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A bit of history

Until the COP21 United Nations Climate Change Conference in December 2015 in Paris, It seemed that water was invisible. Agriculture, energy and forestry were (rightfully) recognized as the sole (wrongfully) key sectors to consider when addressing climate changes. Water was simply not an issue. Weirdly enough, since it is hard to imagine irrigating fields, cooling power plants or halting desertification with water out of the equation…

Of course, COP21 was a milestone in the history of global climate negotiations, as the Paris Agreement marked the first-ever universal, legally binding global climate change agreement. But it also was a milestone for the place granted to water at the Climate COPs.
At this occasion, and along with a wide range of partners, the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO) pushed hard to make the voice of water heard in the international climate community. INBO launched the “Paris Pact on water and adaptation to climate change in the basins of lakes, rivers and aquifers”, which provides a set of principles and recommended measures and includes a call to actions, relayed by its 360 signatory organizations. INBO also joined forces with 20 organizations for the #ClimateIsWaterCampaign, led by the World Water Council (WWC) and the French Water Partnership (FWP).
In this context, and under the framework of the Lima-Paris Action Agenda (a global climate action agenda by non-State actors, launched under the patronage of the Peruvian and French presidencies of the COP), the first official high level event on water in the history of the COPs was co-organized by INBO and its partners of the dedicated “Water Content Group”.

INBO was since then involved in each of the COPs, and in the definition and implementation of the water component of the Global Climate Action Agenda (which, since the COP22 that was held in Morocco, has taken the name of “Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action”, or MPGCA). Along with a myriad of thematic events, INBO co-organized with the “Water Content Group” each of the yearly editions of the “Water Action Event”, as is now called the official high level event on water initiated in Paris in 2021.

 

Water at COP26

Joining forces works. This diverse initiatives with a wide range of partners have contributed to give a greater attention to water. This year, at the very beginning of COP26, States are urged to prioritize action on water and climate by 10 major international organizations: WMO, UNICEF, FAO, UNESCO, WHO, IFAD, UNEP, UNU, UNECE and GWP.

INBO also brings its contribution to make sure that water holds a prominent place at this COP26.
It will do so, as always, by promoting concrete actions, such as the initiative “100 water and climate projects for Africa” and the implementation of Nature-based solutions in the basins of rivers and lakes throughout the world.

As you will see in the “Program” section on the left of your screen), INBO will co-organize this year again the official “Water Action Event” as well as a series of thematic events (on strengthening knowledge, ecosystem-based adaptation, incubation of projects and access to climate finance) stressing the benefits of planning adaptation to climate change at basin level.

 

Our message

Water is the first victim of climate change. Climate change primarily affects our societies through the water cycle, with unpredictable rainfall patterns, aquatic ecosystems degradation, altered river flows, sea level rise-induced salinization of coastal groundwater, more frequent and intense floods and droughts. These impacts cascade down to every aspects of our lives, threatening our health, our energy security, our food security, and pushing hundreds of millions of people to migrate in the coming decades.

In other words, climate is water.

And water also is part of the solution to climate challenges. In particular, planning an Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) at basin level loosen the threatening stranglehold of climate change impacts on all water uses. It helps to design and implement at the right scale measures intended to reduce water demand, to develop non-conventional water resources, to prevent floods & droughts or to choose the right balance and combination of green and grey infrastructures for adaptation to climate changes.

 

Here is the flyer providing an overview of this series of events (date, theme & location) and, in the “Program” section (see left side of this web page), their detailed programs:
 

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Specific detailed programs:

1.  “Scaling up Nature-based Solutions for adaptation to climate change” (English ; hybrid) - Flyer
Thursday 4th of November 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Blue Zone, Hall 4, Water and climate pavilion, http://www.waterforclimate.net/

Building Back Better in Peru with Nature-Based Solutions - Alejandro Gutierrez, Autoridad para la Reconstrucción con Cambios

Development of an adaptation project to establish water management mechanisms in the Sanaga River Basins - Camille Flore Sandjong JEPANG, KfW Yaounde (Cameroon)

Nature-Based solutions in adaptation to Climate Change in the Dniester River Basin - Tamara Kutonova, Independent Environmental Consultant

