20 Dec International River Foundation 2024 Impact
January: Pioneering Environmental Markets
Working with Brisbane City Council, the IRF hosted an Environmental Markets workshop, bringing together experts to explore innovative funding opportunities. The workshop identified ways to generate revenue for reducing carbon footprints, enhancing biodiversity, urban greening, and improving waterway health.
February: Partnering with Rotary for Freshwater Action
The IRF presented to the Brisbane High Rise Rotary group, highlighting its collaboration with Rotary International and the UN Environment Programme through the Community Action for Freshwater (CAFW) initiative. This global partnership aims to protect and sustain freshwater ecosystems, leveraging Rotary’s local influence and UNEP’s global water monitoring expertise.
March: Tackling Waste in Indonesia
In collaboration with Thiess, we worked to implement waste management initiatives in Indonesia’s Makarti Village. This initiative included providing the local community with organic waste recycling, a waste bank program, provision of waste recovery facilities, and educational sessions on waste bank management and waste segregation. These efforts aim to reduce plastic pollution in the Makarti River by 700kg monthly, demonstrating IRF’s commitment to community-driven environmental solutions. Read more here.
April: New Leadership for a Sustainable Future
In April, the IRF formally welcomed the Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Adrian Schrinner, Leader of Freshwater Practice at World Wide Fund for Nature, Dr Stuart Orr, and Sarah Zeljko, as Board Directors. Joining our Chair, Michael Wright, as well as Directors Philip Weller and Prof Bill Dennison, their leadership has helped guide the strategic direction of the IRF throughout 2024 in working towards our vision of accelerating the world’s transition to thriving and resilient rivers for future generations.
May: Expanding and Empowering our Youth Network at Global Forums
The IRF participated in the World Youth Parliament for Water’s 6th General Assembly and the 10th World Water Forum in Bali, Indonesia. Youth leaders from 70 countries united to discuss sustainable water futures, reinforcing the message that water is vital to life, sustaining communities, economies and ecosystems around the world. Read more here.
July: Amplifying First Nations Voices in Partnership with AWP
During NAIDOC Week, the IRF promoted the First Nations Voices for Rivers video series campaign, with an aim to spark conversations, inspire action, and foster a community dedicated to equitable and sustainable water practices. This video series, co-created with the Australian Water Partnership, highlighted Indigenous perspectives on integrating traditional knowledge into water governance and climate-resilient management. We invite you to watch here.
August: Showcasing Basin-Connected Cities at the World Water Congress in Toronto
At the World Water Congress in Toronto, the IRF joined the International Water Association, the International Joint Commission, the International Association of Water Service Companies in the Danube River Catchment Area and China’s Hohai University to participate in the Basin-Connected Cities Workshop. Through this platform, we emphasised the importance of river cities and the critical role rivers play in shaping a city’s urban landscape, economy and culture. Read more here.
Driving Investment in Waterway Rehabilitation
Building upon January’s Environmental Markets workshop, in August we also worked with Brisbane City Council to host a thought leadership think tank and forum, exploring innovative mechanisms to attract investment and help fund regional waterway rehabilitation. Read more here.
September: World Rivers Day Action in Australia and Indonesia
We partnered with Resilient Rivers SEQ, an initiative of Council of Mayors (SEQ), alongside Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Lockyer Valley Turf Club and Thiess to roll up our collective sleeves and plant 300 native seedlings. Our collaborative work helped improve riverbank stabilisation and restore habitat along Lockyer Creek, reducing upstream erosion and minimising sedimentation impacts downstream for the Brisbane River.
Working with Thiess, we also helped conduct a clean-up day in Indonesia’s Makarti River, resulting in the collection of nearly 400kg of rubbish. Read more about our World Rivers Day activities here.
Highlighting the Integral Role of the Brisbane River in Shaping its City
Created with the support of Brisbane City Council, the latest Voices for Rivers video shines a spotlight on Brisbane as a sustainable river city. We invite you to watch the video here.
November: Olympic Rivers Satellite Event
This online thought leadership event united over 300 global delegates to delve into the transformative power of river revitalisation in building sustainable, liveable, and tourism-friendly urban environments. Our keynote speaker and panel of experts inspired and challenged us with groundbreaking initiatives, practical insights and calls to action to drive bold and ambitious commitments for our waterways. Read the key messages here.
December
We continued to partner with the Tweed Shire Council on the Tweed Kenya Mentoring Program (TKMP), an important initiative providing safe water sources and sanitation improvements for multiple partner communities that has been operating in the Siaya district of western Kenya since 2007. In the past 12 months, TKMP has constructed a potable water pipeline leading from the government water treatment facilities into villages previously relying on TKMP-provided filtration kiosks as their only source of safe water.
Thanks to the Tweed Shire Council and program coordinator Olita Ogonjo for undertaking this incredible work.
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