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“Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future” was the theme this year at the World Water Week 2024 organized by the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). The event which lasted from 25-29 August, brought together experts, policymakers, and organizations from across the globe to discuss the crucial role of water cooperation in fostering global peace, security, and sustainability.
Water Footprint Implementation was proud to actively participate, with three of our representatives contributing to vital discussions in different sessions:
🔹 Rick Hogeboom, Executive Director, Water Footprint Network, spoke on “Trade and Traceability: Understanding Embedded Water in Supply Chains,” discussing the need to understand sources of embedded water for building sustainable and equitable supply chains. Considering how embedded water in goods and services is expected to triple by century’s end, improved traceability and transparency are essential for managing virtual water and mitigating climate vulnerabilities, yet data remains limited.
He was joined by Shahnoor Hasan (Deltares), Michael Lathuilliere (SEI — Stockholm Environment Institute) and Ian Knight (Mars). The session was hosted by Liz Saccoccia (World Resources Institute).
🔹 Ertug Ercin, Senior Water and Climate Expert, presented at “Advancing Transboundary Water Cooperation: A Holistic Approach in the Middle East.” The session, led by Blue Peace Middle East, explored how diplomacy, trust-building, and innovation can strengthen regional water security. Examples were drawn from real-world case studies that explained the importance of collaboration against competition in managing water across regions. Ertug was joined by high-level representatives from Blue Peace Middle East, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, and FAO.
🔹 Jurian van der Zwet participated in a roundtable discussion, sharing insights on the recent CSRD development and collaborative solutions to pressing water issues.
World Water Week 2024 fostered a platform for dialogue, allowing key stakeholders to share knowledge, forge partnerships, and explore solutions for a more water-secure and peaceful future. We are proud to be part of these critical conversations and look forward to continuing our mission to enhance global water management.