Purpose and Scope of the 2007 World Water Week in Stockholm
Living in a changing world presents both challenges and opportunities. The performance of policies and programmes in meeting challenges and capitalising on opportunities for progress will be examined during the World Water Week. Readiness to meet a turbulent future will be assessed. The contribution of all stakeholders, who should play a constructive role in governance towards sustainability, will be highlighted. Scrutinising progress on water-related development - At summits and other meetings, pledges are routinely made to improve livelihoods and alleviate the evils associated with poverty, water scarcity and resource degradation, and political and other oppression. Sadly, commitments made are not borne out in practice. In international contexts the commitments may be sanctioned by national governments, but few are legally binding. In an ambiguous formal status, ambitious and well-meaning commitments often lack ownership at the national level. The lines of responsibility necessary and the means required to fulfil commitments and implement policies to reach targets effectively are lacking. Global targets focus on specific issues, but the contexts in which problems exist tend to be overlooked. With sanitation, for instance, the cultural and social situation is paramount, but poorly understood. Similarly, conflicts between goals within and between sectors often jeopardise progress. Laudable initiatives try to address these chal-lenges, through for instance management reforms and the promotion of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM). Reality, however, is invariably more complex than envisaged in political rhetoric.
