Stockholm – As the world’s collective attention falls on the 2014 rendition of World Water Week, experts in the energy and water communities remain seized with the business of finding ways to sustain these inextricably linked resources well into the future.
Themed ‘Energy and Water’, this year’s World Water Week takes on the colossal task of laying bare the challenges present in the water and energy sectors, while identifying and making commitments to act on the inherent opportunities.
And pressure to act has possibly never been higher, as it is predicted that global demand for energy as well as water will increase by over 50% in the coming decades. Water is crucial for the production of energy, and energy is a requisite for the provision of water.
The gathering in Stockholm, Sweden, comes in the face of rapid growth the world over, which invariably means more demand for both resources.
South Africa’s participation in the week-long event presents a unique opportunity for the country to exchange views and experiences in the water and energy sectors. A gathering of this nature comes at an opportune time for South Africa, as the country is hard at work to implement its grand National Development Plan.
Under the plans, government spells out how it will eradicate poverty and level out inequality through several means, which include lending sufficient support to industries to grow jobs and the economy. This process goes hand-in-glove with government’s efforts to improve the provision of water and sanitation services in the country’s neediest regions.
A South African delegation, led by Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane, will participate in numerous seminars and panel discussions that will put the spotlight on the consequences of energy development for water, and what this means for in the local context.
South African industry role players will also get an opportunity to showcase their innovations, which aim to rise to the challenge of water and energy sustainability.
South Africa intends to take advantage of this year’s World Water Week to forge new partnerships that will help the country keep up with its own development goals. – SAnews.gov.za
