Mutual understanding and cooperation are the key to a peaceful and sustainable future for all people. And water plays a key role in it: “Bridging borders” is the motto of World Water Week 2024.
How water can help us bridge borders
World Water Week 2024 officially opens today in Stockholm, Sweden, and online. The conference comes in the face of an increasingly apparent water crisis. It focuses on how collaboration can help us address not only water issues, but also how we can – by collaborating around water – address many other of the world’s most urgent challenges.
Disturbances to the planet’s water cycle go deep enough to push ecosystems to the risk of collapse. Extreme weather events such as floods and droughts highlight the close connection of the water- and the climate crisis. And yet, they are just part of a much bigger picture. One which involves political, social, financial and other aspects. Or in the words of Jon Lane, chair of the World Water Week’s Scientific Programme Committee:
“Improved water management and cooperation over water will lead to increased security, collaboration and mutual understanding, and therefore peace. And for any achievements and improvements to become sustainable, one of the prerequisites is the ability to maintain peace.”
Panel discussion: A holistic approach to water, food and biodiversity
Water, food, energy, and biodiversity are highly connected, and changes to one can have severe impacts on the other. To shed light on how these domains are connected and why an integrated approach is needed, three (water) experts were invited to an online panel discussion moderated by World Water Week Live Studio Talkshow Host, Hajar Yagkoubi, on Sunday, 25th August. Hajar was joined by Lisa Hartog from the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management, Julius Seinen from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature, and Malin Lundberg Ingemarsson from SIWI’s Swedish Water House.
During this discussion, the experts explored the connections between water, food, energy, and biodiversity, underscoring the need for cross-sectoral collaboration. The panelists agreed that while the interconnected nature of these challenges is increasingly recognized, discussions often remain siloed.
The Dutch experience
Unsustainable agricultural methods, climate change, and intensive land use lead to reduced soil fertility and unseen biodiversity challenges underground, affecting crop nutrients and food quality. Improving soil fertility enhances water retention, crucial for the water cycle. The Netherlands currently experience soil degradation and salinization, especially in coastal areas.
Agriculture in Friesland, the Netherlands, photo by michaklootwijk /Adobe Stock
Holistic thinking as a guiding principle for future planning
A two-pronged approach promoted by the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Nature to solve the Netherlands’ problems includes the following:
- Optimize for the current situation: incremental improvements to adapt to present conditions. e.g. producing different seeds and crops that are more resilient so current levels of production can be maintained or improvements on the usage of water, like irrigation.
- Long-term perspective: planning for the future, specifically aiming for 2050 goals in the Netherlands, and determining necessary actions to reach that goal. This applies a systems view and addresses the more fundamental challenges that are not simply met by optimization.
The second approach focuses on incorporating water and soil as key elements in spatial and infrastructure planning. The goal is to reduce household drinking water consumption by 20% and decrease groundwater extraction for agricultural purposes. The strategy emphasizes efficient water usage through targeted irrigation and effective soil infiltration, both in policy and practical application. Cross-sector collaboration, involving multiple ministries, is essential to align national policies. This approach also underscores the need for integrated efforts to tackle climate change and manage resources effectively.
