At the 28th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP28), the UAE Presidency has placed water at the forefront of the climate agenda. This strategic move aims to address the escalating challenges posed by climate change to global water resources.
The COP28 Water Agenda outlines three key priority areas: conserving and restoring freshwater ecosystems, enhancing urban water resilience, and bolstering water-resilient food systems. These focus areas are designed to drive meaningful action during Water Day within the two-week thematic program.
Experts welcomed the inclusion of water in the COP process, especially following the adoption of the Water Action Agenda at the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York. The emphasis now is on accelerating implementation and maximizing impact to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6, which ensures access to water and sanitation for all. This requires a holistic approach that integrates content, process, and structure.
Innovation stands out as a crucial accelerator in reaching the 2030 objectives. With projections indicating that by 2050, six billion people may face water scarcity due to factors like climate change, pollution, and unsustainable consumption, the need for innovative solutions has never been more urgent. COP28 serves as a pivotal opportunity to foster coordination and develop comprehensive strategies that align the climate and water agendas.
Climate change is increasingly recognized as fundamentally a water crisis. The rise in extreme weather events leads to water scarcity, unpredictable damages, and heightened vulnerability to pollution during floods. These impacts disrupt economic development, access to clean water and sanitation, and biodiversity across the water cycle.
The rapid disappearance of stored freshwater in glaciers, ice caps, and snow coverage is reshaping major river systems and altering annual flow patterns. Additionally, climate crises have destabilized local communities, triggered civil unrest, and spurred migration, particularly in regions with lower resilience. The destruction of vegetation exacerbates soil erosion, reduces groundwater recharge, and undermines food security.
On an international scale, the growing water demand continues to strain resources. Efforts by water service providers to achieve energy neutrality are hindered by the large demand, which contributes to the degradation of critical water-dependent carbon sinks like marshlands, peatlands, lagoons, and mangroves.
Food production remains heavily reliant on water-intensive agriculture, with 60 percent of freshwater used for irrigation systems that often lack efficiency. The demand for water is further intensified by meat production and biofuel crops, exacerbating water scarcity.
Addressing these issues requires sustainable, affordable, and scalable water solutions implemented urgently. Key actions include reshaping agriculture with a climate-smart approach, prioritizing soil moisture conservation to increase organic matter and reduce post-harvest losses, and integrating drip irrigation and waste utilization for nutrients and biofuel production.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
