The event, which has been held every year for the past 13 years, this year will launch a five-year study of the specific problems of the world's river basins, many of which are increasingly threatened by over-exploitation and pollution.

The conference coincides with the UN International Year of Freshwater, and follows the Third World Water Forum in Kyoto in March.

The Stockholm meeting will take a critical look at the UN goals to halve the number of people with no access to safe water supplies or sanitation within the next 12 years.

The UN earlier this year published its first global evaluation of world water resources in which it estimated that up to seven billion people in 60 countries may face water shortages by 2050.

The issue is likely to be particularly acute in west Asia, north Africa and sub-Saharan Africa.

At present, according to the UN, 1.4 billion people do not have access to safe water, and 2.3 billion lack adequate sanitation.

With the World Trade Organization's (WTO) crucial meeting in Cancun on the horizon, experts at the water week will study the relationship between trade and water, including farm subsidies in Europe and North America.

TERRA.WIRE