World Water Week 2024 – 25-29 August – will delve into how water can foster both peace and sustainability. As the leading global conference on water issues, this event, organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), brings together diverse participants, from policymakers and researchers to business leaders and activists united by a common goal: exploring how water can help create a better world.
World Water Week is more than just a conference: it is a forum for collaboration. Each year, a specific theme is chosen to reflect and drive the global water agenda. For 2024, the focus on water cooperation emphasizes the potential of water to act as a catalyst for positive change.
This year’s theme, Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future, highlights the crucial need for water cooperation across nations and communities. Water, a resource that crosses borders, has the potential to be a unifying force, promoting collaboration and understanding. The theme encourages us to recognize how interconnected our world is and the shared responsibility we hold to ensure a peaceful and sustainable future.
Water is at the heart of many global issues, from food security and health to agriculture, technology, biodiversity and climate change. The discussions and collaborations that take place at World Water Week aim to tackle these challenges head-on. It’s a place where people share ideas, rethink old practices and re-evaluate established approaches in light of emerging needs and technologies.
In addition to being a hub for innovation and collaboration, World Water Week also plays a significant role in advancing international efforts related to water, development and climate. Policymakers and institutions use this opportunity to accelerate progress on global agreements and initiatives, making the event a crucial meeting place for those working to shape the future of our planet.
As we explore the global significance of water, it’s important to consider specific natural solutions that contribute to water security. One such solution is wetlands, which play a crucial role in addressing water crises.
Wetland-based solutions for the water crisis
They act as natural water providers and purifiers, filtering out pollutants and improving water quality. Additionally, wetlands store water and release it gradually, which helps to alleviate the effects of droughts by ensuring a steady supply even during dry periods. Their ability to support biodiversity, control flooding, and sequester carbon further underscores their importance in sustaining both the environment and human populations. However, wetlands are disappearing at an alarming rate due to human activity and climate change. Protecting these vital ecosystems is crucial, as their degradation diminishes their ability to provide essential water-related services which will then worsen the water crisis.
© A. Smari / MedWet
But beyond their local benefits, wetlands are also at the heart of a critical global issue: the shared management of transboundary water resources. Many wetlands, including rivers and lakes, cross international borders, making them shared resources between nations. Transboundary basins, which provide about 60% of the world’s freshwater, are vital for 2.8 billion people living in 153 countries which share 310 rivers and lakes, and 592 aquifers.
This interconnectedness presents a significant challenge: the need for equitable sharing and protection of these vital resources to prevent conflicts and promote cooperation. Proper management of transboundary wetlands can transform potential sources of tension into opportunities for collaboration, driving sustainable development and fostering peace between nations.
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