The need for water to take center stage at COP28
COP28 has come to a close with numerous pledges under its belt. The most historic is the agreement to transition away from fossil fuels. This, as surprising as it may seem, is the first time in nearly 30 years of UN climate discussions where the primary culprit behind the climate emergency, namely fossil fuels, has been explicitly cited in a decision text. Another milestone was the launch of the Loss and Damage Fund at the opening plenary during the first day of the summit in Dubai. The wealthiest countries most responsible for the climate crisis have pledged over $700 million to developing countries worst hit by the effects of climate change. However, by now, it is widely accepted that water is the primary medium through which we feel the impacts of climate change, so what role did water have in this year’s UN climate change conference?
Role of water in COP28
This year’s epicentre for water discussions was the Water for Climate Pavilion, organized by SIWI together with over 60 partner organizations, yet water rarely made it to the plenary sessions, even though there is a palpable acknowledgement that reliable water resources are critical to a functioning society and economy and that it has a vital role as a solution to the climate crisis. Most experts agreed that water was underrepresented on the official agenda and that there are still important strides to be made for water’s inclusion in the climate debate. Karin Gardes, SIWI’s Acting Executive Director, said: “We have seen hundreds of water-related events, important water initiatives have been launched, and financial commitments to water solutions have been made. This is good, but we must remember that these are only a few steps on what is no doubt a very long journey.”
Most experts agreed that water was underrepresented on the official agenda and that there are still important strides to be made for water’s inclusion in the climate debate
The commitments and pledges Gardes is referring to include the United Arab Emirates’ commitment of $150 million in new funding for water security solutions in fragile and vulnerable communities. Moreover, the international organization WWF (World Wildlife Fund) revealed that 37 countries had joined the Freshwater Challenge – the world’s largest initiative to restore degraded rivers, lakes and wetlands and to protect vital freshwater ecosystems – during COP28. The already existing members and new members contain over 30% of the world’s renewable freshwater resources and are home to almost two billion people, which could lead to a real change in the restoration of worldwide bodies of water.
Another significant stride was the pledge by The African Development Bank to quadruple climate adaptation financing to $25 billion by 2025, focusing on climate-smart investments in water.
This year’s epicentre for water discussions was the Water for Climate Pavilion, organized by SIWI together with over 60 partner organizations
UNECE also used the summit as a platform to stress the crucial need for joint water management across borders, encouraging all UN Member States to join the UN Water Convention. Tatiana Molcean, UNECE Executive Secretary, said: “Climate change is already having huge impacts on water resources, which for 153 countries worldwide are shared with their neighbours.” Joint management would catalyse climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts through transboundary water cooperation added Molcean.
In the Water for Climate Pavilion, one of the most successful sessions was the announcement by Kazakhstan and France to jointly host the One Water Summit in conjunction with the United Nations General Assembly in September 2024.
Water’s inclusion in the climate debate
Water plays a pivotal and multifaceted role in the climate debate, acting as both a critical factor in climate change impacts and a key player in mitigation strategies. On one hand, the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, such as flooding and droughts, are closely linked to shifts in global water cycles driven by climate change. On the other hand, water serves as a crucial medium for implementing climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. From hydropower generation to sustainable agriculture practices and carbon sequestration in wetlands, water management is at the forefront of efforts to address the challenges posed by climate change. Moreover, recognizing water as a shared resource emphasizes the need for international cooperation and integrated policies to ensure equitable access and sustainable use, underscoring its indispensable role in shaping the climate discourse.
At last year’s COP, water was, for the first time in history, explicitly integrated into a COP decision, underscoring its pivotal role as a fundamental solution to the escalating climate crisis and emphasizing its central position in climate action. This year, the international water community has continued to work to highlight and influence the formal negotiations to consider water as a central pillar in climate action discussions and as a key tool for climate change mitigation and adaptation. And as COP28 finishes, work is already underway for next year’s climate summit.
To dive deeper into the key outcomes of COP28 from a water perspective, Smart Water Magazine will be launching an interview series with water experts who attended the two week event to hear their about their impressions and their thoughts for next year’s UN climate conference.