World Water Congress & Exhibition 2016

The World Economic Forum ranks the ‘water crises’ as a top risk facing societies and business. The ever-expanding water demand of the world’s growing population and economy, combined with the impacts of climate change, are making water scarcity a reality in many parts of the world. It is already affecting livelihoods, human health, and ecosystems. A recent report pegs the number of people affected by water scarcity at 4 billion as opposed to 2 billion in earlier reports.

Cities, industries, agriculture and the environment are seriously impaired. Several cities around the world have literally run out of water recently, resulting in major havoc and costs for citizens, business and government. Water scarcity and droughts severely affect local communities and disrupt supply chains world-wide through disseminating agricultural production and limiting industrial production. Scarcity is expected to intensify with most forms of economic development, and as a result of extreme variability in climate. If unmitigated, extreme droughts will have an aggravating impact on economies, societies and the environment in all parts of the world.

Government leaders realize the severity of the situation and acknowledge that we cannot continue with how we have managed water as a blueprint for the future. The adoption and endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals(SDGs) provides us with an opportunity to re-engage on water scarcity and drought management responding to SDG 6.4, in particular:

Substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity and substantially reduce the number of people suffering from water scarcity..

Government leaders also have signed on to the “Paris Agreement” dealing with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. Though water scarcity and drought is not explicitly mentioned, the agreement aims to increase the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change and foster climate resilience and low greenhouse gas emissions development. It will have to include a significant amount of resources for upgrading existing and new water infrastructure and institutions, especially for areas affected by serious droughts and water scarcity.

About the World Water Congress & Exhibition
The IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2016 taking place in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia, will cover 5 programme themes: Cities, Utilities and Industries Leading Change; Re-Charting the Course of Water Resources; Enabling Progress with Good Governance, Sustainable Finance and ICT; Water Quality, Safety and Human Health and Water and Wastewater Processes and Treatments.

Networking
The World Water Congress & Exhibition is a unique opportunity to network with the world’s best water professionals. Join selected opportunities to engage with specific communities of the IWA network. Welcome reception, selected dinners, special evening programmes, organised cocktails and gala dinner are but a few of the opportunities to engage and network. And if you are interested in sponsoring a specific event during our 6 day programme please send us an email to keith.robertson@iwahq.org. Join us shaping our water.

The global event on water solutions.
Organised by the International Water Association, this is the global event on water solutions that brings together thought leaders, decision makers, leading researchers and business representatives from within and outside the water sector.

Focusing on leading practice, innovation and solutions, the event provides new networking and business opportunities, and ensures maximum exposure between participants, exhibitors and sponsors. It connects you with the right people and the right solutions, fosters new collaborations and partnerships, and provides a platform for exhibitors and sponsors to raise their profile amongst leading water professionals and companies.

Innovation
Bridging the space between industry, business, technology, innovation, practice and science to share knowledge and develop networks that will shape the water agenda for decades to come.

Promotion
The event is promoted to a worldwide network of more than 50,000 water professionals through multiple digital channels and international, regional and local media partners.

Partnership
All exhibitors can take advantage of unique, sponsorship and partnership opportunities, tailor-made to meet their needs and enable them to make an impact and play a leading role in an event.

Networking
All exhibitors can take advantage of unique networking facilities. These include matchmaking programmes for exhibitors, meet the delegations programmes, Business Forums and more.

Excellent Reputation
The International Water Association is a trusted professional association with an excellent reputation and track record for delivering high-profile international events around the world.

Lunch and Coffe
All Exhibitors will be located in the main Exhibition hall where all lunch and coffee breaks will be served. The hall will also host other social functions and receptions, enabling full integration between Exhibition and Conference.

Showcase Your company and solutions in front of over 5000 water professionals.
The World Water Congress & Exhibition offers a unique opportunity to profile your company and showcase your technical and service solutions with over 5000 water professionals from over 100 countries.

The benefits of sponsoring go well beyond the Congress and can help cement your products and services as the ‘go-to’ brand for water professionals. You will take advantage of branding rights, targeted IWA promotions, online and offline exposure through multiple communications and media channels, business forums and VIP networking.