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Hello, I’m Claude Piel, an independent journalist, author, and keynote speaker specialising in the major issues of water and the oceans. My multilingual research links the local to the global and fosters dialogue among civil society, academia, diplomacy and business.

Working in French, German and English, I am a member of the Diplomatic Council, an NGO in consultative status with ECOSOC. My work is registered with the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA) in the field of sustainable development. A book on the oceans will be published in 2026.▾

Books

My books support decision-making on water and the oceans. Built on months of analysis and fieldwork, multilingual and across several continents, they turn research into action. They are published in French, German, and English.

They clarify drinking-water policy and water security, analyze ocean policy and the blue economy, and map pathways aligned with SDG 6 and SDG 14, from conflict to cooperation, toward an evidence-based water and ocean diplomacy. ▾

Keynote

Save the date for a Keynote

This video introduces my keynote approach. Most talks fade as routines resume. My keynotes break that cycle: interactive, research-grounded and bespoke, they turn listeners into participants and ideas into next steps. Core themes include water security, the oceans, resilient supply systems, and climate and sustainability. Delivery is concise and lucid, story-led, evidence-based, and dialogue is integral, so your questions shape the room.

As a prominent example, the United Nations SDG Partnerships platform (UN DESA) lists my initiative #SDGAction50561, linked to my book The Battle for Water. This reflects my approach to the profession: Active journalism — from words to action. I work with municipalities and public authorities; associations, foundations, universities and businesses; and the public.▾

Presenter

Moderator Claude Piel at the Landtag for the opening of “Tell Me About Europe”, alongside Eka von Kalben (Vice President of the Landtag Schleswig-Holstein) and Karl-Heinz Lambertz (former President, EU Committee of the Regions from Belgien), 8 May 2024. — Schleswig-Holstein Landtag: “Tell Me About Europe” with Eka von Kalben and Karl-Heinz Lambertz (Belgium), 8 May 2024. © Frank Platthof

I’m a multilingual presenter and moderator in English, French and German. I run policy forums, European election debates, and resource-security panels with evidence-based facilitation, sharp questions, and decision-grade synthesis. Think applied journalism, focus, empathy, curiosity, on water security, ocean governance, climate policy, and European democracy. Sessions are structured, fair, and actionable; audiences engage, not just watch. Invite me to moderate with a custom agenda and Q&A plan. ▾

Videos

This short film was shown at the side event of the United Nations 2023 Water Conference in New York on World Water Day, and it introduced the dialogue that followed. I also produce executive-grade corporate videos that explain your company with precision. I oversee end-to-end delivery—from concept and scripting to interviews, filming and rights clearance, backed by cross-media experience with ARTE, ZDF, SR, SWR, RFI and France.tv, and a professional crew. The result is clear storytelling and measurable impact, made by professionals for professionals.▾

Journal

Wasser Fluß Schweden — Rough water on a Swedish river.

Explore my multilingual blog of selected appearances and reports. I share highlights from talks, panels, and interviews, frequent travel means not every event is posted, but the best moments are. You may even find your event here; if so, I’d love to hear from you. Visit the Journal for updates and contact me with questions or media requests.▾

Editorial Charter - claudepiel.org

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claudepiel.org works freely and independently, funding its own journalistic publications through its activities. Respect for facts, independence of thought, and responsibility toward the public are the foundations of free and trustworthy information.

Preamble

claudepiel.org is a space for investigation, storytelling, and perspective. Our work is free, responsible, and oriented toward the public interest.

Article 1 — Independence
1. claudepiel.org works freely and independently.
2. Our projects are funded through our own activities: conferences, books, public talks, films, and workshops.
3. No external body—political, economic, or otherwise—exerts any influence over our editorial choices.
Article 2 — Our Definition of Journalism
1. claudepiel.org goes beyond reporting: it connects, interprets, and puts facts into perspective.
2. Our purpose is to illuminate links between facts so that understanding can lead to practical solutions for everyone.
3. claudepiel.org is a living, honest, human exchange, grounded in reality.
Article 3 — Method
1. We define our own research and investigations—beyond borders, disciplines, viewpoints, and any ideology.
2. Our work stems from precise analysis, field research, and collaboration with experts and colleagues worldwide.
3. We publish only what we have verified and understood.
Article 4 — Editorial Responsibility
1. Our primary responsibility is to the public: readers and listeners, interlocutors, and participants in our conferences.
2. Independence is the condition for the vitality of the journalism practiced by claudepiel.org.
Article 5 — Accuracy and Transparency
1. We uphold rigor, transparency, and respect for facts and sources.
2. Any identified error will be acknowledged and corrected promptly; reporting of errors is welcomed as part of an attentive dialogue.
Article 6 — Dialogue and Critique
1. Debate, discussion, and criticism are paths toward understanding, not tools of division.
2. This dialogue keeps the journalism of claudepiel.org alive.
Article 7 — Freedom and Ethics
1. Freedom gives us a voice; ethics give it meaning.
2. Together, they shape the journalism in which we believe.
Article 8 — Professional Commitment
1. The future of journalism belongs to those who practice their craft with mastery of technique, the patience of an artisan, and the responsibility of a witness—guided by a free mind and an open conscience, giving voice to those who have none.
2. We uphold our editorial commitments over time, through varied formats (conferences, books, films, workshops) and an open presence to the public.
Ethical Reference We Endorse

To situate claudepiel.org within the international professional tradition, we adhere to these core principles (without repeating the Charter above):
1. Truth & Accuracy — research, verify, contextualize.
2. Independence — act in the public interest, free from influence.
3. Fairness — treat subjects justly; let all parties be heard.
4. Humanity — protect dignity and weigh the consequences of publication.
5. Accountability & Transparency — acknowledge mistakes and clarify our methods.
Final Provisions

This Charter commits claudepiel.org across all its publications and activities. It may be quoted, reproduced, and displayed on any editorial medium of the site.

To situate claudepiel.org within the international professional tradition, we align our practice with the International Federation of Journalists’ Global Charter of Ethics for Journalists (2019). For clarity on this page, we express its spirit in five compact lines widely recognized across the profession:
1. Truth & Accuracy — verify, contextualize, and correct.
2. Independence — act in the public interest, free from influence.
3. Fairness & Impartiality — give due weight to relevant perspectives.
4. Humanity — avoid harm and respect dignity.
5. Accountability & Transparency — explain methods; own and fix mistakes.
  Full text: https://www.ifj.org/who/rules-and-policy/global-charter-of-ethics-for-journalists