14 June 2018

Plans for the 2019 World Hydropower Congress have been presented at an intergovernmental meeting of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at its headquarters in Paris.

Governments heard that the international gathering of hydropower leaders and decision-makers in May 2019 will focus on international collaboration, capacity building and innovation in the hydropower sector.    

Organised by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) in partnership with UNESCO’s International Hydrological Programme (IHP), the congress will be attended by representatives from government, finance, investment, research, business and civil society from up to 100 countries.

“The 2019 World Hydropower Congress will mark 25 years of collaboration between IHA and UNESCO on water and energy synergies. More than 50 partner organisations will join forces to steer the future role of hydropower during this strategic event,” said Richard Taylor, Chief Executive of IHA.

Mr Taylor was addressing the International Hydrological Programme’s governing body, the Intergovernmental Council, at its 23rd session, taking place from 13 to 15 June 2018.

With the theme of ‘The Power of Water in a Sustainable, Interconnected World’, the Paris World Hydropower Congress will be by hosted by UNESCO between 14 and 16 May 2019. A particular focus will be given to hydropower’s role in delivering on the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Blanca Jimenez-Cisneros, Director of the Division of Water Sciences and Secretary of the International Hydrological Programme, said: “At UNESCO we recognise that the water world is strongly interconnected with that of energy. We look forward to important outcomes from the World Hydropower Congress in 2019, where we will analyse how the water-energy nexus is a fundamental part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

The last Congress was hosted by the UN Economic Commission for Africa and the African Union Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2017.

The 2019 programme will cover hydropower’s role in sustainable, clean energy systems, responsible freshwater management and climate change solutions. The event will be preceded by a series of high-level meetings on the water-energy nexus, as well as specialist workshops.

Further details on the Paris 2019 World Hydropower Congress, including information on participation and partnerships the can be obtained from the IHA website: www.hydropower.org/congress.