Swedish PM targets US over climate change --by Awanis Roslee

STOCKHOLM -- Sweden's prime minister called for more pressure on the United States and the major developing countries over climate change at the opening Monday of an international conference on water issues.

"If we really want to make a difference and tackle global warming, we must act together," Fredrik Reinfeldt told delegates in a speech to open the World Water Week conference in Stockholm.
"The EU is not enough to make a change," he added. "We need to make the US, China, India and other countries commit themselves to actions."
The conference has gathered some 2,500 experts from around the world to discuss issues such as global warming and the diversion of water for biofuels.
Reinfeldt said some 34,000 people died each day from illnesses related to lack of water or sanitation systems, and noted that more than one billion people had no access to safe drinking water.

The theme of the annual event's 17th edition is "Progress and Prospects on Water: Striving for Sustainability in a Changing World."
At a meeting later Monday, participants denounced the attitude of multinational companies on the issue.

"Consumption is increasing in the world," said Indian environmentalist and political activist Sunita Narain, adding that people were focusing on the wrong issues.
"We talk about biofuels but we don't talk about reducing the number of cars. We are playing around with words," said Narain, the director of the Centre for Science and Environment in India.
The main problem was global warming, she said: "It's real and urgent and we need to do something."

Water plays a key role in the global warming phenomenon, according to the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), which organized the conference.
In the decade between 1996 and 2005 about 80 percent of the world's natural disasters were weather- or water-related.
Between 1973 and 1997, flooding affected an average of 66 million people a year and it was this kind of natural disaster that did the most damage.
Professor Joerg Imberger, of the University of Western Australia, criticized the world's obsession with ever-increasing economic growth and consumption.

"We worship the idea that my bank account this year is bigger than it was last year."
Participants will attend seminars and workshops held by government and business representatives, water experts, non-governmental organizations and UN officials, according to the program.

Among the themes to be discussed will be investments by banks and corporations in the water sector and water management cooperation between neighboring states.
World Water Week will also discuss biofuels, destined to partially offset a coming oil shortage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but which also need huge amounts of water.
The conference will conclude on August 18.