World Water Week 2024

World Water Week 2024 will focus on "Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future", water cooperation for peace and security. This year’s conference will be held both online and in-person at the Stockholm Waterfront Congress Centre. Passes must be purchased to attend. View the full programme.

World Water Week is the leading conference on global water issues, curated by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) and convened by world-leading organizations that share their latest insights. The conference features a wide range of topics, including the water impacts of climate change, biodiversity loss, poverty, food security, agriculture, health, technology, and more.

Find WRI at these events. This page will be continuously updated.

Sunday, August 25

Trade and Traceability: Understanding Embedded Water in Supply Chains

• Time: 09:00-10:30 CEST
• Location: C3, Level 2 & Online
• Description: Better understanding sources of embedded water is essential for sustainable and equitable supply chains. The trade of virtual water, or water embedded in goods or services, is expected to triple by the end of the century. The production of agricultural or industrial commodities is out of sync with freshwater planetary boundaries in many parts of the world, depleting and degrading the freshwater systems upon which local people and ecosystems depend. Trading these goods to places with relative water abundance calls the environmental justice of this practice into question. Complex global supply chains — from agricultural commodities to critical minerals — make it difficult to understand how goods or services contribute to water insecurity and climate vulnerability around the world. Information on traceability and transparency along value chains is essential to improve how virtual water is managed, enable companies to proactively manage their water footprint, and establish better trade standards and regulations. Join to discuss the importance of shifting how virtual water is traced and managed, and to explore a roadmap for change.
• WRI Speakers: Liz Saccoccia, Water Security Associate, WRI (moderator)
• External Speakers:
  • Michael Lathuillière, Senior Research Fellow, Trase.earth/SEI 
  • Ian Knight, Global Sustainability Senior Manager, Mars Inc. 
  • Ramji, Co-Chair, Battery Passport Initiative, Global Battery Alliance 
  • Rick Hogeboom, PhD, Executive Director, Water Footprint Network 
• Convenors: Trase.Earth/SEI, Mars, the Global Battery Alliance, Water Footprint Network, WRI (Corporate Water Stewardship Initiative), EO

Science Based Targets (SBTs) for Nature: Local Data, Global Ambition

• Time: 09:00-10:30 CEST
• Location: C3, Level 2 & Online
• Description: This session will help companies, civil society organizations, and policymakers understand how nature SBTs bridge the gap between local data and global ambition. Company panelists who have piloted the SBT methodology over the last year will explain how setting SBTs fits within their broader environmental and social strategies.
• Convenors: CDP Worldwide, Pacific Institute, Science Based Targets Network, The Nature Conservancy, WRI (Corporate Water Stewardship Initiative), World Wide Fund for Nature

Volumetric and Water Quality Benefit Accounting Approaches

• Time: 11:00-12:30 CEST
• Location: C3, Level 2 & Online
• Description: LimnoTech, Bluerisk, Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), and World Resources Institute (WRI) will introduce approaches for evaluating water stewardship activities. This session will launch guidance on Volumetric Water Benefit Accounting and Water Quality Benefit Accounting. Participants will discuss challenges and opportunities for applying these approaches.
• WRI Speakers: Marc Dettmann, Corporate Water Stewardship Manager, WRI
• Convenors: Bluerisk, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, LimnoTech, The Nature Conservancy, WRI (Corporate Water Stewardship Initiative)

Engaging Complex Agricultural Supply Chains

• Time: 14:00-1530 CEST
• Location: C1, Level 2 & Online
• Description: Companies in the Food and Beverage (F&B) sector are increasingly encouraged to engage their agricultural suppliers on water stewardship, as this is where the majority of corporate water impact occurs. But how does a company navigate such complex and opaque supply chains? What if you do not know who your suppliers are? How do you influence suppliers to adopt new practices? These are the types of questions we aim to answer during this session. A panel of companies from the F&B sector will discuss their experiences in analyzing their supply chain risks, tracing and engaging their agricultural suppliers, how they dealt with opacity and traceability constraints, how they have built capacity in their procurement teams, and other topics. The audience will also be given a chance to share their ideas and challenges with agricultural supply chain engagement.
• WRI Speakers: Liz Saccoccia, Water Security Associate, WRI
• Convenors: World Wide Fund for Nature

Monday, August 26

Water Security through Nature-Based Solutions: From Theory to Practice

• Time: 09:00-10:30 CEST
• Location: A2, Level 6 & Online
• Description: This interactive panel will showcase global place-based initiatives supporting water security through nature-based solutions. It will emphasize the vital role of these solutions in addressing water-related climate risks, crucial for ecosystem and human security. The discussion will illustrate successful cooperation among stakeholders and across geographical boundaries.
• WRI Speakers:
  • Hellen Wanjohi-Opil, Climate and Engagement Lead, WRI Africa
  • Todd Gartner, Director, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure, WRI
• Convenors: Government of Manitoba, International Institute for Sustainable Development, Nutrien, Pacific Institute, WRI (Urban Water Resilience Initiative and SUNCASA)

