David Hebart-Coleman

David Hebart-Coleman

Senior Programme Manager

david.hebart.coleman@siwi.org +46 (0)720 50 60 77

David is an environmental planning and policy expert, with over 15 years of experience in environmental policy development. His professional background is in local and regional government in New Zealand, where he worked on water and flooding issues in Christchurch in his early career and then later was Senior Specialist – Policy in northern New Zealand where he worked in urban, strategic, and catchment planning, including several advisory and governance roles in catchment management groups. 

Most recently, he provided water resources and climate change adaptation services as an expert within the African Water Facility in Cote D’Ivoire. He is highly interested in the application of ecosystem services into watershed and regional planning as well as governance frameworks that strongly incorporate indigenous perspectives.

Interactions-between-GBF-and-HRHE-and-implications-for-water-goverence

Reports and papers · 19 Jun 2024

Water governance using the Global Diversity Framework and the Human Right to a Healthy Environment

Putting-water-at-the-centre-of-ambitious-NDCs

Policy publications · 14 Jun 2024

Putting water at the centre of ambitious NDCs

Aerial top view photo of floating islands on Lake Titicaca in Peru - a habitant of indigenous community Uros who are living on floating self-made islands made of totora plant

Reports and papers · 01 Jan 2024

Supporting the Inclusion of Indigenous Peoples in Transboundary Water Cooperation

Image of a lake with mountains, trees in the backdrop and mist rising from the bottom.

Reports and papers · 02 May 2023

Water Governance Processes: Examples Across Four Countries

Outdoor view of unidentifed indigenous woman, wearing typical clothes and walking in lakeshore with small boats in Atitlan Lake and volcano in background

Feature · 31 Jul 2023

Understanding the value of water through indigenous wisdom

Voices from Indigenous communities show us a path in a forthcoming report coordinated by the UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility called Yaa Heen Koosge: Indigenous Peoples and Water Wisdom.

Meandering river with a person sitting on the bank

Feature · 30 Mar 2023

I am the River and the River is me

In this blog post, SIWI’s David Hebart-Coleman reflects on the recent UN 2023 Water Conference, which was really a tale of two conferences. Beyond the formal agenda, there was an important conversation about how we can rebuild our relationship with water and develop alternative governance models.

Aerial view of Upo Wetland near Changnyeong-gun, Korea.

News · 07 Nov 2022

How do states respond to climate change? 3 promising trends of the Nationally Determined Contributions

This week, States and many others are gathering in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt for COP27 for negotiations on climate change policies. This is also a key time for countries to assess and level up their commitments to mitigate their emissions whilst responding to the very real impacts of climate change.

trees during a beautiful red sunset. Slovakia (Photo: portvis)

Feature · 05 Nov 2021

Analysis of NDC enhancement: Possible gaps

While it seems early to be anticipating the next NDCs, more foundational work on some topics will be required. For example, addressing transboundary concerns will require more engagement and exchange on activities. It will also require commitments of present and future NDCs between basin parties on a more regular basis as it can be difficult to incorporate transboundary matters within limited national preparation timeframes.

Landscape double rainbow in the mountains (Photo: Forest lynx)

Feature · 04 Nov 2021

Analysis of NDC enhancement: Integrative approaches

As well as an increased inclusion of water measures within different sectors, enhanced NDCs contained more measures and activities with a more integrative approach, on both national and subnational levels such as river basins.

Mitchell Plateau, WA, Australia - May31, 2015: An indigenous Australian woman from the local Kandiwal community sits beside a prisitne outback river. (Photo: Philip Schubert)

Feature · 03 Nov 2021

Analysis of NDC enhancement: Increased role for water and water-related activities

The role that water and water-related activities play in national economies has been increasingly recognized in most NDCs. In the first round of NDCs, water was regularly noted as a priority but this status was not always reflected through detailed activities, extensive measures or targets relating to water. In comparison, most enhanced NDCs include a wider range of sectors and measures that include water-related activities.

Global warming concept. Dry cracks in the land, serious water shortages. Drought concept. (Photo: Phonix_a Pk.sarote)

Feature · 02 Nov 2021

Analysis of NDC enhancement: First impressions

Following examination of approximately 120 enhanced NDCs, including 80 by developing countries, most parties appear to have invested more resources within their NDCs as part of their increased ambition, especially developing countries.

Earth from space. Elements of this image furnished by NASA. 3d rendering (Photo: ixpert)

Feature · 01 Nov 2021

Analysis of NDC enhancement: Foundations

In recent years, most parties to the Paris Agreement have been engaged in enhancing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). This blog series is concerned with understanding trends in the inclusion of water and water related activities in enhanced NDCs, along with assessing overall changes between first and second versions of NDCs for different parties.

UN Climate Change Conference COP26 Banner in a Glasgow street with the words Together for Our Planet, with a tree in leaf behind it.

News · 29 Oct 2021

Countries show growing interest in water solutions ahead of COP26

An analysis of countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Agreement show fast-growing interest in water and nature-based solutions. But countries have everything to gain from doing more.

Thousands of people takes part in a demonstration against climate change in Brussels, Belgium on October 10, 2021, ahead of the COP26 climate summit.

News · 29 Oct 2021

8 ways countries can boost climate action with the help of water

At the climate change meeting COP26, SIWI will be sharing how countries can apply water solutions to cut greenhouse gas emissions and improve their resilience. SIWI’s David Hebart-Coleman has identified eight ways countries can strengthen their climate plans with the help of water.

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