IDRA Collective Action to Address Water Scarcity: A Path of Innovation and Collaboration (2025)

Developed in collaboration with Boston Consulting Group (BCG), IDRA’s Water Scarcity White Paper reframes scarcity as a systemic global crisis that intersects with economic security, climate resilience, and social stability. It identifies ten transformative levers that can unlock resilient water systems at scale, from advanced reuse and energy-efficient desalination to digital infrastructure, AI-driven optimization, and nature-based solutions.

The paper calls for bold regulatory and financial innovation to accelerate adoption. It examines how integrated policy and finance mechanisms can mobilize investment, de-risk emerging technologies, and foster cross-sector collaboration.

Drawing on international case studies, including Singapore’s long-term reuse strategy, Southern California’s regulatory reforms, and the UAE’s large-scale water infrastructure planning, it demonstrates that the tools for resilience already exist. The challenge is to deploy them faster, smarter, and together.