World Water Week Focuses on Water & Energy

Torgny Holmgren Explains Why the 2014 Theme is Energy and Water and What Impact He Hopes This Year's Conference Will Have

An Interview withTorgny Holmgren, Head of Stockholm International Water Institute and World Water About World Water Week's Theme

World Water Weekkicks off in Stockholm on 1 September. As executive director, can you tell us what the conference is about?

Next week will be the 24th World Water Week. The conference started in the early 90s in Stockholm. Stockholm had gone from being one of the most unhealthy cities in terms of water quality, to a place where you could swim and fish in the city centre.

At that time, some clever minds decided we should bring leading scientists together to discuss water issues; 24 years later, it still has its roots in the scientific community, but we have broadened the scope to include representatives from governments across the world, civil society and international organisations.

Why is this year's theme energy?

Over the last few years the conference has explored many issues such as food security and partnership. Water and energy are two fundamentals for human development. Globally, 25% of freshwater is used for energy purposes.

Projections show that the demand for water will increase drastically over the next few decades, and energy production will be one of the main uses of the resource. There is also an increasing need for investments in water and energy in urban areas over the next 20 years.

What are the challenges and opportunities of engaging these two sectors?

The sectors are distinct but very closely linked. A lot of water is used for the production of biofuel and hydropower, for example. We also need energy for treating and transporting water.

Despite these interdependencies, there are communication challenges. The sectors speak the same language but have different interpretations. The energy sector is global, with many international, private companies. The water sector on the other hand is run mainly by public companies at local or municipal level. However, I do think there is a lot of scope to learn from each other.

World Water Week is designed to help overcome these divides. This year we have invited over 70 organisations. The main idea is that they bring their knowledge, experience and networks to share and build partnerships.

Conferences are often hotbeds of exciting ideas but they don't always result concrete actions. Have you seen this event make a tangible impact in recent years?

Yes. Every year we set lots of partnerships coming out of the week. For example, over the last five years there has been a tremendous increase in interest from the business sector.

To give one particular example: last year our2013 Stockholm Statementcame out of the conference. The statement called for a dedicated goal on water to be included in the sustainable development goals (SDGs). We have been working hard to follow up on this throughtout the year with the UN general assembly and other organisations such as UN Water. We are working to get it into the open working group and included in the discussisons that will start this autumn on the new SDGs.

What is your main hope for the 2014 conference?

My wish is that it brings the issue of water efficiency into the spotlight. Demand for resources is going up and we cannot continue to overuse water. My projection is that over the next decade, water efficiency will be absolutely key. It is a concept and term that we should use on a daily basis. I'm hoping that the conference will be an opportunity to learn a lot from the energy sector in terms of how we achieve this efficiency.

Source: The Guardian

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• Communication & Promotion
• Governance & Planning