Aug 28, 2015

SIWI urges negotiators to hydrate the climate agreement

Stockholm (28 August 2015) – World Water Week closed on Friday, with SIWI urging climate negotiators to ensure that water is thoroughly integrated in the global 2015 climate agreement.

This year, World Water Week – themed Water for Development – had 3,300 participants from 125 countries, representing governments, academia, civil society, international organizations, the private sector, and many others. Both World Water Week and Stockholm Water Prize celebrated their 25th jubilee.

SIWI’s Executive Director Torgny Holmgren summarized the voices of the Week when he said: “water is what binds together all the aspects of climate change. Climate change is water change.”

The impact of climate change is felt through water, with flooding, erratic rain patterns, pro-longed droughts, and other extreme weather events. Water is also critical for successful climate change mitigation, as many efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depend on reliable access to water resources.

“It is absolutely vital that water is a part of both voluntary initiatives to mitigate and adapt to climate change, as well as of the Climate Convention itself,” said Karin Lexén, Director of World Water Week, International Processes and Prizes.

Sweden’s Minister for Climate and Environment and Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Åsa Romson, echoed SIWI’s message: “If waters are not managed properly and water resources management is not well integrated in climate efforts, climate impacts will have a significant effect on our societies – it is a challenge for all countries.”

She added that “I want to encourage further discussions on how to strengthen water resilience as part of the Action agenda and to make sure that climate investments, including through the Green Climate Fund, can support water resilience.”

Dr Benedito Braga, Secretary of State for Sanitation and Water Resources for the state of São Paulo in Brazil and President of the World Water Council, said that “Water security is probably the greatest human challenge of this century.”

Struggling with extreme water shortages in a metropolitan area serving over 20 million people, he added: “Today I strongly believe that the stakes are higher than ever.”

In a passionate plea to negotiators in Paris, the President of Marshall Islands, Christopher J Loeak, earlier in the week said he was not sure if he dared hope for the strongest possible wording in the climate agreement, but said he expected the world to make a historic pledge that would not only save his country, but also the world.

“We (Marshall islands) are quite literally contemplating a future where we are being wiped off the world map,” he said.

“It is of utmost importance to integrate and address water in the global climate discourse and this World Water Week has been an important platform for such collaborative discussions towards Paris,” Minister Åsa Romson concluded.

Prizes
During the Week, several prizes were awarded for excellence in water-related issues. The Stockholm Industry Water Award was awarded to the engineering company CH2M for developing and advancing methods to clean water, and increasing public acceptance of recycled water. Perry Alagappan from USA received the 2015 Stockholm Junior Water Prize for inventing a filter through which toxic heavy metals from electronic waste can be removed from water. And finally, the prestigious Stockholm Water Prize was awarded to Rajendra Singh of India, for his innovative water restoration efforts, improving water security in rural India, and for showing extraordinary courage and determination in his quest to improve the living conditions for those most in need.

About SIWI
SIWI is a policy institute working for a water wise world. SIWI does independent research, generates knowledge and provides expert analysis and advice on water issues to decision-makers and other agents of change. SIWI organizes the World Water Week in Stockholm – the leading annual global meeting place on water and development issues – and hosts the Stockholm Water Prize, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize and the Stockholm Industry Water Award.

Note to Editors: