World Water Week—Asia Day
19 August 2008; Stockholm, Sweden
Background | Objectives | Organizers | Participants | Venue
Asia faces serious challenges to ensure the availability of water for its growing needs.
The region, with its 4 billion people, is the most populous continent in the world. Its urban population is predicted to grow by 70% in the next 25 years, necessitating a serious shift in the allocation and management of water resources. Climate change is also expected to reduce crop yields by 2.5–10% by 2020, putting 132 million people at risk of extreme hunger by 2050. Countries are now acting not just to avert a crisis but to make sure that available water resources can sustain economic growth.
The Asian Water Development Outlook 2007 report commissioned by ADB urges Asian leaders to address the complex relationships between water and other sectors, prepare for the impacts of climate change, and create stable institutional frameworks that allow optimum participation of stakeholders.
ADB and partners organized “Asia Day” at this year’s Stockholm World Water Week—the first time that the region’s water sector was given special focus.
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Asia Day provided a platform for a discussion on the latest developments in water supply and sanitation, irrigation, and basin management in the region.
ADB THEMATIC SESSIONS
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Session |
Chair |
| 1. |
Accelerating Sanitation Investments
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Jack Sim, World Toilet Organization Director and Founder
Amy Leung, ADB Director, East Asia Department (Co-chair) |
| 2. |
Expanding Water Supply Coverage |
Hun Kim, ADB Director, South Asia Department |
| 3. |
Climate, Water, and Development: Asia’s Adaptation Strategies |
Christopher Morris, ADB Senior Water Resources Engineer |
| 4. |
Ensuring Sufficient Water for Food |
Christopher Morris, ADB Senior Water Resources Engineer |
| 5. |
Promoting Effective Basin Water Management |
Ian William Makin, ADB Senior Water Resources Management Specialist |
| 6. |
Protecting Water Resources and Improving Services: Keys to Asia's Economic Growth |
Maria Mercedes F. Robles, President, Philippine Association of Communication Educators and Faculty, Ateneo de Manila University Department of Communication |
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Asia Day at the World Water Week was convened by ADB, in partnership with the following co-convenors:
- Asia-Pacific Water Forum
- Global Water Partnership
- International Water Association
- International Water Management Institute
- Japan Water Forum
- Network of Asian River Basin Organizations
- South Asia Water Utilities Network
- Southeast Asia Water Utilities Network
- Central Asia and South Caucasus Water Utilities Association
- Streams of Knowledge
- UN-Habitat, Water and Sanitation Program
- World Toilet Organization
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The event was held in Stockholm, Sweden.
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