Tim Wainwright

"No major technological breakthrough is needed to make progress in water resilience"

Tim Wainwright is the CEO of WaterAid and leads the SMI Water Task Group. He frames water as the frontline of climate adaptation: emissions must fall, but resilience is built through water.

Recent momentum is tangible, with the Resilient Water Accelerator progressing in Lagos and coastal Bangladesh. Lagos captures both the challenge and opportunity: vast flood risk, minimal safe piped supply, and households paying over the odds for trucked and bottled water. This is a market ready for investment.

The barrier is not technology, but value and finance. Proven solutions exist – what’s missing are bankable models, smart regulation and stability that can unlock blended finance.

Success at COP28 means place‑based commitments moving rapidly into delivery that improve access, affordability and resilience where risks are greatest.

Jim Andrew

"Climate change is the biggest change management effort in the history of the world"

Peter Bakker

"It's no longer good enough for companies to just make commitments and set targets"

Chief Perry Bellegarde

"We're disrespecting all the gifts from Mother Earth, and that has to change very quickly"

Dr. Ian Brettell

"We can't reach our climate goals without nature"