World Water Week (WWW), the leading conference on global water issues, is annually observed across the globe during the last week of August to address critical water-related challenges, including access to clean water, sanitation, water management, and sustainability.
i.World Water Week 2024 takes place from 25 to 29 August 2024.
- World Water Week 2023 was observed from 20 to 24 August 2023 and World Water Week 2025 will be observed from 24 to 28 August 2025
ii.The theme of the 2024 WWW conference is, “Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future”.
iii.This annual event is organised by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) in Stockholm, Sweden.
Note: SIWI is a Not-For-Profit (NFP) institute with a wide range of expertise in water governance, from sanitation and water resources management to water diplomacy.
Significance:
i.WWW 2024 focuses on water cooperation, for peace and security, encompassing human, food, nutrition, ecosystem, and energy security, etc., and the relationship between all of these.
ii.The 2024 forum aims to identify and promote global interconnectivity and opportunities for effective water cooperation across sectors.
iii.WWW serves as a crucial arena for connecting international processes and linking to the annual Conference of the Parties (COP).
- In the years 2023-2027, WWW offers an opportunity to implement the commitments made at the United Nations (UN) 2023 Water Conference.
Background:
i.In 1991, Stockholm celebrated its clean waters with a public festival, which included the 1st Stockholm Water Symposium, gathering the world’s leading water scientists.
ii.In 2001, the Stockholm Water Symposium was officially renamed the World Water Week in Stockholm, the premier annual meeting place for discussing freshwater issues.
iii.Organized by SIWI, the event attracts participants from 193 countries, including scientists, UN experts, activists, entrepreneurs, politicians, and students.
- During World Water Week, SIWI hosts the Stockholm Water Prize, the Stockholm Junior Water Prize, and the Stockholm Industry Water Award.
About Stockholm Water Prize:
i.Inspired by the Stockholm Water Symposium, the Stockholm Water Prize was established in 1991, and is considered the “Nobel Prize of water.”
ii.It is a global award presented annually by the SIWI to an individual, organization, or institution for outstanding water-related achievements.
iii.It is presented by His Majesty (HM) King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden, the patron of the prize.
iv.Initially founded by the Stockholm Water Foundation, the Stockholm Water Prize is awarded in cooperation with the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences (RSAS) in Sweden.
- The award is also supported by: The International Water Association (IWA) in London, United Kingdom (UK); The Water Environment Federation (WEF) in the United States of America (USA); and The City of Stockholm in Sweden.
v.The winner of the Stockholm Water Prize is announced every year usually in March in conjunction with World Water Day (22 March).
- A royal prize ceremony at Stockholm City Hall is held as part of WWW in August, where the Laureate plays an important role.
Winner of the 2024 Stockholm Water Prize:
i.Japan‘s Taikan Oki, a professor at the University of Tokyo in the Department of Civil Engineering at the Graduate School of Engineering (GSE) in Japan, won the Stockholm Water Prize 2024.
ii.He is a world-renowned researcher in hydrology and was recognised for his outstanding contributions to global water balance studies, global virtual water flows, and the spatial and temporal variability of annually renewable water.
About Stockholm Junior Water Prize:
i.The Stockholm Junior Water Prize (SJWP) ceremony has been held annually since 1997 as a part of WWW.
ii.It is a competition for students aged 15 to 20 who have developed research projects that can help solve major water challenges.
iii.The participants in the final round are winners from nationally-held competitions.
iv.The prize is awarded to the winning student or group of students by The Prize’s patron Her Royal Highness (HRH) Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.
v.Since 2020, the annual SJWP has been complemented by an award from the public, named, the People’s Choice Award.
2024 Events:
i.A hybrid event has been organised digitally and in-person at the Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre, in Stockholm, Sweden to mark the WWW 2024 from 25 to 29 August 2024. The event features various seminars, webinars, talk shows, conferences, and workshops.
ii.The Key Collaborating Partners (KCPs) of the 2024 SIWI WWW are:
- The World Bank (WB), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Finland; the Swiss Agency for Development & Cooperation (SDC), Switzerland; and the World Youth Parliament for Water (WYPW).
Related Observance:
The UN World Water Day coordinated by the UN-Water is annually observed across the globe on 22 March to support the achievement of Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6: water and sanitation for all by 2030.
About the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI):
Executive Director (Interim)- Christel Wiman
Headquarters– Stockholm, Sweden
Established– 1991
