On December 10, 2025, we welcomed Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Drewes from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Chair and Research Institute for Urban Water Management at the Technical University of Munich, as a guest speaker at the TUC Colloquium. Among other things, Prof. Drewes is a member of the German Advisory Council on Global Change (WBGU).
Under the title “Water in a heated world – Innovative solutions for the challenges of today and tomorrow,” Jörg Drewes gave us exciting insights into how we can deal with water today and tomorrow in times of climate change. Droughts, heavy rainfall, and regional water shortages are increasing globally. Cities will have to change. Copenhagen served as a pioneering example for him with its intelligent green urban development.
He emphasized the importance of climate-resilient and socially balanced water management. This is not only about finding innovative solutions, but also about developing strategies that are effective and feasible in the long term.
Water treatment should no longer be a one-way street, but should be converted into a circular economy. He advocates using treated water for sports facilities, urban green spaces, and vegetable cultivation. According to scientific findings, there are no health risks involved.
In his view, changing people's awareness is the key to achieving these goals. This requires good communication across all sections of society. To truly protect water, the population and decision-makers must act together, manage risks, and thus increase adaptability.
The conclusion: Water is not just a resource—it is a common good whose wise use will determine the future of our cities and regions.
