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Governments Must Invest More in Anti-Water Scarcity Measures, Says SIWI |
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STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN, Aug. 13 -/E-Wire/--
To meet the challenge of global water scarcity, the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) will on Monday, August 13, call for governments around the world to better manage how they use their existing water resources, taking necessary and sometimes painful measures to decrease losses in water delivery infrastructure and irrigation, to cut subsidies to agriculture, and to put in place realistic water-pricing measures - all before attempting to boost water supplies.
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The call will be issued through SIWI's new policy brief, On the Verge of a New Water Scarcity, which is being released in conjunction with the opening of the 2007 World Water Week in Stockholm. Some 2500 top experts from 140 countries are expected to participate in the Stockholm event themed "Progress and Prospects on Water: Striving for Sustainability in a Changing World," which will launch new groundbreaking studies, reports and initiatives designed to improve a global situation where billions lack safe drinking water or suffer ill health due to poor sanitation while global climate change distorts the overall water balance.
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New Research from SIWI and the Swedish Water House
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SIWI and the Swedish Water House will release four policy briefs and reports containing cutting-edge research on water, sustainability, health and development:
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On the Verge a New Water Scarcity
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Planning for Drinking Water and Sanitation in Peri-Urban Areas
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Agriculture, Water, and Ecosystems
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Making Anti-Corruption Approaches Work for the Poor
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The new releases offer concrete conclusions and practical policy recommendations to improve water governance, health and sanitation, food production, ecosystem protection, anti-corruption and poverty eradication efforts.
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Other studies, reports and initiatives and announcements to be made during the week include:
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UN-HABITAT will launch 1) the Global Water Operators' Partnership, 2) the Water and Sanitation Trust Fund, and 3) a Memorandum of Understanding with India under the framework of the Water for Asian Cities Programme.
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British charity WaterAid will make available Global Cause and Effect: How the Aid System is Undermining the Millennium Development Goals
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The Stockholm-based Global Water Partnership will 1) announce its new Chair, 2) release the policy brief Climate Change Adaptation and Water Management, and 3) release the book Sustainable Sanitation in Eastern and Central Europe
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The Asian Development Bank will release Dignity, Disease and Dollars: Asia's Urgent Sanitation Challenge.
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The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) will launch its Global Water Tool.
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The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) South Africa will present its new technology for removing heavy metals and subsequent radioactivity from mines.
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The Co-operative Programme on Water and Climate (CPWC) will release Water, Climate, Risk and Adaptation, and present its new resource centre on water, climate, risk, adaptation and mitigation.
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The Stockholm-based International Foundation for Science will release Strengthening Capacity for Water Resources Research in Countries with Vulnerable Scientific Infrastructure.
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The Government of Singapore and the World Health Organisation will sign a Memorandum of Understanding.
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The Water Environment Federation and the International Water Association will introduce the revamped World Water Monitoring Day initiative and provide kits to Stockholm Junior Water Prize participants.
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Links : SIWI reports available at www.worldwaterweek.org and www.siwi.org on August 13.
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For other announcements, contact the respective media representatives found in the official press kit. Contact Info:
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David Trouba
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Communications Director
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SIWI
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Tel : +46 8 522 139 89
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E-mail: dave.trouba@siwi.org Website : Stockholm International Water Institute
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