In over 100 seminars, workshops and events spread throughout the week, over 2,600 participants have been meeting, discussing and debating the most pressing water challenges of our time under the thematic umbrella “Water Cooperation – Building Partnerships”.

This Week has brought together an unprecedented number of professionals Stockholm – world leaders, government representatives, scientists, members of the private sector and civil society. Every single one of them contributes to the work toward a water wise world.

As input to the United Nations General Assembly later this month, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) presented the Stockholm Statement during the closing ceremony of the World Water Week in Stockholm. The Statement, a result of an open and inclusive consultation process before and during the Week, calls for a dedicated goal on water as the world body considers the post-2015 global development agenda.

With the close of the 2013 World Water Week, the sights are already set on 2014. Next year’s theme is “Water and Energy – Making the Link”. Speaking during the closing session, Dr Kandeh Yumkella, Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and CEO of the Sustainable Energy for All Initiative set the scene for next year’s deliberations by telling delegates that energy is inseparable from sustainable development.

Resources

• Full press release
• Live webcast of the Closing Ceremony

H.M. King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden presented the prize to Dr Morgan at a Royal Award Ceremony in City Hall, during the World Water Week held in Stockholm, Sweden.

Dr Morgan has spent the last four decades inventing and advancing low-cost practical solutions to provide access to safe sanitation and clean water that are being used by millions of people worldwide.

“Many currently existing solutions to provide clean water and sanitation are unaffordable, impractical and out of reach for the world’s poorest people,” said the Stockholm Water Prize Committee in its citation. “As a result of Dr Morgan’s pioneering work, countless communities now enjoy safer water, a cleaner environment and quality of life.”

On receiving the award, Dr Morgan said: “It is indeed a great honour and privilege to have been presented this unique award. Those of us who work in this vital area are uniquely privileged because we are well placed and have an important role to play in conserving, and yet delivering the most precious resource on Earth – fresh water.

Webcasts from the 2013 Stockholm Water Prize ceremony

Full live

Highlights

Resources

• Link to full press release
• Stockholm Water Prize photos on Flickr
• Stockholm Water Prize videos on SIWI video hub

The Chilean team travelled to Antarctica and managed to identify a whole dozen of bacterial strains with the potential to clean up oil spills, by metabolising it, in extremely low temperatures.

A Diploma of Excellence was awarded to the Yeari Vigder and Noam Arye Nassi from Israel, for a project that proposes a cheap and easy way to use remote sensing system for farmers in developing countries.

Webcasts from the award ceremony

Full live

Highlights HD

Resources

• Read the full press release
• Photos from the award ceremony on Flickr
• Read the winning project “Psychrobacter: Antarctic Cooperation on Bioremediation of Oil-Contaminated Waters”

Paying for water will inevitably be a part of life. But, who should pay and what sort of water use should we pay for? Should we pay for washing our clothes? For cleaning our cars? Should a farmer pay to irrigate his lands?

Hear the discussion on the paradoxes of water value versus price that took place during the Founders Business Seminar (also including the Stockholm Industry Water Award ceremony).

• Detailed programme, more resources and outcome of this seminar are all available at Online Programme – hop back and forth on the tab navigation!
• Read the full Press Release on the Stockholm Industry Water Award

He spoke about the urgency in addressing the sanitation needs of billions of people around the world: “More than 2.5 billion people do not have adequate sanitation – more than one third of humanity. Of these one billion people practice open defecation. This is largely a function of poverty, with serious human consequences.”

Mr. Eliasson said that “we must continue to break taboos. As was the case for the word “toilets” a few years ago. It is time to incorporate “open defecation” in the political language and in the diplomatic discourse today.”

• Read the official opening press release
• Jan Eliasson’s full speech

By declaring 2013 the International Year of Water Cooperation, the United Nations General Assembly recognises the broad benefits of cooperation in the water domain for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. This UNESCO publication has brought together a broad range of water professionals and stakeholders to share their knowledge and experiences. The chapters in this book reflect the progress and challenges encountered in the fields of water management and cooperation around the world.

Water has rarely been the root of conflicts, but it can be an exacerbating factor where social and political tensions already exist. But while transboundary cooperation has often been difficult, experience has shown that sharing a resource as precious as water can be a catalyst for cooperation rather than conflicts. In his contribution, Dr. Jägerskog argues why developing approaches that balance interdependencies of transboundary waters is a matter of high importance. His article also shows how qualitative cooperation, joint management and open communication is critical adequate management is for successful transboundary management.

• Read the article ”Transboundary water management – why it is important and why it needs to be developed” directly

• Read the digital version of “Free Flow – Reaching Water Security Trough Cooperation”

The Press Kit serves to help journalists identify current water-related news stories to cover at the World Water Week or in general. The press kit also includes helpful logistical and press related information, such as a list of press events, launches and award ceremonies taking place at the 2013 World Water Week as well as high profile speakers, experts and officials attending the event.

The complete programme features over 100 exciting events, including thought-provoking seminars, scientific workshops, high level panel debates, fun social activities and much more. Download it now!

Also browse the Online Programme for the most up to date information about speakers, times and rooms. You can also plan and customise your personal schedule and add activities to your calendar with one simple click.

In this video, SIWI experts introduce the World Water Week in Stockholm and this year’s theme “Water Cooperation – Building Partnerships”.

Join thousands of decision-makers, international organisations, business leaders and practitioners that will gather in the Swedish capital to shape common solutions to the world’s most pressing water challenges.

A warm welcome to Stockholm September 1-6!

One important item for this year is the 2013 Stockholm Statement online forum (www.siwi.org/stockholmstatement2013), where you are encouraged to share your views on what message the water community should take to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 68) as it develops a roadmap towards the Post-2015 development agenda. We look forward hearing your thoughts on how we together can work towards a water wise world.

Read more and download the full magazine here.

• Dr. Peter Morgan Wins Stockholm Water Prize by by Mr. Josh Weinberg
• Netafim receives Stockholm Industry Water Award by Mr. Josh Weinberg
• Will 2013 be seen as the International Year of Water Law Cooperation? by Mr. Alistair Rieu-Clarke
• 2013 World Water Week in Stockholm – What’s New? by Ms. Sanna Gustafsson
• 2013 Stockholm Statement: Advocating Water by Ms. Maya Rebermark
  
• Setting the stage for collaboration over shared waters by Mr. Kerry Schneider
• Book review: Water, Christianity and the Rise of Capitalism by Mr. Terje Oestigaard