IDRA Participates In UN Discussions On Water And Energy Security, Ahead Of The 2026 IDRA World Congress And 2026 UN Water Conference

Boston, MA - The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) is pleased to participate in the United Nations High-Level Political Forum (HLPF) on Sustainable Development in New York this week.

This year's forum convenes under the urgent theme of “Transformative, equitable, innovative and coordinated actions for the 2030 Agenda,” providing a critical window as world leaders conduct an in-depth review of both SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy).

The timely launch of the flagship UN-Water SDG 6 Synthesis Report on Water and Sanitation 2026 and the joint Tracking SDG 7: The Energy Progress Report 2026 underscores that achieving universal water security requires addressing the water-energy nexus. As global water scarcity has surged, IDRA is emphasizing that scaling non-conventional water solutions must happen hand in hand with energy efficiency and a transition to renewables to minimize environmental impact.

Building on this engagement and the momentum of the HLPF, IDRA is preparing, with our strategic partners, a high-level side event application for the upcoming 2026 UN Water Conference, proudly co-hosted by the governments of Senegal and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Abu Dhabi from December 8–10, 2026. Our focus will center on bridging the global water governance gap by scaling reuse, desalination, and circular water solutions to secure water for all. 

Crucially, the global frameworks debated this week at the UN on water and energy will serve as a baseline for the highly anticipated 2026 IDRA World Congress. Held under the esteemed patronage of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture (MEWA) and hosted by the Saudi Water Authority (SWA), the Congress will convene in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, from November 1–5, 2026, under the theme "Driving Global Water Sustainability Through Innovation." As the world's largest producer of desalinated and recycled water, Saudi Arabia stands as a prime global hub for showcasing how advanced desalination, circular water reuse, net-zero pathways, and a bold national vision operationalize infrastructure-ready realities. 

The IDRA UN Water Conference side event aims to bring together governments, industry, finance leaders, utilities, academia, civil society, and international organizations to help define the next generation of global water targets and accelerate action through innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

Key themes will include:

• Water for All – Achieving universal access to safe, affordable, reliable, and climate-resilient water and sanitation, ensuring healthy communities, resilient societies, and sustainable development.
• Water for Prosperity – enabling economic growth, food security, energy resilience, and sustainable development through water.
• Investment & Regulation in Water – mobilizing public and private capital through innovative regulatory frameworks to derisk projects and accelerate infrastructure innovation.
• Technology Advancements – scaling desalination, circular water reuse, digitalization, AI, renewables, energy efficiency, and other transformative technologies. 

We invite organizations and individuals interested in learning more or exploring opportunities to participate to contact the IDRA Executive Office at easg@idrawater.org.

The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) is the global voice of the desalination and water reuse industry, connecting governments, utilities, researchers, technology leaders, and industry stakeholders to advance sustainable water solutions worldwide. IDRA holds UN ECOSOC and UNFCCC status and is a member of the UN Water Family and UN FAO WASAG partner.

The High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF) is the main United Nations platform on sustainable development and it has a central role in the follow-up and review of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the global level​.