Partner Events

 

The biennial World Cities Summit (WCS) convenes government, thought leaders, businesses, and experts to address liveable and sustainable city challenges, share integrated urban solutions and forge new partnerships. This milestone 10th edition of the World Cities Summit, held in conjunction with Singapore International Water Week 2026, runs from 14 to 16 June 2026, at Suntec City Convention Centre in Singapore.

The theme for WCS 2026 is Liveable and Sustainable Cities: ACT Now! Accelerate, Collaborate, and Transform - to create more liveable, resilient, and sustainable cities. WCS 2026 celebrates how cities are transforming through bold leadership and partnerships, to actively shape a more liveable future for all.

The Summit is jointly organised by Singapore’s Centre for Liveable Cities and the Urban Redevelopment Authority.

Find out more about WCS 2026 here.

Organised by: LUOW

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The C40 Urban Flooding Network brings together cities active in flood resilience to exchange knowledge and collaborate; this year's workshop focuses on Nature-Based Solutions for flood management in alignment with the C40 Water Safe Cities Accelerator.

15 June 2026
1:30PM – 5:30PM

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Organised by: Imagine H2O

 

Organised by: Arup

Financing/investing in water-related adaptation has several high-potential returns, including socio-economic benefits. This workshop aims to unpack the business case for investing in water-related adaptation. Making the business case for financing water-related adaptation is premised on the evidence that water is the primary channel through which climate change impacts are felt, and at the same time, offers significant opportunities for climate change adaptation.

Water-related hazards threaten economies, communities, and ecosystems, underscoring the need for adaptation. However, water-related adaptation tends to be incremental and mostly focused on managing water-related risks, particularly in developing countries with significant adaptation needs.

Financing climate adaptation, particularly water-related adaptation, remains insufficient. The 2025 UNEP Adaptation Gap Report estimates that developing countries will require USD 310–365 billion annually by 2035, while current (2023) international public adaptation finance stands at only USD 26 billion. The New Collective Quantified Goal on climate finance (NCQG) is insufficient in meeting the adaptation finance needs of developing countries by 2035. This leaves a significant gap in mobilising finance for water-related adaptation, including those identified under the Biennial Transparency Reports.

Several structural and operational barriers, including limited revenue-generating potential, risk perception, insufficient data, a weak enabling environment, fragmented institutional mandates, and reliance on constrained public funding, constrain investments in water-related adaptation. This workshop aims to unpack the following questions:

PROGRAMME

2:00PM – 2:05PM: Opening & Context Setting

2:05PM – 2:20PM: Keynote Presentation

2:20PM – 2:45PM: Panel Discussion

2:45PM – 2:55PM: Audience Q&A

2:55PM – 3:00PM: Closing Remarks

Climate adaptation can no longer wait. South East Asia is on the frontline of climate change, facing rising sea levels that threaten low lying communities, more intense rainfall causing widespread flooding, prolonged droughts impacting food security, and an accelerating loss of biodiversity.

Nature Based Solutions (NBS) are often championed as a silver bullet for these interconnected challenges. While there are powerful examples where NBS deliver real and lasting benefits, experience shows that they work best when embedded in broader, integrated adaptation strategies. When applied in isolation, expectations can be misaligned—risking disappointment and undermining confidence in nature’s critical role in climate resilience.

This interactive workshop offers a fresh perspective on NBS—moving beyond slogans toward practical, scalable implementation. Participants will explore how NBS can effectively complement engineered solutions and support robust, multi layered climate adaptation approaches.

A key highlight is the Giant Sea Wall project in Demak, Indonesia, presented as a case study demonstrating how NBS can help shift the narrative while providing real protection for vulnerable communities. The session features an expert panel sharing best practices and lessons learned, followed by dynamic, game based breakout discussions. Delegates from the ASEAN 4 and the Philippines will bring their own case studies, engaging directly with experts from the Dutch Water House and invited guests to exchange insights, challenges, and solutions.

Emerald Technology Ventures is hosting its second by-invite Riverside Cocktail Reception in conjunction with Singapore International Water Week (SIWW) 2026. Building on the warm success of our inaugural reception, this year’s gathering will take place on 17 June, once again bringing together founders, investors, corporates, and public‑sector partners for an evening designed around meaningful conversations and deep connections.

 

Set along a scenic riverside backdrop, the reception offers a relaxed atmosphere for guests to unwind while enjoying light refreshments, and beverages. The evening is crafted to encourage informal networking, spark new collaborations, and strengthen relationships across the global water and innovation community.

As part of Emerald’s ongoing commitment to fostering strong sector networks, this reception provides a valuable opportunity to share insights, exchange ideas, and celebrate the collective progress driving the next generation of water solutions.

Organised by: PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency

Co-organised by: Singapore Water Association

PROGRAMME

 

The session will highlight how the updated guidance supports countries, regulators, utilities and partners to manage drinking-water risks and protect public health in a changing world.

 

1. Bruce Gordon, WHO

2. Dr Pang Chee Meng, PUB, Singapore’s National Water Agency

3. Jennifer De France, WHO

 

1. Dr David Cunliffe, SA Health

2. Prof Gertjan Medema, KWR Water Research Institute

3. Prof Joan Bray Rose, Michigan State University

 

Click here  to find out more.