Water Positioned as a Top Challenge in Fight Against Climate Change at COP22

World Water Council emphasizes the need to create synergies as pillars for water security and to do justice to the African continent

The joint High-Level Segment of COP 22/CMP 12/CMA1 was opened on Tuesday, 15 November 2016, presided over by His Excellency Mr. Salaheddine Mezouar, in the presence of His Majesty King Mohammed VI of Morocco. The Secretary-General of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-Moon, the President of the General Assembly of the United Nations, His Excellency Mr. Peter Thomson, and the Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, Ms. Patricia Espinosa, also attended the opening.

(MARRAKESH, Kingdom of Morocco) - Following the inauguration of the first Global Climate Action Day for Water in the history of the UNFCCC*, the World Water Council, through the voice of Honorary President Loïc Fauchon, presents today the outcomes of those discussions held during 9 November’s “Water Day.”

Climate Action Champion, Minister Hakima El Haite and Ambassador Laurence Tubiana, receives the key recommendations with great interest in the presence of other ministers and high-level participants during the “High Level Panel on Accelerating Climate Action”.

They will subsequently present their summary to governments at the closing plenary of COP22 on 18 November 2018.

The World Water Council salutes the Global Climate Champions of Morocco and France for their outstanding engagement in making COP22 a landmark in the history of the UN Climate Conference, by increasing the visibility for water challenges which are exacerbated by climate change.

"In Marrakech, for the first time in COP** history, the issue of water is at the forefront of the agenda," says Loic Fauchon, “enabling the world water community to propose concrete solutions and actions today.”

The three recommendations for water action brought to the attention of the United Nations and government representatives today at COP22 include:

1. Harmonizing water and climate policies, launching a Water Action Plan for Climate Resilience and implementing the five fingers alliance concept, an interdisciplinary approach that encompasses collaborative solutions in the domains of water, food, energy, health and education
2. Extending water access and sanitation services in Africa;
3. Reinforcing resilient water governance and promoting participatory, inclusive, integrated, and ecological water resources management.

“Water is one of the most impacted resources, but water also provides solutions to these challenges. It is key in mitigating and adapting to uncertainty, both now and in the future.

"Political action is now needed to recognize the role water plays in climate mitigation and adaptation, and to translate this in concrete investments,” recalls Benedito Braga, President of the World Water Council and Secretary of State for Sanitation and Water Resources for the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Collected within the COP22 Outcome Document of the Water Action Day, the recommendations from the world water community to the UNFCCC Conference of Parties and international climate community are:

1. Recognize that climate change impacts water resources first and foremost;
2. Increase visibility for water within climate discussions at an international level, in particular as it pertains to the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans;
3. Launch a water action plan for climate resilience with a specific focus on Africa;
4. Consider the relevance of an IPCC report focusing on water to bring the scientific evidence to decision-makers and send a wake-up call;
5. Improve access to financing of resilient water management projects for energy, water supply and sanitation, agriculture, cities, and ecosystems, in particular for developing countries, by providing support for the development of credible and bankable projects, robust climate risk assessment processes, and involving the private sector and private finance where appropriate, while taking into consideration social, poverty alleviation, and ecological components;
6. Support established principles on resilient water governance and water allocation. These include enhancing effectiveness, efficiency, trust and engagement; encouraging integrated and participatory water management; engaging with under-served groups and ecosystems; and implementing flexible governance mechanisms that can cope with the high levels of uncertainty in future water conditions;
7. Improve and share water and climate change knowledge at all levels, in particular through research development and capacity building, with specific attention to gender-disaggregated data and the situation of women and girls;
8. Increase resilience to risks posed by water-related disasters, such as floods and droughts, which are exacerbated by climate change;
9. Recognize the need to harmonize efforts with the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Webcast available live or on-demand:
http://unfccc.cloud.streamworld.de/webcast/high-level-event-on-accelerating-climate-action

The World Water Council is an international multi-stakeholder platform organization, the founder and co-organizer of the World Water Forum. The World Water Council’s mission is to mobilise action on critical water issues at all levels, including the highest decision-making level, by engaging people in debate and challenging conventional thinking.

The Council focuses on the political dimensions of water security, adaptation, and sustainability, and works to position water at the top of the global political agenda. Headquartered in Marseille, France, since its founding in 1996, the World Water Council brings together over 300 member organizations from more than 50 different countries.

Source: World Water Council; worldwatercouncil.org; @wwatercouncil #wwatercouncil

*UNFCCC = United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change **COP = Conference of Parties