World Water Week: An International Convention Supporting Sustainability

World Water Week began in 1991 and is held annually during the final week of August. The concept originated in Stockholm, Sweden and has evolved into an international convention. Every year, the institute picks a theme for the conference in an effort to investigate that topic more thoroughly. 2025’s theme is “Water for Climate Action”, a key topic in their goal for water sustainability by 2030. Water has proven to be one of the most valuable and threatened resources on the planet and inequities amongst global partners have not gone unnoticed by partners of World Water Week.

In 2023, UNESCO’s world water report warned against the imminent threat of a global water crisis as reports indicated 1 in 11 people do not have access to clean water. UNESCO stressed the importance of global cooperation in order to prevent a global water crisis, an aspect the World Water Week conference prides itself in. They believe in maximizing their outreach and depth of knowledge by incorporating a diverse range of partners to combat a global threat. Partnerships range from Bentley to the Asia-Pacific Water Forum, and World Water Week consistently advocates for increased participation from its supporters. With in-person and online options, youth outreach and professional leadership programs, opportunities for international collaboration are endless. World Water Week is a vital part of the fight against climate change, the effects of which are already having devastating global consequences.

Local examples of how a water crisis can impact communities bring to mind Winter Storm Uri in Texas. A state of emergency was declared in every county days after the storm’s onset, as temperatures dropped forty degrees Fahrenheit below any state recorded average in the last fifty years. Unprecedented temperatures closed gas processing plants and froze oil and gas wells which limited the supply of gas as residents’ demand spiked. Alternative energy sources were cut off as ice inhibited wind turbines and the cold froze necessary equipment for coal and nuclear plants. Millions of Texans lost power despite efforts to conserve energy on the grid in order to prevent complete blackouts. As the storm’s temperatures rose above their abnormal lows, power slowly returned to residential communities, but the effects of the freeze were, and for some, still are, detrimental to everyday life.

The coldest temperatures Texans prepare themselves to face average around 30 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter months, but Storm Uri subjected communities to subzero temperatures. It was the lowest temperature in 72 years, at negative 2 degrees Fahrenheit and it crippled the Texas water system. A combination of damaged water mains and residents leaving their faucets on drip, jeopardized the water pressure which opened communities to the threat of water borne bacteria and disease. 15 million residents lost access to clean water and were advised to boil tap water or snow, as almost half the population lost access to running water entirely. 

While experts are hesitant to blame Storm Uri on global warming and climate change, they speculate that the intensity of the storm was exacerbated by climate change’s effects on the polar vortex. The polar vortex, an area near the poles characterized by low pressure and cold air, generally keeps cold air in the Arctic; however, it is weakened by warm air. Judah Cohen, an expert in winter storm and climate science, discusses how warmer temperatures in the polar vortex around England and Scandinavia caused the expansion of cold air to move eastward and into the southern region of the United States, ultimately affecting areas like Texas.

Storm Uri provides a domestic example of how climate change can impact our access to clean water, which makes this year’s World Water Week’s theme so relevant. Tickets to World Water Week can be found on their website, virtual tickets are free, while in-person tickets range from 350 to 1,000 euros. World Water Week’s mission remains clear, international cooperation is fundamental to combating climate change and the ever growing threat of a global water crisis. A crisis which has already had domestic influence in local communities and will only continue to escalate without immediate action. Take part in the efforts to provide and sustain clean water access through the World Water Week organization or by researching local environmental agencies in your local community!

The Future of Connection for Women

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Meghan Do

I’m Meghan, I’m an undergraduate English major at UCLA, and I’m from Santa Rosa, California! I’ve always loved reading and writing and feel very lucky to have the opportunity to study what I’m passionate about and do so in Los Angeles. My favorite show to watch is Modern Family, and I love listening to “The Broski Report.” I grew up swimming and playing water polo and I’ve recently started hot yoga which I really enjoy. Tatsu Ramen is the best place to eat in LA, I love Taylor Swift, specifically the vault tracks from 1989, and my friends and I always celebrate important events like birthdays or tests by driving up and down Sunset when it’s dark and all the billboards are on.