Water and electricity demand are expected to increase by at least 50% by 2050 and irrigated land will increase by around 60% to meet future food security needs. Furthermore, the climate will be become increasingly volatile with more droughts and floods.  

Hydropower development cannot be separated from viewing its interconnection with other elements in water sectors. The Water-Energy-Climate nexus requires the necessary governance conditions for joint, intersectoral planning at national and transboundary levels that help water systems adapt to climate change through investments in water and energy. Policies must ensure that infrastructure investments in water and energy must be climate-resilient to ensure that development investments deliver adaptation and mitigation benefits across different sectors under a wide range of future, uncertain climate scenarios.

This session will explore the opportunities and policy challenges to ensure win-win outcomes for water, energy and climate. It will touch on SDGs 6 (Clean Water), 7 (Affordable and clean energy), 8 (Decent Work and economic growth), 11 (Sustainable cities and communities) and 13 (Climate action).

Moderator: Eddie Rich, CEO, International Hydropower Association

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Panellists tbc.