11 September 2010: World Water Week took place from 5-11 September 2010, in Stockholm, Sweden, under the theme “The Water Quality Challenge.” During the Week, a number of UN and intergovernmental actors organized seminars, side events and workshops.
On 6 September, the UN World Water Assessment Programme (WWAP) presented on the working structure and themes of the next UN World Water Development Report, to be launched in March 2012.
On 7 September,the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), the National Water Commission of Mexico (CONAGUA), the UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT), the World Bank and others co-organized a seminar on water adaptation to climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean. The “Expert and Ministerial Panel on Water Adaptation to Climate Change: Prospects and Challenges for Latin America and the Caribbean Region” brought together ministers from different parts of Latin America and the Caribbean, as well as experts to identify common priorities and opportunities for greater action in water resources management in the face of climate change. The outcomes of the seminar will be documented in a policy paper and the resulting policy recommendations will be presented at a side event at the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP-16), in Cancun, Mexico, at the end of 2010.
In addition, UN-Water held a stakeholder dialogue on “Sick water is threatening the MDGs: A stakeholder dialogue to address capacity development and communication needs,” on 8 September. The session brought together experts and stakeholders to discuss the current situation and challenges related to wastewater production and management. Specifically, participants looked at the ways different agents can provide solutions and response options to improve water quality and ensure sustainable development.
The Week concluded with the adoption of a Statement titled “Our Goals Need Water,” which is addressed to the High Level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), to be held in September 2010, in New York, US. [Expert and Ministerial Panel on Water Adaptation to Climate Change] [UN-Water Stakeholder Dialogue] [WWAP Side Event] [Statement “Our Goals Need Water”]