Climate and sustainable development top the agenda as high-level speakers are announced

8 May 2019

The 2019 World Hydropower Congress opens in Paris next week, drawing more than 700 delegates from over 70 countries to the French capital.

The high-level event is organised by the International Hydropower Association (IHA) in collaboration with more than 40 partner organisations, with support from the Government of France and President Emmanuel Macron.    

Between 14-16 May 2019 the event will bring together a broad spectrum of stakeholders interested in hydropower development, including leaders from business, government, civil society, social and environmental NGOs, local communities, the United Nations, financial institutions and academia.

Announcing the line-up of speakers for the opening session, IHA Chief Executive Richard Taylor said this year’s congress is themed around hydropower’s role in delivering on the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals.

The congress provides a platform for sharing experiences and showcasing examples of best practice, while also guiding policies and strategies to strengthen the sector’s performance.

Mr Taylor said: “Four years ago, this city hosted the United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) at which the historic Paris Agreement was forged by world leaders to limit global emissions. This year, the hydropower community takes the opportunity to further its contribution to this agreement.

“The event will be an opportunity to discuss the hydropower sector’s vital role in meeting global carbon reduction targets, building a clean energy future and ensuring responsible freshwater management.”

More than 200 speakers will address 40 focused sessions and workshops on topics such as sustainability, climate resilience, innovative data solutions and hydropower working with other renewables.

The line-up of speakers that will address the opening plenary session on 14 May include:

International organisations

• Ken Adams – President, International Hydropower Association
• Elliot Harris – Assistant Secretary General, UNDESA
• Fatih Birol – Executive Director, International Energy Agency
• Riccardo Puliti – Head of the Energy and Extractive Resources Global Practice, World Bank Group
• Giulio Boccaletti – Chief Strategy Officer, The Nature Conservancy
• HE Amani Abou-Zeid – Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy, African Union Commission

Business

• Jean-Bernard Lévy – CEO, EDF Group
• José Alberto Alderete – Director General (Paraguay), Itaipu Binacional
• Irene Cañas Díaz – CEO, Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad
• Jorge Londoño De La Cuesta – CEO, EPM
• Pascal Radue – President and CEO, Hydro Solutions, GE Renewable Energy
• Lin Chuxue – Executive Vice-President, China Three Gorges

Governments

• Hon. Luis Chang – Minister of Energy & Mines, Guatemala
• Hon. Barsha Man Pun – Minister of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal
• Y.B. Dato Sri Dr. Stephen Rundi Utom – Minister of Utilities (Sarawak), Malaysia
• Shri Aniruddha Kumar – Joint Secretary of Power, India
• Daniel Simmons – Assistant Secretary, Department of Energy, USA
• Øivind Johansen – Director, Ministry of Energy, Norway

Renewable energy

• Rana Adib – Executive Secretary, REN21
• Stefan Gsaenger – Secretary General, WWEA
• Ruslana Lyzhychko – ReNewDay Ambassador

The World Hydropower Congress is sponsored by strategic partners CTG, EDF, GE, Itaipu Binacional, The Nature Conservancy and Sarawak Energy, and supporting partners Alpiq, CSHE, EDP, Voith and Statkraft.

View the programme of 37 sessions and see an A-Z of the speakers online: www.hydropower.org/congress  

Recognising that business, finance, government and civil society must be more creative, more effective and work more closely together to deliver on the Paris Agreement and Sustainable Development Goals, the organisers are encouraging all delegates and stakeholders to submit their priorities for the hydropower sector via the website: congress.hydropower.org/priorities

Quotes from participants:

"This congress in Paris is a fantastic opportunity to meet all the major international hydro players gathered to talk about the role of hydropower in the energy transition and in the preservation of water resources. I wish all participants a very successful congress.” - Jean Levy, CEO, EDF

“The Nature Conservancy participates in the World Hydropower Congress because it is an agenda-setting event, convening the decision-makers and facilitating the discussions critical to the successful energy transition that we are working towards.” – Giulio Boccaletti, Chief Strategy Officer, The Nature Conservancy

“The World Hydropower Congress brings together a unique network of hydropower operators from all over the globe. This creates an unparalleled opportunity to bring together leading hydropower practitioners, and to address emerging challenges and opportunities across the hydropower industry – including those driven by climate change.” - Craig Davies, Head of Climate Resilience Investments, EBRD

“The 2019 World Hydropower Congress is a valuable opportunity to share experiences and promote the benefits of interconnections in developing regions of the world.” - Leslie Chai, General Manager of System Planning, Sarawak Energy

“Hydropower will continue to be an essential part of the energy matrix of the future. I am looking forward to hearing lessons about digitalisation, benefit sharing, safety, and other aspects that will make projects more attractive and sustainable in the long run.” - Luiz Gabriel Azevedo, Division Chief, Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance Division, IDB Invest

Learn more about the event and read more quotes from participants: congress.hydropower.org/2019-paris