Water Quality
A record number of participants at the 20th anniversary, 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm were presented with a hard task at the opening session: they were expected to tackle the manifold aspects of the global water quality challenge and to draw practical future solutions – all in one eventful week. The results were optimistically progressive, as apparent in this edition of the “World Water Week Overarching Conclusions.” In the first chapter, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) summarises the thrust of the week’s deliberations leading up to the closing Stockholm Statement addressing the UN MDG Summit. In the second chapter, a team of senior and junior rapporteurs offer their narrative on five thematic streams that they’ve been tasked to cover during the week, whereas the final chapter gives an overview of the astonishing work of prize laureates and award winners. Yet there are some interweaving lines of thought found in all three chapters. One predominant theme is tackling water within a systems approach. As we observe the rapid increase in resource intensive urbane lifestyles putting a strain on resources, a systems approach that integrates urban and rural areas in a holistic, ecosystems management perspective is needed to deal with water and socio-economic challenges up, along and downstream. Therefore, wise decisions must be taken where problems persist, which requires better mobilisation of adequate resources to local decision makers in developed as well as in developing nations, and the scaling up of effective implementation models. This is particularly imperative as we address climate change: a recurring conclusion at the World Water Week is that connecting water and climate change communities minimises the uncertainty clouding our efforts to address forecasted weather
variability and future droughts. Bolstering this connection would eventually minimise the negative climatic impacts on water quality, human health and security. Another theme is the added value of capacitating and empowering young people, particularly young women, via information technology, adequate sanitation facilities and improved water access. These are measures that will not only give them the opportunity to complete their education, but also empower a generation of conscience water managers and improve the well being of their communities. This report analyses these and many other issues, initiatives and recommendations that were put forward during the Week for the benefit of participants and the broader water and development community. The World Water Week is the annual focal point for solutions to the growing array of water and development challenges facing the world, and I believe we have successfully managed to tackle many of the issues underlying the 2010 theme “Responding to Global Changes: The Water Quality Challenge – Prevention, Wise Use and Abatement.” I would like to thank all of you – convening organisations, participants, sponsors and partners alike – for your role in making the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm a tremendous success. Please mark your calendars for August 21-27, 2011 to join us for the 2011 World Water Week, where we will continue to address these issues and others under the theme “Responding to Global Changes: Water in an Urbanising World.”
variability and future droughts. Bolstering this connection would eventually minimise the negative climatic impacts on water quality, human health and security. Another theme is the added value of capacitating and empowering young people, particularly young women, via information technology, adequate sanitation facilities and improved water access. These are measures that will not only give them the opportunity to complete their education, but also empower a generation of conscience water managers and improve the well being of their communities. This report analyses these and many other issues, initiatives and recommendations that were put forward during the Week for the benefit of participants and the broader water and development community. The World Water Week is the annual focal point for solutions to the growing array of water and development challenges facing the world, and I believe we have successfully managed to tackle many of the issues underlying the 2010 theme “Responding to Global Changes: The Water Quality Challenge – Prevention, Wise Use and Abatement.” I would like to thank all of you – convening organisations, participants, sponsors and partners alike – for your role in making the 2010 World Water Week in Stockholm a tremendous success. Please mark your calendars for August 21-27, 2011 to join us for the 2011 World Water Week, where we will continue to address these issues and others under the theme “Responding to Global Changes: Water in an Urbanising World.”
