Ensuring America’s Water Security: Designing, Financing & Managing Infrastructure for Climate Adaptation
Hosted at The Forum, Columbia University 601 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027
Join us September 20th, 2022, to hear from leading stakeholders across all areas of the water industry to understand the future of water in the USA. We bring together experts from federal agencies, academia, private industry, NGOs and philanthropies, and journalists, to foster action-oriented discussions targeting achievable goals.
Water is at the core of climate adaptation goals. It is essential for manufacturing, agriculture, human health, and the environment. But across the entire supply chain, our aging infrastructure is failing. From dams and levees, to main pipes and sewers, to increasing exposure to chemicals and pathogens, our water system urgently needs to be reexamined. Climate change will continue to exacerbate pollution, floods, and droughts, while decreasing community capacity to address these concerns. It is time for collective action and an opportunity for social investment.
Discussions and Insights
- Climate change and resiliency
- Public utilities and government – Allocation and implementation of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill
- The current state of U.S. infrastructure and the future of water in America
- Presentations and panels featuring key players from industry, government, philanthropy, and the private sector
- And more…
In 2019, our last conference outlined the need for massive federal funding and investment in water infrastructure. In 2021, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was passed, allocating $50 billion to upgrade America’s aging water infrastructure. But federal funding won’t solve the issue alone – there are also massive opportunities for private investment. There are already many competing demands for water, and as the climate changes and events like floods, droughts and pollution increase, existing stresses will worsen. There’s a need for investment in infrastructure that is resilient, that meets the demands of today, and that can support the effective and safe delivery of water for all our needs.
Participants will attend a full day of lectures, discussions, roundtables, and panels to work towards the production of a white paper. The paper will summarize the key findings and solutions resulting from interdisciplinary discussions and conversations, and will serve as a guide for government, industry, and the private sector in the allocation and implementation of solutions.