On 4 December 2026, UNU will host the “International Policy Forum on Global Water Bankruptcy: Science, Leadership, Diplomacy and Action in Asia and Beyond”. This event, co-organized by UNU and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, will start at 16:00 in Elizabeth Rose Conference Hall at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo.
Water security is one of the defining challenges of our time. Climate change, environmental degradation, unsustainable water use and water-related disasters are placing growing pressure on societies and ecosystems worldwide. Earlier this year, the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH), also known as the United Nations think tank on water, launched its flagship report Global Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era, which argues that many societies are consuming and managing water beyond sustainable limits and calls for a fundamental rethink of how water resources are governed and protected.
Marking the 30th anniversary of UNU-INWEH, this forum will bring together leading policymakers, researchers and practitioners to explore pathways from water bankruptcy to resilience, with particular attention on Asia and the Pacific. The event will feature a keynote address by Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, recipient of the 2026 Stockholm Water Prize, and architect of the Global Water Bankruptcy concept. This will be followed by a discussion on how science, policy, finance and innovation can work together to strengthen water governance and advance a more water-secure future. Held just days before the 2026 United Nations Water Conference in Abu Dhabi, the forum will also examine opportunities for international cooperation and action.
This event will be in English and Japanese with simultaneous interpretation.
Registration
Advance registration is required.
- To attend this event in person at UNU Headquarters in Tokyo, register by 3 December at 15:00 at: https://go.unu.edu/97NR7
- To attend this event online via Zoom webinar, register at: https://go.unu.edu/Vlj1x
For the in-person event, please be prepared to present identification at check-in.
We also ask guests to be aware of the following event-related policies:
- UNU Code of Conduct to Prevent Harassment at UNU Events
- UNU Data Protection Notice for Meetings and Events
Please note that food and photography are prohibited during events at UNU Headquarters, unless prior permission is granted by UNU.
Programme
Welcome Remarks
- Tshilidzi Marwala — Rector of the United Nations University and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
Greetings
- Hon. Yoko Kamikawa, Member of the House of Representatives of Japan
- H.E. Viktoria Li, Ambassador of Sweden to Japan
Keynote Lecture
- Kaveh Madani, Director of UNU-INWEH, 2026 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate
Panel Discussion
- Masato Kanda, President, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Chairperson of ADB’s Board of Directors
- Taikan Oki, Professor, The University of Tokyo / Science and Technology Advisor to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
- Mikio Ishiwatari, Professor, Meiji University / Senior Advisor on Disaster Management and Water Resource Management, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)
- Yosuke Maeda, CEO, WOTA Corporation
- Kaveh Madani, Director, UNU-INWEH
- Aya Suzuki, Senior Vice-Rector, UNU (Moderator)
Q&A
Closing Remarks
- Keiko Namba, Director, Multilateral Cultural Cooperation Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Reception (18:00-19:00)
About Professor Kaveh Madani
Professor Kaveh Madani is Director of the United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH). His work focuses on complex human-natural systems and the connections between water, environment, development, security and society.
Before joining UNU, Prof. Madani worked across academia, government and international environmental diplomacy, including as Deputy Head of Iran's Department of Environment and Vice President of the UN Environment Assembly Bureau. He has held academic and research positions at institutions including Imperial College London and Yale University.
In 2026, he received the Stockholm Water Prize in recognition of his contributions to global water science, policy and diplomacy. He has recently been included in The Independent’s 2026 Climate 100 and 2026 TIME100 Climate for his contributions to global water governance and his pioneering work on water bankruptcy.