Stimulating Climate Change Adaptation across the Rural to Urban Continuum - Louise Bingham, Environmental Consultant, Arup ; Professor David Hetherington, Associate, Arup and Newcastle University

 

2.  “Financing adaptation in the water sector: the 100 water and climate projects for Africa initiative” (French only ; hybrid) - Flyer
Thursday 4th of November 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m., Blue Zone, Francophonie Pavilion & online https://epavillonclimatique.francophonie.org

Intervention de Mr. BENJELLOUN (vidéo)

Financements de l’adaptation aux changements climatiques. Réflexions sur le défis - Marc-Antoine MARTIN, Fonds d’Adaptation des Nations Unies

Initiative « 100 projets eau et climat pour l’Afrique » - M. Edouard BOINET, Réseau International des Organismes de Bassin (RIOB)

Présentation de Mme Bayche sur les agences de l'eau et les  "100 projets eau et climat pour l'Afrique" (vidéo)

Promotion de l'usage des données satellitaires et de la géomatique pour améliorer la gestion de l'eau du Fleuve Sénégal - Mohamed Fawzi BEDREDINE, OMVS/SOGED

« Financer l’adaptation dans le secteur de l’eau : l’initiative 100 projets eau et climat pour l’Afrique » - M. Thierry Emmanuel RATOVONIAINA, Ministère de l’Eau, de l’Assainissement et de l’Hygiène, Madagascar

Financer l’adaptation dans le secteur de l’eau : Perspectives du Fonds d’Adaptation - Mahamat Assouyouti, Adaptation Fund Board Secretariat

Guide Sectoriel Sécurité de l’Eau - Hubert Jenny, Fonds Vert pour le Climat (GCF)

Les expériences de la GIZ dans la gestion (transfrontalière) de l’EAU et dans l’incubation de projets en Afrique - Anselm Duchrow, GIZ

Financement de l’adaptation aux changements climatiques dans les bassins transfrontières - Sonja Koeppel, CEE-ONU

 

3.  “Water Action Event - Thirsty for change: harnessing water’s potential for a resilient, net zero and nature-positive future” official event of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (hybrid) - Flyer
Friday 5th of November 11:30 am - 2:15 pm, Blue Zone, Hydro Building, Global Climate Action arena, Room n°1

 

4. “From incubation to financing for adaptation: developing 100 water & climate projects for Africa” official UNFCCC event (English-French ; hybrid) - Flyer
Friday 5th of November 3:00 p.m. - 4:15 p.m., Blue Zone, Armadillo Building, Derwentwater room & online on the COP26 Platform (accreditation required)

De l’incubation au financement de l’adaptation: Développer 100 projets Eau & Climat pour l’Afrique - M. Nabil BEN KHATRA, Secrétaire Exécutif de l’OSS

The CICOS Experience - Mrs ENAW, COCOS

GIZ Experiences in (transboundary) water management and project incubation in Africa - Anselm Duchrow, GIZ

Sector Guide on Water Security - Hubert Jenny, Green Climate Fund

Transboundary Waters with a focus on Africa - Anders Jagerskog, Transboundary Waters Focal Point World Bank

100 "Water and Climate" projects for Africa : water agency contribution - Hervé Gilliard, Loire-Bretagne water agency

 

5. “How to strengthen knowledge to improve adaptation to climate change in water management?” (French with simultaneous interpretation in English ; hybrid) - Flyer
Friday 5th of November 3:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Blue Zone, Hall 4, French pavilion

 

6.  “International cooperation on Water and Climate interlinkages for creating a resilient future?” (in English; hybrid) - Flyer
Friday 12th of November 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m., Blue Zone, Hall 4, Water and climate pavilion

Intervention de Mr. BENJELLOUN

Présentation de Mme Bayche : les agences de l'eau et les "100 projets eau et climat pour l'Afrique"

Scaling up Nature-based Solutions for adaptation to climate change

Water Action Event - Thirsty for change: harnessing water’s potential for a resilient, net zero and nature-positive future

From incubation to financing for adaptation: developing 100 water & climate projects for Africa

COP26: "International cooperation on Water & Climate interlinkages for creating a resilient future"