WATER ADAPTATION COMMUNITY WEBINAR

Positioning Water-Climate Adaptation for UN Water Action Agenda Commitments

Global

VIRTUAL

15 March 2023, 14:00 CET

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Source:

Presented by the Water Adaptation Community, the webinar is designed to inform and support those engaging with the UN 2023 Water Conference in person or online. It will inform and support participants on what is needed, in practice, for getting from plan to implementation of adaptive water projects, and draw connections on how such projects support the progress and security of many other Sustainable Development Goals as a case for accelerating adaptation uptake across the water sector.

Event description:

The achievement of the water goal (SDG6) is essential for the success of all sustainable development goals. However, the world is halfway through the Water Action Decade, and there has been little progress in achieving SDG6 and other closely related goals such as health, development, climate, and strong institutions. Beyond the issues of reaching SDG6, climate change is exacerbating pressure on water resources and leading to extreme water events.

The UN 2023 Water Conference, co-hosted by Tajikistan and the Netherlands, will take place from 22nd to 24th March, serving as a Midterm Review of the UN Action Decade on Water and Sanitation. The conference presents a crucial opportunity to mobilize governments to accelerate water-climate adaptation as a strategy for reaching SDG6 and other closely linked goals through the Water Action Agenda.

In the lead-up to the UN 2023 Water Conference, the Water Adaptation Community hosted a series of webinars to share knowledge of water adaptation across landscapes and sub-sectors and showcase examples of mainstream water adaptation and the cascading benefits of water adaptation projects.

Building on this community-sourced knowledge, the Water Adaptation Community collated a Water Adaptation Advocacy Package to support policymakers at the UN 2023 Water Conference. This package includes knowledge briefs, illustrations, and videos focused on mainstreaming water adaptation.

Presented by the Water Adaptation Community, this webinar was designed to inform and support those engaging with the UN 2023 Water Conference in person or online on:

  • what is needed, in practice, for getting from plan to implementation of adaptive water projects
  • drawing connections on how such projects support the progress and security of many other SDGs as a case for accelerating adaptation uptake across the water sector

Key Objectives

  • Demonstrate, with global examples from the municipal to transboundary level, how water adaptation connects to all SDGs and all UN 2023 Water Conference themes.
  • Share knowledge on strategies and tactics for implementing water adaptation projects and raise awareness of such projects.
  • Provide case studies, frameworks and resources to support participants in advocating for countries commit water adaptation policies, financing and on the ground project, via their voluntary commitments in the Water Action Agenda. 

After formal opening remarks, the presentation will begin with framing good water governance via the OECD Water Governance Initiative. Next will be presentations from water adaptation project leaders from Bangladesh and multiple countries in Africa working at the regional and municipal level, a case from GCA’s Water Adaptation Accelerator will be presentenced, followed by sharing the Water Adaptation Community’s UN Water Advocacy package.
 
The International Panel on Deltas and Coasts (IPDC) will close the program pointing to the way forward and calling upon leaders of islands, deltas and coasts to join them. The new initiative initiated by the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water management, focuses on solutions that increase water security, adaptive capacity and sustainability by linking policy, finance, and scientific knowledge at the national and international levels. With GCA as supporting partner, the IPDC will aim to support deltas, coastal areas and islands in their efforts to cope and adapt to the impacts of climate change.
 
Following these presentations and remarks, there will be a moderated panel discussion and additional Q&A involving participants via the chat.

PROGRAM

  • Chair: Mrs. Caroline Figueres, Strategic Advisor Water, Figueres Consulting 

Opening Remarks:

  • Henk Ovink, UN Special Envoy for Water – Water Adaptation and UN Water (TBC)

Presentation of Advocacy Package:

Presenters/Speakers:

  • Mr. Sheikh Abdur Rahman, Mayor of Mongla Bangladesh – Transformative Coastal Adaptation (TBC)
  • Ms. Juliette Lassman, Policy Analyst, Water Governance and Circular Economy in Cities, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – Water Governance Indicator Framework
  • Mr. Martien Beek, Netherlands Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management – Linking policy, finance, and scientific knowledge the launch of IPDC (TBC)
  • Ms. Bernadette Adjei, Chief Legal Officer, Water Resources Commission of Ghana  
  • Ms. Ilse Chilton, Department of Water & Sanitation, South African Government  (TBC)
  • Mr. Alphonce Guzha, Senior Specialist, Water and Urban, Global Center on Adaptation – The Water Adaptation Accelerator 
  • Mr. Jos Timmerman, Transboundary Water Expert, Waterframes

Discussants:

  • Sheikh Abdur Rahman, Mayor of Mongla Bangladesh, Transformative Coastal Adaptation (TBC)
  • Ms. Juliette Lassman, Policy Analyst, Water Governance and Circular Economy in Cities, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
  • Ms Bernadette Adjei, Chief Legal Officer, Water Resources Commission of Ghana  
  • Ms Ilse Chilton, Department of Water & Sanitation, South African Government  (TBC)
  • Alphonce Guzha, Senior Specialist, Water and Urban, Global Center on Adaptation, the Water Adaptation Accelerator
  • Jos Timmerman, Transboundary Water Expert, Waterframes

Discussants:

For questions contact Olivia Allen, Water Adaptation Community Facilitator at olivia.allen@gca.org

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Water Adaptation Advocacy Package

The Water Adaptation Advocacy Package includes a series of informative multimedia briefs drawn from Water Adaptation Community meetings, webinars, and dialogues which offer policy and implementation recommendations to educate, mobilize, and inspire engagement in the lead-up to and during the UN 2023 Water Conference and beyond. It also provides educational resources for connecting water management and climate adaptation. It is intended for individuals of all knowledge and expertise levels who wish to deepen their knowledge of the importance of water adaptation and how it can be utilized and applied to tackle the climate crisis.

Leveraging Water for Accelerating Adaptation

Water and climate change are intrinsically linked.
Although climate change will have a global impact, some areas are more vulnerable to experiencing the negative effects of the climate crisis.  Embedding inclusive water adaptation measures in national development plans and climate-related policies is crucial to mitigating climate risk.

Adaptation in Deltas: Reaching Impact at Scale

Deltas are one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change: floods, droughts, storms and rising sea levels causing coastal flooding and saline intrusion into groundwater. Significant investment in Delta adaptation efforts as well as the integration of a large-scale coordinated approach is crucial for effective adaptation and management of deltas.

Driving Resilience in Small Island Developing States

Climate change poses a significant threat to the survival and development of Small Island Developing States. despite collectively contributing to less than 1% of global emissions. Their unique geography, small land areas, heavy dependence on natural resources, and high exposure to risks mean that Small Island Developing States are on the front line of climate change and are highly vulnerable to extreme weather events and sea-level rises.

Below are additonal visual resources that narrow in on specific approaches and elements of adaptation.