New 2026 edition of the TEHA White Paper on Water Value, underscores Shared Priorities with the WestMED Initiative
Loic Fauchon, President of the World Water Council, at the launch event of the white paper in Rome on March 18, 2026.
The TEHA Community – Italy’s leading multi‑stakeholder platform bringing together utilities, industry, research organisations and public authorities to advance innovation and strategic investment in the water sector – has released the 7th edition of its White Paper on the Value of Water 2026.
The report highlights several themes that closely mirror the priorities of the WestMED Initiative, reinforcing the need for coordinated Mediterranean action on water resilience and sustainable blue growth.
The White Paper warns of intensifying water scarcity, rising climate vulnerability and the growing risk of a “global water bankruptcy,” identifying the Mediterranean as one of Europe’s most exposed regions. These findings directly support WestMED’s work on climate adaptation, coastal resilience and nature‑based solutions across tourism, fisheries, aquaculture and port operations.
A central contribution of the report is its expanded view of the extended water value chain, covering drinking water, wastewater, reuse, agriculture, industry, energy and digital infrastructure. This holistic approach aligns with WestMED’s efforts to strengthen sustainable blue value chains and promote circular water models across the basin. The WestMED-supported AIDARA Inititiative is a good example in this respect.
The TEHA Community also highlights persistent governance fragmentation and significant investment gaps, noting that nearly a quarter of Europe’s water‑resilience needs remain unfunded.
These insights reinforce WestMED’s role in improving policy coherence, mobilising finance and supporting project development and matchmaking among its ten participating countries.
Other key themes – including circular water, digitalisation of the water cycle, and the need for new skills and public awareness, resonate strongly with WestMED’s priorities on digital blue economy, non‑conventional water resources and the work of the newly formed WestMED Blue Skills Technical Group.
Overall, the TEHA White Paper provides a timely evidence base that strengthens the case for joint Mediterranean solutions. It underscores the urgency and opportunity for coordinated action on water resilience, climate adaptation and sustainable blue growth in the Western Mediterranean.
