The UK Summit
Resilience in access to water supply and sanitation and prosperity of the environment are essential to achieving any goal in sustainability. Human-induced climate change has altered earth’s hydrological cycle, with devastating consequences for the human systems of water management and governance we’ve built over the last 10,000 years and settled into since the 1800s.
We know adapting to climate change requires investment in gray and green infrastructure across all water users and water uses. From industrial supply chains to expanding cities and food production, investment opportunities must be structured to reduce—and where possible eliminate—the greenhouse gases generated by current water management practices and adapt to changing precipitation and heating patterns.
In the face of dramatic news cycles covering the climate crisis, it’s easy to forget that for decades investment in water infrastructure and services investment has not kept up with demand. Programmes of actions and deadlines are in place to meet common global goals but investment has not kept up with demand. As economic and social environments evolve, and as new constraints and complexities of water sector markets arise there is a need to revisit how these programmes will be funded.
The International Water Association and the UK as Host Country to the World Water Congress in 2026 will convene a High-Level Summit to explore the role institutions and corporate organisations can play to ensure sustained financing and to consider implications for attracting private and commercial finance.
Starting with stating the case for resilience from the people who have to live with the devastating consequences of floods and droughts, the Summit will ask the question “Where is the funding going to come from?”. It will present innovative alternatives to today’s Aid and donation solutions taking inspiration from global programmes such as the Resilient Water Accelerator and creative solutions from young generations. It will explore solutions that exploit synergies between sectors and that are essential to secure environmental prosperity.
The High-Level Summit will provide a collective set of ambitions and actions in consideration of both urban and rural environments, catering for the needs of more connected or very remote communities and supported by the policy frameworks we need. The findings of the Summit will inform the representation of the International Water Association at the 2026 UN water Conference.
