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March 2009
5th World Water Forum
Istanbul, Turkey

Bridge at Sunset


This year: Mayors from around the world gathered in Istanbul to discuss the most pressing water issues of their cities, as a dress rehearsal for the 5th World Water Forum, to be held in March 16-22, 2009 in Istanbul.

Mayors of the world’s largest cities face great challenges with:

  • Rapid population growth

  • urbanization - over half of the world population now lives in cities and this percentage predicted to increase.

    New stresses are being placed on:

  • water resources;

  • on the systems that supply cities’ water and sanitation services.

  • New and changing patterns of climate change and variability will impact every aspect of the urban water cycle.

    Facts stand clear today that:

  • 1+ billion people are without water supply

  • 2.6 billion lack basic sanitation.

    To find solutions to these pressing problems

    The Mayor of Istanbul, Kadir Topbas, will welcome:

  • Mayors,

  • High-level Officials and

  • Experts from more than 35 countries around the world to encourage the world’s leading cities to take decisive action on water issues.

    Speakers at this prestigious 2-day Conference will include:

  • The Minister for Environment and Forestry Veysel Eroğlu,

  • World Water Council President Loïc Fauchon,

  • 5th World Water Forum Vice Secretary General Ahmet Mete Saatçi

  • 5th World Water Forum Water Ambassador Klaus Töpfer

    This two-day conference is organized to coincide with World Water Day 2009.

    “Istanbul Urban Water Consensus”

    At this conference, Mayor Topbas will present the “Istanbul Urban Water Consensus”, a declaration which is being developed by municipalities around the world to find solutions to these water-related challenges, which are common to cities in both developed and developing countries.

    In the Consensus, the municipal authorities recognize that:

  • major water actions must be taken to better manage environmental uncertainties,

  • alleviate poverty,

  • achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and

  • protect biodiversity.

    They pledge to study their cities’ unique challenges and opportunities, and then develop and implement a specialized adaptation plan.

    Flag Pix

    About the 5th World Water Forum

    The overall theme for the 5th World Water Forum, “Bridging Divides for Water”, describes the aim to bring together:

  • contrasting viewpoints,

  • supply and demand,

  • rich and poor and

  • developed and developing worlds.

    For more information:

  • on the 5th World Water Forum, and

  • to view the draft of the Istanbul Urban Water Consensus

    please visit 5th World Water Forum

    About the World Water Forum

    The World Water Forum is THE international meeting place where the world comes together to share concretesolutions for water problems.

    It is organized every three years by the World Water Council and the government ofthe host country, and is the result of more than two years of preparation involving people from all regions, sectorsand backgrounds.

    After previous Fora held in Morocco (1997), the Netherlands (2000), Japan (2003) and Mexico(2006), the 5th World Water Forum will be held in Istanbul, Turkey in March 2009.

    For more information on theWorld Water Forum and the World Water Council,

    please visit World Water Council and review the informative World Water Council Press Kit


    footer for world water forum page

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