• Overview
  • Convenors and Programme

Despite some progress over the past decade, untreated wastewater remains a significant global challenge. Climate change impacts, population growth and urbanization continue to put a strain on water resources globally and there is a growing political urgency to develop and implement solutions for sustainable water and wastewater management. Pollution from wastewater is one of the key drivers of biodiversity loss and a major threat to human health, particularly affecting the most vulnerable people and ecosystems, including marine and freshwater ones. But when adequately treated, wastewater can become a valuable resource. Safe and appropriate wastewater management for resource recovery and reuse goes beyond achieving water security, with potential co-benefits including improved health and wellbeing, reduced dependence on artificial fertilizers, diversification of energy production and economic opportunity. The session is organized to launch the report “Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution” and discuss its findings. The report is a follow-up product to the Sick Water report launched in 2011 at World Water Week. You can access the report here: Wastewater - Turning Problem to Solution | UNEP - UN Environment Programme The event will be organized in person at World Water Week in Live Studio Room 27, on Wednesday 23 August 2023, 11:00-11:40 AM Stockholm time. Furthermore, there is a possibility to follow it online. 

Register for the event at: worldwaterweek.org/tickets and look for Session ID 10941.

More on UNEP's participation at World Water Week.

 

Convenors

  • United Nations Environment Programme - Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities  
  • The Global Wastewater Initiative  
  • GRID-Arendal  
  • Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)

Programme

Moderation: Soledad Pinero Misa, CEO and Founder, Part of More

Panel discussion:

  • Heidi Savelli-Soderberg, Chief a.i., Source to Sea Pollution Free Unit, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)  
  • Daniel Ddiba, Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI)  
  • Kristina Thygesen, Senior Expert, Geological Resources and Ocean Governance, GRID-Arendal

Q&A: Alex Pires, Programme Management Officer, United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)

For more detailed information, please consult the programme on the official World Water Week website.