World Water Week

TEXT: ERIC PAGLIA
PHOTO: SIWI

Situated between the Baltic Sea and Lake Mälaren, Stockholm fancies itself as the “Venice of the North”. The city’s watery surroundings make it the ideal setting for the World Water Week, a conference dedicated to the study and promotion of global water issues.

The 2006 World Water Week in Stockholm will continue its important role as the nexus of the water, environment, development and poverty reduction fields when it takes place August 20-26 at the Stockholm City Conference Centre.

While Stockholm abounds in the most vital of all resources, much of the world lacks clean water for drinking, sanitation and irrigation. In the search for a solution to global water scarcity, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) arranges the annual event that brings together government officials, water managers, business leaders, media representatives, scientists, activists and other individuals and organizations interested in the water sector for a week of seminars, panel debates, workshops and exhibitions.
    Besides sharing knowledge and experience, one of the primary purposes of bringing together actors and experts from around the world is to facilitate networking and partnership building. Problems of water scarcity tend to be complicated, often requiring multi-disciplinary expertise from the natural and social sciences- and the involvement of the private as well as the public sector to find sustainable solutions. Inter-governmental and non-governmental organizations are also important participants in the World Water Week, which this year takes place from August 20-26.
     “The number and diversity of participants during the Water Week has increased substantially over the last couple of years,” says Mr. Anders Berntell, SIWI’s Executive Director. “This mix of stakeholders and interests is at once unique and vital - unique because there are few true interdisciplinary events where different types of professionals can and should meet, and vital since dialogue leads to collaboration and action,” notes Mr. Berntell.
    Several over-arching themes will help define the 2006 World Water Week. The role of water- crucial for agriculture- in feeding the burgeoning global population will be a major discussion point, as will governance systems that control water access rights- a life or death issue in some countries in the developing world. Trans-boundary river basin questions, which can be a matter of regional cooperation or conflict, are another of this year’s themes. The past few years have also seen major water-related catastrophes, such as the Indian Ocean tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, making natural disasters yet another topical theme of the Water Week.
    A highpoint of the week is the Stockholm Water Prize ceremony at City Hall. This year’s recipient is Professor Asit K. Biswas (see page 18), who will receive the award from King Carl XVI Gustaf.