Keynote

The battle for water is here. Droughts and floods show how changing weather patterns reflect a warming climate, underscoring the urgent need for action. As a journalist with the motto Active journalism — from words to action, I believe it is not enough to merely write about these issues; meaningful engagement is essential.

This keynote is part of my initiative #SDGAction50561, in partnership with my listing on the United Nations SDG Partnerships platform (UN DESA), and is closely linked to my book The Battle for Water.

It maps the geopolitics and social reality of water, where policy, governance, and people intersect with climate risk, and where choices shape stability, peace, and cooperation.

Grounded in months of international research, the talk identifies global hotspots, follows the geopolitics of rivers and aquifers, and outlines diplomatic, technological, and community pathways to defuse conflict.

Conférence-débat en langue française présentée par Claude PIEL, journaliste franco-allemande, auteure du livre La bataille pour l’eau. Le défi du XXIe siècle (paru d’abord en allemand sous le titre Kampf ums Wasser). Avec la participation de Véronique MABRUT, directrice territoriale de l’Agence de l’Eau Adour-Garonne à Pau. — University of Pau (France): (left to right) K. Kurowski (moderator); M. Coustillac (Heinrich Mann Institute); V. Mabrut (Water Agency, speaker); L. Bordes (University President); C. Piel.

On tour in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and beyond, I distill these findings for policy forums, universities, foundations, corporate leadership, and multilateral summits. The central thesis is simple yet urgent: if the last century was shaped by oil, the next will be defined by how we govern water.

We focus on today’s water crises, their underlying drivers, and proven solutions: river-basin management, fair and data-driven allocation, practical technologies, and community action—from sponge cities to the everyday steps each of us can take.

The global picture is brought down to local realities, offering clear actions for institutions, cities, and individuals alike. Facts and fieldwork meet storytelling and participation in an interactive, evidence-based keynote tailored to your audience and region.

My next book, The Battle for the Oceans, continues in this spiritRequest dates and a one-page outline to tailor the keynote to your context.

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Keynote details ▾
What each of us can do
Measure, reduce, and safeguard water use at home, in schools, and in companies.
Support river-basin initiatives, “sponge city” pilots, and citizen monitoring.
Ask suppliers for transparency and water-risk management across the chain.
Turn everyday action into civic influence through local participation.
Request dates & a one-page outline to tailor the keynote to your audience and region.
SDG Action #SDGAction50561 — SDGs & Targets
#SDGAction50561 is my registered UN-supported partnership entry built around the book The Battle for Water.
It highlights how water scarcity and pollution—exacerbated by climate change and growth—can trigger conflict, migration, and food insecurity, and why informed action is urgent across all regions.
Aligned SDGs: SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 16 (Peace, Justice, Strong Institutions), SDG 17 (Partnerships).
Focus: transparent water management, basin-level diplomacy, data-based allocation, adaptation finance, and participatory local implementation.
The action calls for global cooperation and everyday engagement so water security becomes a catalyst for stability, health, and shared prosperity.
Deliverables & Timeline
Each engagement includes tailored analysis, a bespoke keynote with timed Q&A, and—on request—a concise action note for participants.
2025–2026 expand the dialogue around The Battle for the Oceans (2026), linking ocean governance with freshwater security so cities, companies, and ministries can align strategies across land–sea systems.
Resources Mobilized
Multilingual research, practitioner interviews, and collaboration with hosting institutions.
Partners provide venues, audiences, and local context; the keynote brings investigative synthesis, moderation, and a clear bridge from insight to policy and practice.
Progress Reports
Updates to #SDGAction50561 appear as concise notes after key milestones—recording policy changes, pilot launches, and partnerships—and outlining next steps. Hosting organizations receive a short debrief to sustain momentum.
Expected Impact
The keynote reframes water—calmly and clearly—as the strategic resource of our time.
Participants leave with a realistic risk picture, a map of proven responses, and concrete steps to champion in government, business, research, or civil society.
Partners
Municipalities, cities, agencies, and policymakers—alongside universities, foundations, and business leaders—work together to turn contested waters into cooperation, locally
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Presenter

I moderate policy forums, European election debates, and resource-security panels with evidence-based facilitation, incisive questions, and decision-grade synthesis. Sessions are structured, fair, and lively so complex topics become clear and actionable. I work in English, German, and French.

