On Wednesday morning, participants gathered for the opening session of the International Hydropower Association (IHA) World Congress on Advancing Sustainable Hydropower, followed by a discussion of energy policy. In the afternoon, participants took part in panel-led discussions on water policy and on linkages between hydropower and climate change.

Katrín Júlíusdóttir, Minister of Energy, Industry and Tourism, Iceland (left photo), provided an overview of energy production in Iceland, explaining that only 20% of Iceland's energy needs are met by imported fuels. She said Iceland was focusing on transitioning entirely to hydropower and geothermal power. Refaat Abdel-Malek, President, IHA (center photo), chaired the opening session. Bjarni Bjarnason, CEO, Landsvirkjun Power, Philippe Cochet, Chair, Hydro Equipment Association (HEA), and Hilary Onek, Minister of Energy and Mineral Development, Uganda (right photo).

Left to right: Refaat Abdel-Malek and Minister Katrín Júlíusdóttir (left) listen to Bjarni Bjarnason, CEO, Landsvirkjun Power (right), outline Iceland's transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, and explain that 80% of the country's power now comes from geothermal and hydropower.

Left photo: Alan Vaz Lopes, National Water Agency, Brazil, Haakon Thaulow, Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Jian Hua Meng, WWF, Peter Lee, International Commission on Irrigation and Drainage, Henrik Larsen, Water Managment Department, DHI, Luis Berga, International Commission on Large Dams, and Reza Ardakanian, UN-Water Decade Programme on Capacity Development. Ger Bergkamp, Director General, World Water Council, facilitated the session.