In this presentation, we discuss findings from a trans-disciplinary research project - Climate Change Adaptation and Water Governance (CADWAGO) - involving research centres in Europe, North America and Australia that critically examine water governance dilemmas in nine case studies around the world. Using an institutional and organisational analytical framework, we specifically discuss cross-case study themes that have emerged from this project, providing critical insights into the changing social, economic and political dynamics of water governance in the context of climate change, and the challenges of informing policy processes. This presentation argues that, in spite of the existent diversity of water dilemmas, some common themes can emerge and as such governance lessons can be realised. Four key emerging themes are discussed here. The first two relate to broader changes resulting from the influence of neoliberal economic regimes: 1) the prevalence of shifting water governance regimes, across tiers of government and outsourcing to the private sector; and 2) the increasing use of economic instruments and the commercialisation of water resources as a common approach to try and achieve water governance objectives. The third theme relates to the exportation of environmental issues, where seemingly benign local environmental policy decisions can produce negative externalities outside of their geographical areas; a product of an interdependent world system. Finally, the fourth theme relates to water crises (e.g., floods and droughts) and their role in catalysing changes in governance scenarios.