Climate change is intensifying global water-related challenges, including the increased severity and frequency of droughts and floods. To address these issues, the International Desalination and Reuse Association is hosting a Summit on Water and Climate Change in Reykjavik, Iceland from 12-14 October 2025.
AWS CEO Adrian Sym will be speaking as part of a panel on ‘Water Stewardship and Adaptation: Advancing Resilient Communities and Watersheds Through Policy, Technology, and Collective Action’ during the summit.
This session, hosted by AWS and IDRA, will cut past theory to spotlight real-world case studies where collective action has transformed climate adaptation and resilience at the community and watershed levels. We’ll explore how integrated water stewardship—anchored in accountability, equity, and local engagement—can be a catalyst for systemic change when diverse actors work together. But inspiration alone won’t be enough. To meet the scale of the climate and water crises, we must track and verify impact through on-the-ground projects, share results transparently, and rapidly replicate what works. This is a call for a multi-stakeholder/whole-of-society movement: governments, companies, communities, and innovators stepping up with aligned resources, bold leadership, and mutual accountability. The message is clear—incremental progress won’t cut it. The time is now for transformative collective action that delivers measurable water security and climate resilience where it matters most.