Potty Talk

Microbes are pros at cleaning wastewater, and it turns out they can also make electricity in the process. From urine-powered bathrooms to indoor food production, this technology taps the energy and nutrients in our waste to generate power, produce fertilizer and grow food.

At the 11th Our Ocean Conference in Mombasa, a scientist witnessed raw sewage being discharged onto a reef inside a marine protected area. The moment revealed a global contradiction: we cannot achieve ocean protection while ignoring sewage pollution. Fortunately, the solutions already exist. What is needed is global action.

After decades of decline, mangrove forests are beginning to recover worldwide. New research shows that conservation, restoration and natural regeneration are helping reverse losses. From innovative chinampa restoration in Mexico to wastewater solutions in Kenya, successful projects demonstrate that when ecosystems are restored and pollution is reduced, mangroves can rebound and continue protecting people, wildlife and coastlines.

Technology is rarely the main barrier to wastewater reuse. According to The Nature Conservancy’s latest report, policy, governance, financing, and public trust are often the missing pieces. Join Dr. Nupur Bapuly and expert panelists to explore lessons from global case studies and discuss how wastewater reuse can become a cornerstone of conservation and climate resilience.