Written by Alison Binney for the International Water Association while employed as a science communicator at Econnect Communication

Press conference
When: Monday 17 September 2012, 12.15 pm – 1 pm
Venue: IWA World Water Congress & Exhibition 2012, Press Conference Room, Busan Exhibition and Convention Centre (BEXCO), Korea

Combating worldwide pollution of rivers, lakes and oceans and, at the same time, meeting the world’s water demand involves massive challenges and opportunities.

With rapid urbanisation adding 800,000 urban citizens per week, we need a huge mobilisation of resources, know-how and political will.

At the World Water Congress 2012 in Busan this week, experts from more than 100 countries are gathered to define game-changing solutions and unprecedented innovations to turn the tide.

In Korea, 40 per cent of the USD$38 billion stimulus package during the global economic crisis was allocated to its water and waste management. It provided a major push to accelerate the building-up of Korean water and wastewater infrastructure to world-class standards. It provides a clear example of putting Korea’s ‘Green Growth’ into practice.

Monday’s press conference will investigate a new push by international leaders for game-changing innovations in water and sanitation.

Firstly, the innovation push is focused on low- and middle-income countries, where the needs are greatest.

Ms Jaehyang So, manager of the World Bank’s Water and Sanitation Program, says “many developing countries struggle to make water and sanitation a national priority, given many other critical and competing sectors”.

Speaking at today’s press conference, Ms So will provide examples of how developing nations are tackling their water challenges and how Korea has been instrumental in supporting these efforts.

Secondly, the innovation push is focused on tackling competing demands for water to supply cities and industries, produce food, generate electricity and maintain living ecosystems. Optimising water use between sectors will be critical to overcome future water shortages.

“We need to think and work smartly with portfolios of water supplies from different sources to meet a variety of increasing demands,” says Ger Bergkamp, regional group and programme director for the IWA.

Mr Bergkamp will present a new IWA initiative to promote major innovations in infrastructure and technology to optimise water allocations between sectors.

Professor Pavel Kabat, director of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA, Austria), will speak about how water drives major economic sectors – cities, industries, energy, agriculture and the environment.

“Significant progress in addressing pressing water issues can only come if we leave one-dimensional solutions behind,” says Professor Kabat. He is expected to announce a new IIASA initiative to produce a series of world ‘water scenarios’ for the next few decades.

Press conference speakers:

Ms Jaehyang So: Manager, World Bank Water and Sanitation Program: Jso@worldbank.org
Professor Pavel Kabat: CEO, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis: kabat@iiasa.ac.at
Dr. Ger Bergkamp: Regional Group and Programme Director, IWA: ger.bergkamp@iwahq.org