World Water Summit in Berlin: Water dialogue and the summit in London 2024 (10)

Behare Bajraktari, Berlin

Journalist & Publicist/ Specialized in Climate Change and Environmental Journalism

Extreme weather will become more frequent due to climate change, while in this crisis there are many companies that waste water resources such as rivers. In the water process, companies must avoid water losses by using new technologies.

Four challenges were addressed during the World Water Summit in Berlin: Water Quantity, Energy Conservation, Water Price, and Quality.

One of the messages addressed was not to “greenwash” and that companies should be involved in the water issue, but supermarket chains should also be included in the water agenda.

In the dialogue of water and decarbonization there must be investments, innovations, talks with people and communities. And the question was asked what water is being produced while the communities are growing; should industrial water from low quality sources be sold and how should the water be recycled? These when new technologies are too expensive to incorporate into new water systems.

It was said that the companies must agree to make a joint water business strategy and that no company can do it alone. It seems funny, but at the summit it was said that: “Companies have no data on anything related to water, even though they produce the water.”

When water data is provided there will be more water quality and better service. The collection of data would bring many benefits to the work of the companies and the prices should increase if the companies have data on the water.

The solution to the water problem can only be done through public-private partnership, came out as a demand of the Berlin summit. “We deeply believe that the solution is in public-private partnership.”

How much can the media and journalism help in this matter?

Media and journalism must stand with science.  Journalism is essential for environment, water, and climate change reporting. But at the same time, the combination of the private sector and the public sector must be part of the media and journalism to protect the weak in society, even though it is the role of governments to take care of the most vulnerable, said Roger Harrabin, one of the most media impact on the environment, energy, and climate change. He is an Energy and Environment Analyst at the world’s most serious medium, the BBC. Roger has been a global pioneer in environmental reporting. He was the founding presenter of the BBC’s environmental program ‘Costing the Earth’ and has won many awards for his work on radio and TV.

While in Berlin this summit was marked by the theme: “Creating the climate for growth” as organizers say the biggest event in the water calendar returns to London next year with the theme: “Security for a changing planet”. They warn that they want to promote the connection between water security, climate change and the broader sense that investing in water can bring economic and environmental stability to our planet.

Waiting for what speakers will be invited by science, state institutions and companies, of course Christofer Gasson as a media journalist will treat the media with importance, but also “green journalism” as well.