Registration & Participation

AIDA World Water Law Congress 2026

Key Dates

• 1 November 2025: Call for abstracts deadline. See below.
• 1 November 2025: Registration opens
• 24 February 2026: Early-bird Registration Deadline
• 24 May 2026: Registration Deadline (no registrations will be accepted after this deadline).

Registration will be open from 1 November 2025 until 24 February 2026 for the early bird rate, and until 24 May 2026 for late registrations.

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• Congress Fees

  Category	Early bird (Until 24 Feb 2026)	Standard (Until 24 May 2026)
  AIDA members	TBA	TBA
  non-AIDA members	TBA	TBA
  Graduate students	TBA	TBA
  Participants from least developed countries*	TBA	TBA
  Conference dinner	TBA	TBA

• Registration Conditions

  Further details will be provided soon.

• Participation: Call for Abstracts

  Download the Call for Abstracts as pdf

  Thematic Framework

  Our freshwater and coastal ecosystems are under significant pressure from climate change and biodiversity loss. Climate change is altering the functioning of freshwater and coastal ecosystems and their biodiversity, as well as water availability. At the same time, various sectors, such as renewable energy, agriculture, urbanization, aquaculture, and industrial activities, continue exerting additional pressure on freshwater and coastal ecosystems through pollution and habitat destruction, causing biodiversity degradation and less resilient ecosystems.

  Addressing these challenges requires effective and integrated approaches in water law and governance at national and transboundary levels. The AIDA Congress aims to shed light on existing barriers and opportunities for effective and integrated freshwater and coastal protection and management within nations and across borders.

  We invite participants to explore how key mechanisms, including legal, regulatory, governance, economic, fiscal, institutional, compliance, technological, dispute resolution, and other mechanisms, can be developed, integrated and implemented to create sustainable, long-term solutions for water management in a rapidly changing world, and to enable a transformative change to a sustainable future. These mechanisms can be discussed using practical examples, national and international court decisions, case studies, and other narratives.

  Within the context of the overall topic of the Congress, we welcome contributions that address one of the three thematic subthemes: 1) the role of water law and governance in relation to climate change adaptation and mitigation; 2) the role of water rights and obligations; and 3) the barriers and enablers for balancing changing hydrologic conditions, water usage, and biodiversity conservation.

  Inviting Your Participation

  Join us at the AIDA World Water Law Congress for an insightful and impactful global conference addressing the critical needs of water law and governance amidst the challenges posed by climate change and biodiversity loss. The AIDA Congress brings together leading experts, policymakers, researchers, and practitioners from around the world to discuss innovative solutions and strategies for sustainable water management at the local, national, and international levels.

  Contributions should fit within one of the sub-themes of the Congress:

  1. Water Law and Governance for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation

  This sub-theme explores how legal and governance frameworks can support climate-resilient water systems. Topics may include:

  • Legal and governance mechanisms for climate adaptation and mitigation in water management
  • Integration of water law into climate policies and international agreements
  • Nature-based solutions and ecosystem-based adaptation
  • Managing the water+ nexuses (e.g., water-energy, water-agriculture, etc.) under climate stress
  • Climate justice and equitable access to water in a changing climate
  • Legal and governance mechanisms related to smart water management and climate-resilient infrastructure

  2. Water Rights, Obligations, and Justice

  This sub-theme focuses on the legal and policy dimensions of water access, use, and governance, especially under conditions of climate variability and ecological degradation. Topics may include:

  • Human rights and access to water and sanitation
  • Urban to rural water tenure
  • Rights-based approaches to river and wetlands management
  • Legal obligations of states to manage water under climate uncertainty
  • Access to justice in water-related disputes
  • Indigenous knowledge and community-based governance
  • Equity for marginalized and rural communities
  • Citizen science and public participation in water decision-making
  • The role of civil society

  3. Balancing Changing Hydrologic Conditions, Water Usage, and Biodiversity Conservation

  This sub-theme investigates how water law and governance can reconcile water use with biodiversity protection. Topics may include:

  • Legal frameworks for water-related ecosystem protection and restoration
  • Integrated watershed and coastal zone management
  • Bridging land-water governance divides
  • Bridging freshwater-marine water governance divides
  • Conservation-compatible water allocation and use
  • Sectoral approaches (e.g., regenerative farming, restorative aquaculture, community-based fisheries)
  • Synergies and tensions between climate and biodiversity laws and policies and the impact on water resources management

  Congress Contributions

  The AIDA World Water Law Congress is a physical event that will take place at the Faculty of Law of the University of Oslo in Norway.

