In December 2015, Water. Desalination + reuse (Faversham House) reported that a new body named Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance had been launched at the climate conference in Paris. The alliance urged its 17 member countries to power new desalination plants with clean energy. Its founding group had over 80 signatories from government, the public sector and industry. Further aims included more efficient and upgraded plants, more research and demonstration projects, and firm policy frameworks. The International Desalination Association (IDA) was a founding member.
The report showed that by 2015 the energy demand of desalination had reached the agenda of international climate policy, with industry and governments treating it as an emissions issue.