Groundwater resources play a unique role in responding to the challenges posed by water scarcity and climate change. The sustainable management of these resources provides essential qdaptation solutions based on innovative methodologies and new technological approaches.

The Second UNESCO/UCI 2011 Conference on Groundwater Resources Management: Adaptation Measures to Water Scarcity - Science and Policy Responses will evaluate the progress made in groundwater management since the First Conference in 2008. It will also explore the areas where further progress can and should be made as well as identify the needs for legal, institutional and policy instruments and their links to science.

The four-day event will consist of plenary sessions, parallel technical sessions and a number of workshops (optional). The four themes of the conference are: 1) Role of groundwater in adapting to the impacts of global and climate changes; 2) Strengthening groundwater management for sustainable ddevelopment; 3) Innovative methods and technologies for groundwater management; 4) Groundwater education, cooperation and governance.

The Conference results will be presented at the 6th World Water Forum (March 2012, Marseille, France) and the Earth Summit Rio +20 (May 2012, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil).