#iahrPriorityAreas

IAHR has identified three core Thematic Priority Areas (TPAs), along with one cross-sectoral focus, to drive progress, foster expert communities, and promote synergy within the water sector. These priority areas address the most critical global challenges faced today.

These priorities are outlined in the IAHR Strategic Plan for 2024-2027. Through this plan, IAHR is committed to providing a clear direction for research, development, and cooperation activities in the water sector. The goal is not only to strengthen scientific and technological capacities but also to generate solutions that contribute to the sustainability of water resources and the social and environmental well-being on a global scale.

IAHR Thematic Priority Areas are: Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, Water for the Energy Transition, Food Security and Nature, Improving Resilience against Water Hazards and Disasters, and Digital Transformation.

Explore the IAHR Thematic Priority Areas and Join the Global Effort to Develop Sustainable Solutions!

 Climate Change Adaption and Mitigation

Adaptation to climate change is one of the most prioritised hydro-environment challenges faced by governments, practitioners, and researchers. Recent IPCC reports raise the urgency of improving our ability to respond to more intense and frequent instances of heavy precipitation and severe drought. Across the full water cycle, water engineering must ensure adaptability by addressing and connecting the relevant needs of revised uses from urban environments to industrial plants and agricultural fields. More info

 Water for the Energy Transition, Food Security, and Nature

Water engineering is critical to realising the global energy transition, securing food for all, and to optimising our solutions in harmony with natural ecosystems.

As countries around the world seek to shift their energy dependencies, engineering and innovation are instrumental to improving water-related renewable energy options. Global hydropower capacity is expected to increase by 17% this decade. More info

 Improving Resilience against Water Hazasrds and Disasters

Whether due to too little or too much water, nine out of ten disasters triggered by natural hazards in the past decade were water related. These disasters pose serious threats to social, economic, and ecosystem well-being; and arise in varying forms: from storms, floods, droughts, sea-level rise, cyclones, and tsunamis to a spectrum of associated hydrological, climatological, or meteorological hazards. These disasters affect a broad range of river, lake, coastal, ocean, urban, and rural areas across the world. In the context of global change, engineers must boost our understanding of how best to deliver resilience against water hazards and disasters. More info

 Digital Transformation

More data has been generated in the past two years than in the entire history of humanity. Combined with rapidly rising computing power and connectivity, the digital opportunity will be massively transformative for the entire water cycle. New and emerging technologies accelerate better water management, increase efficiency, advance environmental objectives set by hydrological planning and international regulations, and unleash timely and precise data for smart water decisions. More info

 Access to Resources

IAHR Resource Guide on Climate Change
IAHR Resource Guide on Global Water Security
IAHR Resource Guide on Ecohydraulics
IAHR Resource Guide on FloodsIAHR Resource Guide on on Digital Water

Download the Strategic Plan 2024-2027

 How to Participate

IAHR welcomes both individual members and organisations to contribute. Explore the Directory of IAHR Experts and connect with our vibrant Technical Communities.

Collaborate: Join existing initiatives or propose new ones. IAHR offers a truly global platform to exchange, inform and work together.

Reach out to the theme leaders of each area or our theme coordinators, Elsa Incio at elsa.incio@iahr.org and Derek Cai at derek.cai@iahr.org to discuss!

Together, we can drive innovation and solutions for pressing hydro-environmental challenges. Your expertirse and ideas are essential to our mission.