Water is more than a resource to be managed. It connects climate, ecosystems, cities, food, energy, industry and human well-being. As these systems become increasingly interconnected, the challenge is no longer simply how to secure water supplies or control pollution, but how to understand, protect and govern water systems under accelerating environmental and societal change.
Since the first WREM was held in Kunming in 2018, the International Symposium on Water Resource and Environmental Management has grown through eight editions into a continuing forum for the water and environmental community. Over the years, WREM has brought together researchers, engineers, practitioners and decision-makers to exchange knowledge across disciplinary boundaries and to advance discussion on the changing relationship between water, environment and society.
The evolution of WREM also reflects the evolution of the field itself. From hydrological processes, water resources management and pollution control, the conversation has progressively expanded to ecosystem services, climate impacts, the water–energy nexus, green and blue infrastructure, ecological restoration and integrated environmental governance. Through eight years of meetings, publications and scientific exchange, WREM has sought not simply to present individual studies, but to connect ideas and people around a shared question: how can water systems remain sustainable, resilient and capable of supporting both human development and healthy ecosystems in a rapidly changing world?
In 2026, WREM enters its ninth edition at a moment when this question is becoming even more urgent. Climate extremes are reshaping hydrological regimes; emerging contaminants are creating new risks for water quality and public health; rapid advances in sensing, artificial intelligence, digital twins and data-driven modelling are changing how water systems can be observed and managed; and the growing interdependence of water, energy, food and ecosystems demands solutions that go beyond traditional sectoral boundaries.
Under the theme “Water in Transition: Intelligence, Resilience and Integrated Governance for a Changing World” WREM 2026 will focus on the next generation of water and environmental management — from smart water systems and digital hydrology to climate resilience, emerging pollution risks, nature-based solutions, marine and coastal sustainability, the Water–Energy–Food–Ecosystem nexus, and innovative approaches to water governance.
The 9th International Symposium on Water Resource and Environmental Management (WREM 2026) will be held from December 12–14, 2026, in Shanghai, China. Building on eight editions of scientific exchange, WREM 2026 invites the international community to continue this conversation — connecting disciplines, technologies and perspectives, and turning new knowledge into more resilient and sustainable water futures.
