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COP22

The four "Alliances" of Basins, Megacities, Desalination and Business
are getting mobilized to support the implementation of the Paris Agreement

The official Action Day for Water of the COP22, organized in Marrakech on past 9 November as part of the Global Climate Action Agenda (GCAA), drew the attention of governments and of all the partners concerned by the strategic importance of water in the context of climate change and proposed tangible solutions for the implementation of the Paris Agreement.

In 93% of their National Contributions (INDCs), the countries have identified water as the key to adaptation. As water is essential for human health, food security, energy production, industrial productivity, tourism, navigation, biodiversity, in addition to basic human needs, securing water resources means ensuring security in all these areas of economic, social and environmental development. On the other hand, population growth is now concentrated in urban centers.

In addition, water is critical for climate change mitigation, as many efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depend on reliable access to water resources.

Systematically addressing these challenges is, therefore, key to adapting to climate change, limiting both the carbon footprint of water services and the “water” footprint in general and reducing the negative impacts of water-related disasters.

Two official events were organized on 9 November: a "Water Showcase", in the morning, dedicated to promoting practical initiatives and a "Water Dialogue", in the afternoon, built as a high-level debate on major water and climate policy issues.

The four “Alliances” (*) for Basins (Paris Pact), Megacities, Desalinization and Business, created at the COP21 in Paris in 2015 and strongly engaged in water and climate action, which today represent more than 450 organizations worldwide, signed, on this occasion, a Joint Declaration committing themselves to mobilize their partners, identify and disseminate good practices and support the development of new projects by field actors engaged in adaptation and resilience of the water sector.

These “Alliances” presented, in particular, during the “Water Showcase”, the positive progresses made with the Flagship Projects on water adaptation launched at the COP21, such as the Hydrological Information System of the transboundary Congo River, the integrated management of the Hai River in China, the strengthening of the new Mexico Metropolitan Organization for Urban Stormwater Drainage or the “Eco-cuencas” Climate Adapt Cooperation project between European and Andean countries, but also the making of an analysis of the situation of water resources and services in fifteen megacities, of the expected impact of climate change on them, and a review of innovative strategies and solutions devised by these megacities to reduce these negative effects and adapt to them.

During this COP22’s Water Day, they also announced new adaptation projects, such as, for example, the Sebou River management in Morocco, the creation of the Water Adapt Training Center in Brasilia, cooperation between the Agglomerations of Paris and Manila, the launch of a Euro-Mediterranean information platform on water or the future use of the SWOT satellite for hydrological observations of the earth, among others.

« This aligns perfectly with COP22, which is striving to be a COP for action! », remarked Ms. Charafat AFAILAL, Minister Delegate in charge of Water in Morocco. « Now, we need to realize what is at stake, since water insecurity leads to increased conflicts, tension between populations, and also provokes migrations that threaten global stability ».

« Adaptation of water resources to climate change must be organized at the natural level of national or transboundary basins of rivers, lakes and aquifers, where water is flowing from up-stream to down-stream, and mobilize all actors in the field, including local authorities, economic sectors and civil society, to achieve, through dialogue and in due time, a common vision to face the climate change challenges », said Mr. Roberto RAMIREZ de la PARRA, President of the International Network of Basin Organizations.

« Cities are where the battle for sustainable development must be won. The new SDGs, particularly Goal 6 on access to water and sanitation services for all, can only be achieved with the involvement of the world largest cities. This is why the establishment of a platform for megacities to exchange experience and know-how on water-related issues is so essential today », reminded Ms. Flavia SCHLEGEL, Assistant Director-General (ADG) for Natural Sciences at UNESCO.

Ms Frédérique DENIS, Vice-President of SIAAP, underlined that « the Alliance of Megacities is becoming effective with a strong political commitment from the municipalities and the signing of cooperation agreements between major urban centers such as, for example, the Paris metropolitan area and those of Beijing, Manila or Mexico City ».

« In less than a year, the Business Alliance for Water and Climate Change has gathered more than 40 signatory organizations, including 30 global companies representing the 5 continents and a cumulative turnover of 680 billion dollars, around commitments to measure and reduce their water footprint; It has set itself the goal of achieving 100 signatories representing an annual turnover of 1,000 billion in 2018 » explained Mr. Bertrand CAMUS, Coordinator of the Business Alliance for Water and Climate Change and Director General of SUEZ Water France.

(*)

  1. The Alliance of the 357 signatories of the Paris Pact on water and adaptation to climate change in the basins of rivers, lakes and aquifers, in 94 Countries, facilitated by INBO in partnership with UNECE.
  2. The Business Alliance for Water And Climate Change - BAFWAC, launched by the Carbon Disclosure Project - CDP, the CEO Water Mandate, the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and SUEZ, which has now 44 member organizations, including 30 leading companies.
  3. The Alliance of Megacities for Water and Climate, facilitated by UNESCO, ICLEI, SIAAP and Arceau-IDF, gathering 16 Megacities for a total population of 300 million inhabitants.
  4. The Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance.

Contacts

For the Alliance of Signatories to the "Paris Pact" on Water and Adaptation to Climate Change in Basins:

For the Alliance of Megacities:

For the Business Alliance:

www.inbo-news.org

www.eaumega.org

See the photos of the signing and the text of the Declaration

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