anticipating, addressing and mitigating impacts on water quality and iconic species such as the Chinese Sturgeon.

 

3. How do you look at the IWHR achievement in this field over its 60 years of development?

 

IWHR has an illustrious history of major contributions to the field of Hydraulic Engineering and Hydro-environment research. The research institute has grown into a comprehensive organization capable of looking at all aspects of water resource development and implications to the river and regional communities. This covers traditional topics such as water resources planning, geotechnical engineering, structures, seismic engineering, and irrigation and drainage and real-time flood prediction. More recently, IWHR has adopted a more comprehensive approach to watershed management that includes resilience to flood and droughts, sustainable hydropower development, water resources in rural areas and environmental response to large water resources infrastructure. IWHR is one of the first institutes in the world to adopt such a holistic view to managing and researching water resources.

 

4. What is your expectation or wishes for IWHR in the future?

 

Firstly, congratulations to President Kuang Shangfu and the leadership team of IWHR on your 60th Anniversary. Over the past few decades you have grown IWHR into an internationally recognized research institution. This has been achieved through exceptional internal management - it is obvious to visitors that this Institute believes in strong teamwork, exemplary research and application of this research to solve some of the most perplexing problems in implementing large infrastructure projects or mitigating adverse consequences to the environment and local communities. This has also been achieved by fostering international and national collaborations, exchanges of scientific information and sharing experiences on engineering solutions on large river systems.

 

On behalf of the global IAHR community, we look forward to continued and deepening collaborations between IAHR and IWHR. We expect IWHR will continue the pioneering efforts in event forecasting, simulating flood flows and river behavior with sophisticated computer models, designing large structures that protect or benefit people and implementing innovations for enhancing water quality and ecological recovery. We hope that IWHR will continue to grow its significant existing expertise to understand the interaction between water resource development projects with the ecosystem services provided by rivers, watersheds and coastal water systems. We look forward to what IWHR will achieve in the next 60 years.

 

 

环球水声 | 彼得?古德温：中国水科院已成为世界首批系统关注水资源管理和研究的科研院所

 

2018年金秋十月，中国水科院组建60周年学术活动周在京召开，共设置1场全体大会及11场学术分会，来自全球近40个国家的代表参会，探讨水问题，共享发展成果，共商发展对策。为梳理学术成果，分享专家观点，共享水科故事，特推出“环球水声 - 国际嘉宾话水科”系列报道，以期激发学术灵感，共推水利科技进步。

 

国际水利与环境工程学会（IAHR）主席、马里兰大学环境科学中心校长彼得·古德温（Peter Goodwin）教授接受了采访。

1.您对全球可持续水环境发展的现状和趋势有何看法？

联合国可持续发展目标简明扼要地指出了全球水环境与水利工程的重点和面临的挑战。具体来说，我们生活在一个淡水资源短缺的世界，而水资源进入流域的频率和强度都比以前变得更加不规律。水是人类健康、粮食生产、经济发展以及环境保护的关键要素。习近平总书记在杭州B20峰会开幕式（2016年9月3日）的讲话中对此做出了深刻阐释。

“绿水青山就是金山银山。保护环境就是保护生产力，改善环境就是提高生产率。”

这篇讲话是中国对致力于绿色、低碳和循环经济的承诺。许多其他国家也都以类似的方式将此作为发展要务。

但这些目标的实现面临着一系列挑战：

?  不断增长的人口已经逼近当前土地使用承载能力的上限。人口的增长对水资源提出了更多的需求，需要从天然河流中汲取更多的水，亦或是提高现有水资源的利用效率。

?  土地利用方式的改变（如：城市化、密集农业开发、公路和铁路路堤等，将河流、海岸与蓄洪区和湿地隔离开来）改变了降雨径流或排水的路径和方式。

?  入侵（非本地）动植物物种的引入击败了本地动植物。这会改变整个生态系统，导致重要物种的关键食物来源灭绝。

?  要妥善解决跨界水问题，以促进经济发展，并促进跨地理政治边界的生态环境修复。流域和生态系统往往跨越不同的地市、省级乃至国家政府辖区。因此，水环境专家须找到合理的科学与工程方案，使决策者做出知情决策，并能够为公众所理解。

?  气候变化。世界上许多地区正在经历前所未有的一些情况和变化。直到最近几年，我们才开始有能力基于历史记录的仔细分析做出对洪水或干旱强度、最强风暴潮或浪高的预测。这些预测过去只是用于基础设施的防洪或抗旱设计。但如今，很多地区正在经历的变率意味着我们已不能仅仅依靠历史记录来预测未来的状况。5亿多人口生活在低海拔的三角洲地带，他们的亲身经历证明了气候变化在不断加剧，他们正受到海平面上升以及更频繁、更强暴雨的威胁。

