Project

Aspen-Nicholas Water Forum

The Aspen-Nicholas Water Forum , convened annually by the Aspen Institute’s Energy and Environment Program and Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, serves as a platform for addressing domestic water challenges in the 21st century. The plethora of challenges in the US water sector—from the drought in California to the need for policy solutions that address water trading opportunities—will continue to be addressed at this convening as the Aspen Institute and Nicholas Institute collaborate to develop forward-thinking pathways to address the state of the US water system.

Aspen National Water Strategy

Water security is the backbone of a healthy society, a prosperous economy, and a resilient environment. Protecting America’s water sources, building sustainable water systems, and reducing water-related risks is essential to the legacy we leave future generations.

The Aspen National Water Strategy—published by the Aspen Institute in partnership with Duke’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and Lawrence Berkeley National Lab—identifies six interconnected strategies essential to America’s water security. Developed through 18 months of collaboration among water leaders across sectors of the economy and geographic regions of the country, these strategies outline specific actions for government, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and the private sector.

The interdependent strategies provide a roadmap for ensuring that communities have access to safe, reliable water, that the U.S. economy remains globally competitive, and that the nation’s rivers, lakes, and aquifers remain healthy for future generations. By combining national coordination with local flexibility, technical expertise with community knowledge, and proven practices with innovative thinking, decision-makers can secure America’s water resources now and in the future.