The World Water Council played a prominent role at the 5th Istanbul International Water Forum, held on 5–6 May 2026 at the Lütfi Kırdar International Convention and Exhibition Center in Istanbul, Türkiye. Under the theme “Strengthening Water Resilience: Innovation to Action,” the Forum gathered international leaders, experts, institutions, and stakeholders to advance collective solutions for water security and climate resilience.
Throughout the event, the World Water Council reaffirmed the urgency of placing water at the center of political and global agendas. Speaking at the opening session, Loïc Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, delivered a strong call for action, emphasizing that “Water security, in all its forms, is an essential priority for the planet.” Highlighting Türkiye’s leadership and expertise in the water sector, he stressed the importance of shared responsibility among governments, institutions, and civil society to address growing water challenges.
Beyond technological innovation, the World Water Council underscored the need for stronger political commitment and coordinated governance. In a powerful message to the international community, Loïc Fauchon reminded participants that peace and cooperation remain essential conditions for sustainable development: “Taps before guns.”
The World Water Council also contributed to the High-Level Panel on “One Water – One Health,” highlighting the strong interconnections between water systems and public health. Drawing lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, discussions focused on wastewater surveillance, cross-sector collaboration, and the importance of integrating water, health, food, energy, and environmental policies. The session reinforced the message that “Water and health can no longer be managed in silos.”
As part of preparations for the 11th World Water Forum in Riyadh in 2027, the World Water Council and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture of Saudi Arabia co-organized a strategic session entitled “Bridging Visions from Istanbul to Riyadh.” Bringing together representatives from the Political, Thematic, and Regional Processes, the dialogue focused on transforming ideas into concrete action through innovation, investment, water diplomacy, and inclusive participation.
With more than 700 institutions already engaged in the road toward Riyadh 2027, the Istanbul Forum marked another important milestone in strengthening global cooperation for water security and resilience.