Water under globalisation pressure? A NCCR researchers’ seminar during World Water Week

Each year World Water Week convenes the experts in this policy sector – dealing with management and developing issues concerning the use of water. This year, the focus is on the urgent topic of water and food security. The World Trade Institute has been invited to bring in its expertise in the field, organising a seminar on "Trade, Food Security and Sustainable Management of Water Resources" on 27 August and participating in the scientific poster presentations. 

The broader questions which will be addressed in the seminar are whether there is 'globalisation of water', and if so, should this be a concern of water, agrarian or trade policies? The underlying concepts, such as virtual water trade, global governance of water resources, right to water, trade and environment will be discussed.

About World Water Week

Each year World Water Week addresses a particular theme to enable a deeper examination of a specific water-related topic. Each theme fits within a broader "niche" that covers several years. The grouping of themes within a niche is designed to develop a long-term perspective on a broad yet significant water and development issue. It also ensures that each year builds upon the outcomes and findings of previous years. 

The current niche for 2009–2012 is "Responding to Global Changes", which looks at the potential and necessary responses in water policy, management and development to address pervasive and increasingly significant global changes. The themes within the current niche are:

• 2009: Accessing Water for the Common Good
• 2010: The Water Quality Challenge
• 2011: Water in an Urbanising World
• 2012: Water and Food Security