New center partnerships work toward responsible water management

Effectively managing the planet’s water resources is critical to ensuring equitable development around the world. “Integrated management of water resources will be essential for sustainable development and security moving into the future,” said Michael Mortimer, director of the college’s Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, which provides interdisciplinary graduate education in the National Capital Region.

The center was recently accepted as a university member in two internationally recognized networks — the U.S. Water Partnership and the Global Water Partnership. Both are committed to advancing integrated water resource management practices and technologies globally. As a member organization in these international coalitions, the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability has become an active partner in working toward a water-secure world.

“Effective integrated water resource management demands collaborative leadership, which the center can help build through membership in these two networks,” Mortimer said. “We look forward to working with our new partners to advance leadership for integrated water resource management around the world and to providing our students with invaluable direct access and insights into innovative sustainability strategies and partnerships in nations around the globe.”

“These memberships dovetail perfectly with our existing efforts in the Chesapeake Bay and Mekong River watersheds and help strengthen our relationships with existing corporate partners, including Ford Corporation and Coca-Cola, and nongovernmental partners, including World Wildlife Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the Stimson Center, the U.S. Water Alliance, and others,” Mortimer concluded.