ARCADIS (EURONEXT: ARCAD), the leading pure play global engineering and consultancy firm, announced today it is a founding sponsor of the Henry Hudson 500 Foundation's H2O9 Forum: Water Challenges for Coastal Cities. The Forum, scheduled for Sept. 9 -10, is co-chaired by U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Shaun Donovan, and Dutch Minister of Infrastructure and the Environment, Melanie Schultz van Haegen.

The Forum will focus on solutions in three major themes: adaptation to climate change for delta cities in the decades to come, the economics and governance of water, and the applicability of innovative water technology in urban settings. Although focused on the Netherlands and the New York/New Jersey metropolitan region, the H2O9 forum aims to raise awareness and develop partnerships benefiting coastal cities around the globe.

ARCADIS Executive Board member Zack Smith, who has global responsibility for the water activities and for its North and South American operations, will be a keynote speaker for one of the sessions. He will be supported by ARCADIS' director of global water business, Eleanor Allen as well as global water management experts, Piet Dircke and Rob Daoust while participating in the plenary session on Sept. 9. The experts will also lead workshops the following day with a focus on critical infrastructure and a dialogue on the Dutch experience of living with water.

"Major urban delta's are starting to see the effects of climate change and need to start addressing these issues now," said Zack Smith "We are thrilled about this partnership and the H2O9 Forum as it provides an important platform for informed dialogue exploring the creation of innovative solutions to complex problems. Especially where it concerns water in large coastal urban areas."

The 2013 H2O9 Forum will serve as a follow up to the 2009 groundbreaking water conference, H2O9, which took place at the Liberty Science Center in New Jersey. The 2013 H2O9 Forum will be made up of students, experienced water professionals, and policy makers. The lectures will be broadcast as webinars on the internet with the intention of reaching a global audience.