  The International Steering Committee for the AIDA World Water Law Congress welcomes abstract submissions under three categories:

  Individual Oral Presentations – These are abstract submissions for individual oral presentations. If accepted, they will be organized by the ISC into panel sessions based on thematic relevancy and composed of 4-5 presenters. Experts, academics, policymakers, water professionals, private sector practitioners, and civil society stakeholders who wish to share their work and experiences during the Congress are invited to submit such abstracts. These sessions will be between 60-90 minutes long.

  Special Sessions – These are abstracts submissions for full panels, sessions, or workshops. The formats for special sessions can vary from roundtable discussions to presentations of related papers, to training workshops, or other innovative arrangements. If accepted, a special session proposal will be incorporated into the Congress program. Organizations from the public, private, and civil society sectors are all invited to submit such abstracts. Please note that sessions will be 60-90 minutes long.

  Individual Poster Presentations – These are abstract submissions for individual poster presentations. Accepted poster presentations will be featured in an appropriate location in the Congress venue, and poster presenters will be invited to attend their posters at specified times to present their posters to Congress attendees. Experts, academics, policymakers, water professionals, private sector practitioners, and civil society stakeholders who wish to share their work and experiences in a poster format are invited to submit such abstracts.

  All abstracts must fall squarely within the thematic framework of the Congress. There is no charge to submit a proposal under any of these categories or to present at the Congress.  All presenters and session organizers will have access to an appropriate room, presentation space, and standard audio-visual equipment at no cost. However, all other expenses (including travel, registration, accommodations, etc.) are the responsibility of the presenters and session organizers

  Deadline for Contributions

  The abstract submission platform — ConfTool — will open for submissions on 1 September 2025. Submissions will be accepted until 1 November 2025.

  Requirements for the Abstracts

  Abstracts for individual presentations and posters (max 300 words):

  • Title of the proposed presentation
  • The purpose or thesis, and short description, of the work
  • The key issue(s) or problem(s) addressed
  • The results or conclusions derived from the project
  • Relevance to the Congress thematic framework

  Abstracts for special sessions (max 500 words):

  • Title and a short description of the proposed session
  • Relevance to the Congress thematic framework
  • The name of the lead and partner organization(s)
  • The session objectives, justifications, and projected outcomes
  • How the session will be organized and managed, and by whom
  • A list of presenters who are proposed to speak in the session along with their preliminary topic proposals (indicating those who have already committed)

  Abstract Selection Process & Review Criteria

  The general criteria used for selection by the evaluation committee include scientific quality (i.e. clarity of objectives and thesis, and scholarly or methodological rigor); innovative and novel approaches; relevance to the Congress themes; and diversity. More details on the criteria are provided below.

  Step 1: Anonymous Review of the Abstract

  The purpose of the anonymous review is to ensure quality and thematic alignment of the following criteria:

  • Scientific quality (Clarity of objective and thesis and Scholarly / methodological rigor)
  • Innovative and novel approaches
  • Relevance to Congress theme

  The reviewer will be asked to make recommendations based on the following assessment:

  Introduction	Has the topic been narrowed down precisely? Has the social and academic relevance of the topic been clearly demonstrated? Has the research gap that this contribution intends to close been clearly defined?
  Research approach	Are the key elements of the research clearly described? For example, the research question, the research objective, the research design, the methods used. Originality of the topic or research design. Creative integration of interdisciplinary approaches (if applicable)
  Results	Are the (preliminary) findings described? Is the significance of these results discussed, e.g. by highlighting the implications for practice? If no findings are yet available: Are the anticipated findings indicated? Contribution to new knowledge, practices, or perspectives.
  Thematic relevance	Is the contribution relevant and interesting for the AIDA community? Are the components for the congress addressed?
  Academic standards	Does the contribution meet academic ethical standards? Is the language readable and understandable? Does the abstract follow the rules of the scientific community?

  Step 2: Committee Review

  The purpose of the Committee Review is to ensure balanced representation of perspectives, ideas, and experiences in the final selection of oral and poster presenters, as well as special sessions. Criteria used for enhancing diversity include:

  • Geographical diversity (regional representation)
  • Gender diversity
  • Diversity in experience level (e.g., early-career and experienced professionals)
  • Professional background diversity (academia, government, practice, NGOs, etc.)

  General requirements: All abstracts must be prepared in English and cannot include graphs, charts, diagrams, images, abbreviations, references or citations. Presenters of accepted individual abstracts and posters, as well as all speakers proposed for a Special Session, must register for the Congress and pay the registration fees to present at the Congress. The payment deadline will be communicated to all submitters in due course.

  You may send questions to: aidacongresssecretariat@gmail.com

  The AIDA WWLC 2026 Secretariat
  Gabriel Eckstein, Katrine Broch Hauge, Froukje Maria Platjouw, Dr. Götz Reichert, LL.M., Gunnhild Storbekkrønning Solli