2026 World Basins Summit: ‘Comparing our experiences with those of our counterparts’ (Élodie Galko)

“France’s presence in Rio is significant given its historic role as a pioneer in watershed-based water management. This model, which has inspired many countries, remains a benchmark. But we have also come to learn. Climate change is profoundly disrupting hydrological balances and calling into question certain approaches that have proved their worth over decades. We therefore need to compare our experiences with those of our counterparts, as climate change is completely transforming the way we operate,” said Élodie Galko, director of the French public regional Adour-Garonne Water Agency, to News Tank on 18 June 2026.

Élodie Galko is taking part in the INBO (International Network of Basin Organisations) World Summit on River Basins, held in Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) from 16 to 19 June 2026. She is representing France there alongside former minister Barbara Pompili, with the aim of giving a voice to national water agencies at UN level and outlining the Adour-Garonne basin’s strategy on water resilience.

"I'll specifically be talking about how we're preparing for climate change, and I want…