Think of moderation as applied journalism: focus, empathy, and curiosity that link facts to choices. I keep the rhythm tight, give every voice space, and turn discussion into outcomes, clarity, commitments, and next steps that last beyond the event.

Themes and formats span water and resource security (basin management, fair allocation, “sponge cities,” data and technology, community solutions), ocean policy, climate policy, and European democracy. Panels, debates, fireside talks, roundtables, town halls, and live broadcasts, on site or online—are designed with a custom agenda and Q&A plan for your audience.

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Moderation Details▾
Process
Each engagement starts with a short discovery call to define goals and sensitivities. You receive a concise brief with message pillars, speaker angles, and a precise run of show. On stage I keep flow tight, language clear, and timing disciplined—so discussion becomes decisions.
Preparation & Research
I prepare like an investigative journalist: sources verified, context mapped, and questions built to surface decision-grade evidence. Fast synthesis, empathy, and determination ensure that every voice is heard and every claim is tested.
Interaction & Tools
Interaction is planned, not improvised. I use clear prompts, time-boxed exchanges, and audience Q&A with simple guardrails. Where useful, I add live polls or show-of-hands to read the room and steer to outcomes.
Deliverables
Before the event you receive a one-page brief with success criteria and the session outline. After the event you can opt for a succinct action memo that captures agreements, open questions, and next steps.
Promise & Outcomes
Neutral facilitation, precise language, and a session that lands with clarity, commitments, and immediate next actions for leaders, partners, and audiences.
Formats & Audiences
High-stakes conversations for policy forums, universities, foundations, corporate leadership, and multistakeholder summits—on site or online, in EN/DE/FR. (See hero for topics and formats.)
Case: EU–Brexit in Germany
Live panel with audience Q&A designed to translate complex policy into plain language and practical takeaways—clear flow, sharp follow-ups, and measurable outcomes.
Code of Conduct
Debate stays rigorous and respectful. I apply equal speaking windows, balanced turn-taking, and evidence-first interventions; sensitive topics use conflict-aware language and transparent rules agreed in advance.
Booking
Request dates & outline to tailor the moderation to your audience: share the topic, format, languages (EN/DE/FR), expected participants, and timing; I’ll return with a concise session plan and brief.
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Speaking and Dialogue

I presented The Battle for Water at the United Nations 2023 Water Conference at UN Headquarters in New York. The event took place on World Water Day (22 March 2023) as an official side session of the Diplomatic Council, during the first UN Water Conference since 1977! The presentation served as an entry point for a wider conversation — not as a film screening, but as an invitation to dialogue.

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Speaking and Dialog Details
My approach
In all my talks, I combine a short impulse — sometimes a video excerpt or visual introduction — with an open exchange with the audience.
The aim is to create a shared reflection space where ideas from the book evolve through discussion.
Whether in policy, research, business, or civic forums, I encourage participants to bring their own perspectives and to explore concrete, locally rooted solutions.
Focus areas
Water as a foundation for security, prosperity, and peace
Cross-border and community-based water governance
Resilient infrastructure and climate adaptation
Water diplomacy and cooperation across sectors
Engagement and dialogue
The UN session ended with a lively discussion and Q&A, linking global priorities to regional and practical action.
That same conversational format shapes all of my lectures — I see every presentation as a starting point for shared understanding, not as a monologue.
Watch the recording
The recording of the UN event is available on my Video page.
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Panel debate, Bücherhallen Hamburg: The Elbe and North Sea silt.

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