For the first time in COP history, water has been given its dedicated day at COP27 due to being recognised as a crucial part of mitigating climate change.
Agriculture, forestry and land equate to 18.4% of the world’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and require significant action in order to reduce emissions, retain productivity and adapt to the extreme weather events as a result of climate change
Water scarcity
Today, Hani Sewilam, Egyptian Minister of Irrigation and Water Resources announced the launch of the Action for Water Adaptation and Resilience (AWARe) initiative, which aims to ‘catalyse inclusive cooperation to address water as a key to climate change adaptation and resilience’. In short, this means working together globally to share information, govern water, and innovate water observation and management systems to enable the analysis of the future of water and its resilience.
Aligning targets with Sustainable Development Goals
The sixth Sustainable Development Goal is to “ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all”. The United Nation’s forecasts estimate that if our current consumption of water is to continue, 1.6 billion people will lack safe drinking water by 2030, making no progress on that sixth goal. It was emphasised that countries like Africa will be vulnerable to this, particularly with the events of drought causing millions of people to suffer from starvation and poor sanitation.
The African Cities Water Adaption Fund (ACWA Fund) has been launched by the World Resource Institute (WRI) and other parties, this fund aims to finance and support implementing solutions across African cities to build resilience and adapt to the effects of climate change.
Be sure to keep up to date with the latest developments at COP27 on our insights page.
-Further Reading-
COP27 Day 3: Finance day and building resilience
Exchequer Secretary James Cartlidge will set out how innovative new loan agreements will support the most vulnerable counties to the effects of climate change.
COP27 Day 4: Science, youth and resilience
The fourth day of COP27 continues the theme of resilience with a spotlight on science and future generations.
COP27 Day 5: The decarbonisation challenge
‘The Decarbonisation Challenge’, is the title of today’s COP27 theme. The day looks further into keeping 1.5℃ in sight, Net Zero commitments and achievements and cutting carbon across industry.
COP27 Day 6: Adaption and agriculture
The running theme for the sixth day of COP27 was adaptation and agriculture. Contributing to 18.4% of global GHG emissions, significant action is required across reducing emissions and building resilience.