Water Innovation in the Age of Decarbonization

The 2024 Aspen-Nicholas Water Forum focused on identifying innovative technologies, policy frameworks, business models, and institutional structures to enable decarbonization and adaptation within the water sector as well as the sector’s role in decarbonizing the broader economy. Forum participants explored key questions such as: How is innovation disrupting the water sector? How does water fit into broader decarbonization efforts? Is data an opportunity or challenge for water in decarbonization? This report summarizes the findings of the Forum.

The annual Aspen-Nicholas Water Forum convenes thought leaders to address ongoing challenges to water sustainability in the United States. Participants come from the private sector, government, academia, and nongovernmental organizations—representing expertise in industry, finance, philanthropy, government, academia, agriculture, food and technology companies, investors and entrepreneurs. Each year, the Nicholas Institute and Aspen Institute coauthor a summary of the forum. Not all views were unanimous nor was unanimity and consensus sought. Forum participants and sponsors are not responsible for this summary’s content.

We thank the following sponsors for their generous support of the forum: The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation, Veolia, Xylem, The Freshwater Trust, ByWater Institute at Tulane University, ESRI, Raftelis, Might Arrow Family Foundation, The Water Research Foundation, Mortenson Center in Global Engineering at University of Colorado Boulder.