5th World Water Forum to Address Planet's Water Concerns

5th World Water Forum to Address Planet's Water Concerns
More than 10,000 Expected to Attend Istanbul Conference Highlighting Global Water Issues
The 5th World Water Forum, the world’s largest water-related event, will convene in Istanbul, Turkey, March 16-22, 2009, to push the worldwide water crisis onto the international agenda. Held every three years, the Forum gathers parties from every horizon to find sustainable solutions to the world’s water challenges. With more than 3,000 participating organizations and over 10,000 attendees, this year’s Forum will include international heads of state, United Nations representatives, ministers, parliamentarians, local authorities and other government officials, as well as water professionals, activists and other interested parties. During this year’s Forum, the United Nations’ World Water Development Report will be unveiled giving insight into freshwater resources.
According to the United Nations Environment Programme, two-thirds of the planet will live in water-stressed conditions by 2025 if present consumption patterns continue. “The ultimate goal of the 5th World Water Forum Istanbul 2009 is to motivate action to improve the world’s management of water resources,” says Prof. Dr. Oktay Tabasaran, the Forum’s secretary-general. “This can only be done by raising awareness of the importance of water-related issues. However, global awareness must be followed by actions such as legislation and funding, which are promoted through the Forum.”
This year, through its Green Forum Initiative, the World Water Forum will plant one tree for every attendant. Additionally, the Istanbul Water Consensus identified “Champion Cities” united in commitment for urban water resource management in the face of global changes. The Champion Cities include Brisbane, Australia; Stuttgart, Germany; Vienna, Austria; Paris and Strasbourg, France; Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Buenos Aires, Argentina; Lausanne, Switzerland; and Istanbul, Turkey.
Turkey offers a unique setting for this year’s Forum due to its position as a crossroads between continents, regions, cultures and civilizations, in sync with the Forum’s theme, “Bridging Divides for Water.”
*Source: ME NewsWire
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