IDRA Reykjavik Summit to showcase breakthrough technologies for water resilience amid climate crisis
The International Desalination and Reuse Association (IDRA) is gearing up for its highly anticipated Reykjavik Summit on Water and Climate Change, set to take place from October 12 to 14, 2025, in Iceland’s capital. This global gathering promises to unite policymakers, scientists, innovators, and business leaders representing over 40 countries, all focused on forging resilient solutions to the escalating challenge of water scarcity amid climate change.
The summit’s agenda is notably structured as a dual-track programme, combining a high-level thematic stream with a peer-reviewed technical track. The thematic sessions will explore critical issues such as climate resilience, equity in water access, digital transformation, and integrated resource management. Meanwhile, the technical programme will showcase cutting-edge advances in desalination, water reuse, and brine valorisation technologies, reflecting the growing emphasis on sustainable water management. Innovation in membrane technology, hybrid systems integrating renewable energy, and resource recovery from desalination brine are anticipated highlights of this comprehensive technical discourse.
A significant feature of the event is the NextWave start-up competition, which spotlights the ingenuity and determination of emerging young professionals. Finalists will present pioneering technologies ranging from advanced water monitoring systems and membrane production to carbon removal strategies, underscoring the summit’s commitment to fostering the next generation of water and climate innovators. Jan-Hendrik Imholze, co-chair of the IDRA Young Leaders Programme, has emphasised how the competition provides young experts with a platform to influence future water and resource management practices.
The summit also places a strong focus on brine valorisation—transforming the by-products of desalination into valuable resources. This theme will be central to the ENOWA NEOM Brine Valorisation Workshop, bringing together experts to discuss mineral recovery, advanced membrane solutions, and sustainable brine management methods aimed at minimising environmental impacts while maximising resource efficiency.
In addition to scientific and technological dialogues, the Reykjavik Summit embraces a unique crossover between water resilience and sport through its Global Education Initiative. This initiative includes a panel featuring Canada Ocean Racing, led by renowned yachtsman Nick Moloney, who will discuss how teamwork, innovation, and resilience in global sailing parallel the urgent work needed to advance reliable water supplies through desalination and reuse technologies.
Adding further dimension, the summit underscores strategic partnerships such as that between IDRA and Green by Iceland. This collaboration highlights Iceland’s leadership in geothermal energy and carbon-neutral water management, positioning the country as a model for integrating sustainable food, water, and energy systems on a global scale. The summit will thus serve not only as a forum for sharing knowledge but also as a catalyst for showcasing scalable innovations in the water-energy-food nexus, crucial for climate resilience.
Leaders attending the summit will include ministers, CEOs, venture capitalists, finance agencies, and sustainability professionals, reflecting the event’s ambition to blend policy, technology, and financing. Workshops and panel discussions will explore project models and collective action strategies that leverage public-private partnerships to scale impactful solutions globally.
According to Shannon McCarthy, Secretary General of IDRA, the summit embodies the necessity of localised and innovative responses to water challenges intensified by climate variations. “From extreme droughts to rising seas, the crises are global, but the solutions must be local, innovative, and shared,” she said, underlining the summit’s role as a nexus where policy, innovation, and finance intersect to accelerate water resilience efforts worldwide.
For association executives, confederations, and trade bodies engaged in water, environmental, and climate sectors, the IDRA Reykjavik Summit offers an essential venue to engage with frontline water leaders, explore breakthrough technologies, and discover collaborative approaches that could shape the future of water governance globally.