The University of Calgary, in partnership with the Swiss Consulate, hosted Blue Peace and Beyond: Transboundary Water Diplomacy for a Secure World on Nov. 26, convening Swiss and Canadian experts alongside leaders in policy, governance, science, and industry for an engaging dialogue on the future of water diplomacy. The event framed water security not only as an environmental challenge, but as a fundamental issue tied to peace, human development, energy, and food systems, with shared water bodies offering opportunities for cooperation across borders.
From left: Bill Ghali, Kerry Black, Christian Bréthaut, Sibylle Vermont, Ed McCauley and Thomas Schneider. Photo Credit: Melanie Yar Khan
"International conflicts, population growth, pollution, and the accelerating impacts of climate change are placing immense strain on our freshwater resources," said co-host Thomas Schneider, Consul General of Switzerland in Vancouver. "Water is not just an environmental issue; it is fundamentally linked to food security, energy production, human health, and, critically, to peace and security. In regions where rivers and lakes cross political borders, competition for this vital resource can escalate into tension. Our shared objective must be to actively transform water from a potential source of conflict into an instrument of cooperation and peace. This is the only way to ensure water security for all, not only for us, but for future generations."
Event highlights need for international collaboration
The discussion highlighted the urgency of addressing water scarcity and governance through international collaboration, drawing on Switzerland's Blue Peace initiative. The initiative advocates fair and efficient management of freshwater resources across borders, sectors, and generations. Its goal is to establish joint institutions and legal frameworks that unite countries in resolving disputes peacefully and to lay the foundation for human development and security.
"The University of Calgary is recognized as a global leader in water research, advancing innovative solutions to address water security, sustainability, and transboundary co-operation," said Dr. Ed McCauley, president and vice-chancellor. "We enthusiastically support the ambitious goals of the Swiss-led Blue Peace initiative. As researchers, we have a responsibility to help guide how science, especially water-related science, can promote peace, resilience, and sustainable development."
UCalgary initiatives focus on water research
UCalgary houses a number of globally recognized water research initiatives, including being the world's first United Nations University Hub (UNU Hub), focused on Empowering Communities to Adapt to Environmental Change, as well as having two UNESCO research co-chairs in Mountain Water Sustainability. UCalgary also is home to numerous Canada Research Chairs in water-related research.
Moderated by McCauley, the event panel featured Sibylle Vermont, former Deputy Head of Section Global Affairs at the Federal Office for the Environment in Switzerland; Dr. Christian Bréthaut, PhD, Associate Professor of Water Governance and co-lead of the UNESCO Chair on Hydropolitics at the University of Geneva; and UCalgary's Dr. Kerry Black, PhD, professor in the Department of Civil Engineering and Canada Research Chair in (Re)Engineering Sustainable Communities.
Together, they emphasized that addressing global water security requires more than technology; it demands people's engagement, supportive policies, and committed long-term thinking. Solutions take time and resources, yet current economic and policy frameworks often prioritize short-term gains. The panellists called for better water literacy, inclusive data, especially from Indigenous communities, and the convening power of research-intensive universities.
Campus community engages with international panellists
The Swiss experts in water governance actively engaged with the UCalgary community during their visit. Both led discussions with students, staff and faculty across UNU Hub and Faculty of Science events on diverse topics including being a woman in environmental governance, water diplomacy for environmental peace, and Swiss examples of diplomacy in water management. They also engaged in research, capacity-building and policy-focused discussions with members of the UNU Hub, as well as the UCalgary UNESCO Co-Chairs in Mountain Water Sustainability, to advance collaboration between institutions going forward.
As a leading research institution, UCalgary plays a critical role in bringing together diverse perspectives and experts across disciplines, including science, policy, technology, and community engagement, to shape solutions that are informed, inclusive, and globally relevant. Tackling these challenges calls for transdisciplinary approaches that unite governments, technical experts, international partners, and knowledge brokers. Greater co-operation among like-minded countries and stronger networks are essential, alongside advocacy from youth and Indigenous voices. Panellists noted that people often underestimate the true cost of water, citing aging infrastructure and energy demands among the pressures on systems, and stressed the importance of large-scale assessments to guide investment and action. The discussion concluded with a call to reframe water security around human and ecological connection, fostering deeper engagement and long-term solutions.
"Transboundary water diplomacy has become an essential component of international relations and peace promotion," said Olaf Kjelsen, Ambassador of Switzerland to Canada. "As a trusted and neutral partner, Switzerland is committed to fostering dialogue and building bridges between nations. By bringing together leaders from Switzerland and Canada at the University of Calgary, we aim to strengthen these partnerships and drive positive change for our communities and our planet."
XPRIZE Canada Hub drives innovation
Building on this commitment to international cooperation, UCalgary is driving innovation through its role as home to the XPRIZE Canada Hub, part of the global XPRIZE network that tackles the world's most pressing challenges through evidence-based competition. This includes the active $119-million XPRIZE Water Scarcity competition designed to drive widespread access to clean water by creating reliable, affordable, and sustainable seawater desalination systems. UCalgary hosted 50 Track A teams this summer, helping to translate ideas into validated technologies that can scale in international contexts, complementing Blue Peace principles with practical tools for deployment.
This event also sets the stage for the first Canadian Science Diplomacy Summit in 2026, where UCalgary will join the Swiss Consulate and two other universities in hosting global dialogues in cooperation with GESDA (Geneva Science and Diplomacy Anticipator). GESDA is an international foundation that bridges cutting-edge science and diplomacy to anticipate and address global challenges, ensuring scientific advances contribute to peace, equity, and sustainable development. By integrating GESDA's anticipatory frameworks with UCalgary's research strengths and collaborative ethos, the university is helping to build a pipeline from discovery to diplomacy to real-world impact.
An exhibition, Blue Peace: From Water Competition to Collaboration, is on display in the EEEL lobby until Dec. 12, offering visitors a deeper look at the principles and impact of water diplomacy.