这些环境压力都极其复杂，与经济发展及人民生活质量等诸多因素有着千丝万缕的联系。人们在考虑能源产出、粮食生产、渔业管理、交通、制造业需求的同时，必须兼顾对濒危物种、休闲娱乐以及自然环境的保护。

水环境专家所面临的最大挑战是如何在维持和改善社会生活质量的同时保护地球系统的健康。这要求不同学科的专家团队，包括工程师、科学家、经济学家以及社会学家们，研究和明确今日不同管理战略可能产生的不同未来情形，从而为政策制定者和领导人提供决策支撑。

2.您如何看待今天中国在该领域所取得的成就？

中国拥有世界上若干最大和最湍急的河流，如黄河就是世界上输沙量最大的河流。中国依赖这些河流而生的人口规模也是全球第一，且这些人口受到洪水和干旱的直接影响。因此，中国有着悠久而灿烂的水利史，很早以前就开始进行水利工程研究，了解河流情势、发展了极端事件的管理技术，以尽可能减少人民的生命财产损失。如，世界水利工程奇迹之一——都江堰工程，就获得了2013年国际水利与环境工程学会世界遗产奖。这项始建于公元前256年的工程，其伟大之处不仅在于该分水工程穿越了山脉天险，而且在不需要对分水口进行过多泥沙管理的前提下实现了岷江调水，灌溉了成都平原的万亩良田。而大型调水工程引水口的泥沙淤积问题恰恰是世界其他很多地区相关工程的严重挑战。数十年来，都江堰工程古老的解决方案一直令国际工程界所痴迷和兴奋。

近数百年来，中国的水利技术继续发展，其对供水和流域管理的思考和研究早于其他很多国家。而近40年来，中国开展了世界上最积极和快速的基础设施建设。首先是三峡工程，该工程推动了坝工技术的进步，解决了水力发电前所未有的大水压问题，研发了创新型船闸——新型缆机升船机。这类工程不可避免都会产生环境影响，但中国正在更加深入地研发相关科学技术来预测、解决和减轻对水质及中华鲟等标志性物种的影响。

3.您如何看待中国水科院过去60年的发展成就？

中国水科院在水利工程与水环境研究领域有着辉煌的历史。中国水科院已经发展成为一个关注水资源开发及其对河流和地区影响各方面的综合性科研机构。其研究涵盖了水资源规划、岩土工程、结构、抗震、灌排和实时洪水预报等传统领域。近年来，更是全面研究流域管理，包括洪水和干旱的抗灾能力、可持续水电开发、农村水利以及大型水利基础设施的环境响应等。中国水科院已经成为世界首批系统关注水资源管理和研究的科研院所。

4.您对中国水科院的未来有何期待？

首先，值中国水科院60周年之际，对匡尚富院长及中国水科院的领导团队表示衷心祝贺！在过去的60年里，中国水科院已经发展成为一个全球知名的科研院所。中国水科院的成就得益于其优秀的内部管理。访问过中国水科院的人可以清楚看到，中国水科院坚持团队合作、典型研究，并将研究成果应用于大型工程复杂问题的解决，或减少工程对环境和地区的负面影响。中国水科院的成就还得益于其积极的国内外合作，以及大江大河工程的技术与经验交流。

在此，我代表国际水利与环境工程学会全球成员，期待与中国水科院继续加强和深化合作交流。期待中国水科院能够继续引领洪水预报模拟、河流情势复杂计算机模型、以及大型工程设计等领域，保护和造福人民，通过创新发展，改善水质，促进生态修复。我们希望中国水科院能够继续拓展其科技研发，了解水资源开发项目与河流、流域及滨岸水系生态服务功能之间的互动关系。期待中国水科院下一个更加辉煌的60年！

 

受访人简介：

彼得·古德温（Peter Goodwin），现任水利与环境工程学会（IAHR）主席、马里兰大学环境科学中心分校校长、中国水科院名誉教授。曾为爱达荷大学生态水力学研究中心首任主任。

1978年获英国南安普顿大学学士学位，1982、1986年分别获美国加州大学（伯克利分校）硕士学位、博士学位。2012-2015年，被任命为加利福尼亚州三角洲科学计划（Delta Science Program in California）首席科学家。

