Sustainable solutions sought at int'l Water Week
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail
Xinhua, July 5, 2011
Leaders of the global water industry discussed the technological and commercial aspects of seeking sustainable water solutions in the changing urban environment worldwide when they gathered on Monday at the Singapore International Water Week.
The five-day event inaugurated several years ago has grown into one of the world's biggest water shows and a must-attend for industry players, government officials and researchers. Organizers said it has gathered thousands of water leaders from around the world this year.
The theme for this year's event is "Sustainable Water Solutions for a Changing Urban Environment," and participants are seeking to address the latest and most pertinent water challenges such as the impact of population growth, increasing urbanization and the increasing demand for resources.
It also covered the challenges arising from global climate change, as extreme climate have led to flooding and drought in many places around the world.
Singapore has been trying to add to its taps of water supply by encouraging research and development, in part due to its status as a densely-populated city state with insufficient rainwater.
There will be a focus on innovation and research and development at the Water Expo. Five innovations will also be showcased, with the inventors also present to interact with potential investors.
The Water Expo also attracted six new international group pavilions this year, such as Australia, Belgium, Britain, and three group pavilions from the United States. This brings the total number of group pavilions to 15.
The potentials of key water markets in the region are attracting the participants. China, for example, is projected to double its investment in waste water treatment and recycling to 150 billion yuan (23 billion U.S. dollars) in 2011-2015 from the previous five-year plan period.
Other key components of the Singapore International Water Week include the water summit as well as the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize, named after Singapore's founding prime minister.
The Center for Livable Cities, a research organization established by the Singapore government, also organized a forum that gathers thirty governors and mayors for discussions on integrated master planning to make cities more sustainable.
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)