The AIDA World Water Law Congress 2026 took place from 24 to 26 June 2026 in Oslo, Norway, co-hosted by the University of Oslo (UiO), the Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), and the Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA). Held under the theme “Water Law and Governance in Times of Climate Change and Biodiversity Loss”, the congress brought together researchers, policymakers, and UN representatives to discuss some of the most pressing challenges at the intersection of water governance and environmental change.
Representing BlueActionAA, Sebastian Maria Karl Heinrich Kopf from NIVA, presented “Burn or Build: How Information Integrity Shapes Climate-Resilient Governance in the Arctic.” He delivered the message through images rather than text, and framed by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem The Tide Rises, The Tide Falls.
The presentation explored a simple, though impactful cycle: images and knowledge shape perception; perception shapes policy; policy shapes funding; funding shapes reality; and reality creates new images and knowledge.
The talk argued that strengthening resilience requires more than acknowledging risks. It also requires empowering communities and supporting practical solutions on the ground. The message carried particular urgency in the current international climate. At a time when political momentum for environmental action cannot be taken for granted, the work of translating ambition into implementation becomes all the more critical.
BlueActionAA is part of that effort. Having received more than 110 proposals, it will provide up to €9 million in funding and technical assistance over the coming years, supporting projects aimed at improving the health of oceans and waters, in both Atlantic and Arctic regions.
Beyond the presentation, the congress proved a valuable space for dialogue. Several promising connections were established, and discussions around future collaboration in the Arctic-Atlantic region are already underway.