古德温教授的专业领域包括生态系统修复、生态水力学、河湖湿地与河口系统整治等。在流量建模、泥沙输移、河床演化等领域做出了国际公认的巨大贡献。有30余年的大学教授经验。在全球范围内参与了众多科研项目，涉及河流生态修复、海岸湿地可持续性、防洪、泥沙管理等领域。从智利到危地马拉，从美国东海岸到西海岸，从纽约州德拉瓦湾到加州，都留下过他的足迹。（撰稿人：张建立 王妍炜 蔡金栋）

 

 

Interview to Mr. Michael Rogers, President of International Commission on Large Dams, by the IWHR in October 2018

 

It has been my honor for more than 10 years to know and work with the many talented and dedicated professionals at the China Institute of Water Resources and Hydropower Research (IWHR) through the Chinese Committee on Large Dams (CHINCOLD). China is a strong and critical member of the International Commission on Large Dams (ICOLD) due to your strong engineers and the large number of important and complex engineering dam projects that have been developed over the past many decades to improve the national infrastructure of China.

 

I am happy to recognize the important role of IWHR in providing critical research for the safe design of many epic projects of China that stands as a testament to China’s dedication to the safety of its people who live around these dams. I feel that the status quo for engineering research for dams has greatly diminished around the world as the competition for funding for universities and other institutions has become very difficult and the rush to build dams quickly has increased. I compliment China for its support to IWHR to keep this investment in research as a high priority. For more than 60 years, IWHR has provided important research in the support of record-breaking dam projects in China and around the world so that the design of these projects has an important focus for dam safety and beneficial service to billions of people around the world.

 

I believe that China continues to honor the important harmony that connects engineering research, design and construction for dams of all sizes. The world has seen several recent incidents where dam safety lapses have led to failure or near-failure of dams around the world. It is only through a constant focus on dam safety in our design and construction can we meet our important obligations to the people who benefit from these projects. As ICOLD President, I am thankful for the important leadership role that IWHR and CHINCOLD have made with dam safety through sharing technology with the 100 nations of ICOLD at our meetings and as part of our industry-standard publications. Once again, congratulations and Happy 60th Anniversary!

 

环球水声|迈克尔·罗杰斯：中国水科院对于坝工领域的关键研究做出重要贡献，发挥了行业引领作用

2018年金秋十月，中国水科院组建60周年学术活动周在京召开，共设置1场全体大会及11场学术分会，来自全球近40个国家的代表参会，探讨水问题，共享发展成果，共商发展对策。为梳理学术成果，分享专家观点，共享水科故事，特推出“环球水声 - 国际嘉宾话水科”系列报道，以期激发学术灵感，共推水利科技进步。

 

国际大坝委员会（ICOLD）主席迈克尔·罗杰斯(Michael Rogers)先生接受了采访。

他表示，中国水科院作为中国大坝工程学会（CHINCOLD）秘书处的挂靠单位，与ICOLD在过去十多年来建立了密切的伙伴关系，其本人也有幸结识了中国水科院诸多优秀、敬业的专家。中国是ICOLD大家庭里的核心成员，为提升国家基础设施水平建设了一大批具有重要地位和超高技术难度的大坝工程，并拥有坚实、庞大的工程师队伍。

国际社会高度认可中国水科院在中国诸多历史性工程的关键研究和安全管理上所做的重要贡献，这彰显了中国致力于保障当地人民安全的决心。在其他国家的大坝工程研究日渐式微，对大坝建造的工期要求越来越短的背景下，中国水科院依然坚持对工程科研的大力投入，实属难能可贵。60年来，中国为本国和世界许多开拓性工程的安全设计做出了重要贡献，安全的大坝工程得以造福数十亿人口。

中国定能实现工程研究与设计和施工之间的和谐共存，因为只有始终聚焦于设计和施工的安全才能保证我们的工程真正造福人民。作为国际大坝委员会主席，我要对中国水科院和中国大坝工程学会所发挥的行业引领作用表示衷心感谢，并在此热烈祝贺中国水科院组建60周年！

 

受访人简介：

迈克尔?罗杰斯(Michael Rogers)先生现任国际大坝委员会主席。是坝工领域颇具声望的技术专家，主从大坝安全、设计和施工，擅长大坝的成本控制、技术范围指导和监管审议。

主持设计了若干荣获大奖的大坝工程，包括大熊谷（Big Bear Valley）大坝修复工程和为圣地亚哥水务管理局的应急储水项目所进行的圣文森特大坝加高工程等。

2017年，入选《国际水电和大坝施工（International Water Power & Dam Construction）》杂志影响力榜。（撰稿人：孟圆 蔡金栋）

 

 

 

(Source: IWHR)