Tuesday, August 27

Urban Water Resilience for Future Peace, Security, & Social Justice

• Time: 11:00-12:30 CEST
• Location: C1, Level 2 & Online
• Description: Urban water resilience is interdependent with peace, security, and social justice. This session presents a causal model, from the Water, Peace, and Security (WPS) Partnership, that demonstrates these interlinkages and presents several insights from African contexts that attempt to improve peace, inclusivity, and resilience outcomes, mainly through multilevel and multistakeholder governance approaches.
• WRI Speakers: Hellen Wanjohi-Opil, Climate and Engagement Lead, WRI Africa
• Convenors: Antea Group, Arup, Climate Champions Team, Deltares, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability-Africa, Resilient Cities Network, WRI (Urban Water Resilience Initiative)

Wednesday, August 28

Earth observation technologies in transboundary water management

• Time: 11:00-12:30 CEST
• Description: Earth observation technologies have led to a drastic increase in availability and quality of hydrological, meteorological and geo-spatial data. Much of it is publicly accessible. Open data and open source tools can be used to reduce costs and improve accuracy of transboundary basin management and are therefore promising tools for more effective and sustainable basin management. In spite of these promises, a number of key challenges persist, while new ones emerge. States continue to view water-related data as a matter of national security and see openly available data with great scepticism. While several national space agencies provide free access to certain data sets, other data providers may make data only available on a fee-basis or restrict access to a few. The ownership is not always clear, and the equitable accessibility of earth observation (EO) data is not guaranteed. Additionally, former means of more traditional data acquisition that have also helped building trust among riparian actors, such as joint measurement and monitoring programs, might become less relevant as might existing governance mechanisms (treaties and basin organizations). The session discusses these challenges and proposes innovative ways forward that ensure equitable, sustainable and effective transboundary basin management.
• Convenors: GEF/IWLEARN, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Oregon State University, UN Office for Outer Space Affairs, World Bank Group, WRI, Water Peace and Security

Sustainable Financing for Transboundary Water Cooperation

• Time: 14:00-15:30 CEST
• Description: This session will dive into the crucial role of innovative funding and financing mechanisms for sustainable management of transboundary resources. Over two-thirds of Latin America and the Caribbean are covered by shared water sources, vital for nearly half the region's population. Managing and developing these transboundary resources requires significant funding. However, current financial constraints on cooperation and management threaten the sustainable use of these water bodies, potentially jeopardizing regional stability and peace. This session will 1) provide a space to discuss the financial needs for transboundary water management and basin development and the role of transboundary cooperation as enabler of transboundary investments and access to finance; 2) highlight the importance of developing innovative financing mechanisms and instruments that enhance the value of public sector spending by involving the private sector; and 3) build on ecosystem services through exploring novel approaches such as green infrastructure, nature-based solutions, and ecosystem services to optimize water use in basins.
• WRI Speakers: Todd Gartner, Director, Cities4Forests and Natural Infrastructure, WRI
• Convenors: CAF - Development Bank of Latin America, Inter-American Development Bank, CONAGUA - National Water Commission, Mexico, FEMSA Foundation, and Water For People

Thursday, August 29

Water, Peace, and Security: Innovation to Action and Lessons Learned

• Time: 10:00-11:00 CEST
• Location: Online
• Description: The session explores the dynamic interplay between water management, peace, and security, and how to transform the vicious cycle of water conflict into a virtuous one of peace and cooperation. Participants will engage with the cutting-edge methodologies and first-hand experiences from different cases both at global and regional levels.
• Convenors: Government of the Netherlands, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Stockholm International Water Institute, Water, Peace and Security Partnership

Leveraging Data for Water Security in Fragile and Conflict-Affected Environments

• Time: 11:00-12:30 CEST
• Location: Room 26, Level 2
• Description: Discover data-driven insights for water decision-making in conflict zones. Join this interactive session with global and local experts, implementers, government actors, and donors. Learn from real-world approaches worldwide, then delve into breakout discussions on critical data factors — formats, use, transparency, and equity — to iteratively improve data-based strategies in fragile environments.
• Convenors: Mercy Corps, Save the Children, USAID Center for Water Security, Sanitation and Hygiene, USAID WSSH Data & Analytics Activity, USAID's Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance, WRI

Building Resilient Water Systems: Means to enhance social harmony

• Time: 13:00-14:00 CEST
• Location: Online
• Description: Over half the world shares water resources, demanding cooperation across borders and sectors. This session, aligned with World Water Week 2024’s theme, “Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future,” focuses on building resilient water systems as a foundation for peace, stability, and development. Drawing on expert insights, we’ll delve into the key characteristics of strong resilient water systems highlighting how a robust, reliable, flexible, integrated, inclusive, and just water systems can foster peace and harmony. It delves into practical strategies for building and strengthening the system resilience, showcasing successful case studies and innovative solutions.
• WRI Speakers: Sara Walker, Director, Corporate Water Engagement, WRI
• External Speakers:
  • Ashok Chapagain, Senior Researcher, Pacific Institute/CEO Water Mandate
  • Gregg Brill, Senior Researcher/Technical Lead, Pacific Institute/CEO Water Mandate
  • John Matthews, Executive Director, Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA)
• Convenors: Alliance for Global Water Adaptation, Antea Group, BHP, Foresight Canada, International Water Management Institute, MGM Resorts, Pacific Institute, The CEO Water Mandate, Water Research Institute, Water Resources Institute, Water Value

Cover image by NASA/rawpixel