The three main goals of te conference are:

1. exchange of up-to-date top science on climate change and delta planning

2.strengthening of international cooperation between deltas and delta cities

3.exploring and strengthening the links between science, policy and practitioners at international level

Themes to be discussed include:
subsidence, climate change and spatial planning, flood risk management, salt water intrusion and fresh water supply, salt water aquaculture and brackish agriculture, urban heat island effect, governance and innovative policy instruments.

An important event during the conference is the launching of the Delta Alliance: an international alliance promoting effective cooperation among deltas in their efforts to manage existing and new challenges.

The "Connecting Delta Cities" network, which started at the C40 conference in Tokyo, will play an important role in the development of this worldwide cooperation. During the conference it will present their progress in several sessions.