Mr. Liam McCarton:

The electricity area has a green light and a red light and each house has a meter. When the light is green, this means there is sufficient energy to supply all the houses. When it is red, this means the energy is low, the batteries have to be charged and people know they have to conserve energy. Obviously, it was necessity that drove this because the island did not have access to a grid, but it is a good example of how community can be at the heart of this, not just in Singapore or Philadelphia, but closer to home in Scotland.

This leads us to the context of what we are discussing today. We call it a zero waste approach to water but it is really an integrated water strategy. Looking at the value chain, the most important issue is innovative thinking that accepts there is an alternative approach that can be part of a coherent Government and community development policy. To do that, we need sustainable and resilient technologies and innovations. There are opportunities in this regard, particularly for job creation, reskilling and creating an industry similar to technologies within the green area. We also need education curriculum reform at undergraduate schools but also through graduates and professionals. This is brought out in particular in the experience of Singapore, where re-thinking was required. It needs to be a partnership approach, with co-ordinated Government and community action.