PR83586

STOCKHOLM, April 6, 2020 /PRNewswire=KYODO JBN/--

World Water Week assembles over 500 co-convening organizations and 4,000

participants from more than 130 countries in Stockholm every year. This

world-leading conference on water is now cancelled due to the global spread of

COVID-19 and the measures taken by national and local authorities to contain

the spread of the disease. World Water Week was due to take place 23-28 August

2020 in Stockholm.

World Water Week is organized by Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI)

and has been held annually since 1991. However, the organization has decided to

cancel this year's conference after closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19

around the world. Given that the COVID-19 outbreak has been declared a pandemic

by the World Health Organization (WHO), holding a major event like World Water

Week would pose a critical threat to the health of visitors and would result in

an unacceptable risk of spreading the disease.

The decision was taken formally by the Board on March 31. SIWI's Executive

Director, Torgny Holmgren, states: "We are, as always, committed to serving our

community in the best possible way. Organizing the world's leading conference

on water comes with big investments in time and money for everyone involved. We

believe that an early decision is better than a wait-and-see-approach – for

everyone."

Gabriela Suhoschi, Director for World Water Week & Prizes, says: "We truly

appreciate the support and commitment from our community towards World Water

Week 2020 and this year's theme 'Water and Climate change: Accelerating

Action'. We are considering how we can incorporate the content developed for

this year into World Water Week 2021."

In addition to hundreds of sessions, a recurring highlight of World Water Week

is the presentation of the world's most prestigious water award, the Stockholm

Water Prize, during a royal prize ceremony. As recently announced, the 2020

award goes to Dr John Cherry for discoveries that have revolutionized our

understanding of groundwater vulnerability. SIWI is now exploring how Dr John

Cherry will be celebrated at World Water Week 2021.

World Water Week is also the stage for the finals of the international

competition, Stockholm Junior Water Prize 2020. Communication about how the

finals are to be organized will be released in due course.

Note to Editors

www.WorldWaterWeek.org

www.Siwi.org

Contact:

Henrika Thomasson, SIWI

+46-720-506-002

henrika.thomasson@siwi.org

SOURCE: Stockholm International Water Institute