Organized for the first time in the history of UN Climate Change Conferences, the Action Day for Water at the ongoing UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech , COP22 created through the Global Climate Action Agenda calls for more attention to water as a way of providing solutions to help implement the Paris Climate Change Agreement.
Various countries have identified water as a key to adaptation in 93% of their national climate action plans.
Countries have identified water as a key to adaptation in 93% of their national climate action plans. Water is fundamental for food security, human health, energy production, industrial productivity, biodiversity, in addition to basic human needs and its availability, ensuring water security means ensuring security in all these domains.
In addition, water is critical for successful climate change mitigation, as many efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions depend on reliable access to water resources.
Addressing these challenges is therefore key to adapting to climate change and reducing the negative impacts of water-related disasters.
The “Blue Book on Water and Climate” will be launched on this occasion by the Moroccan Government and its partners as a concrete outcome of its interim International Conference on Water and Climate, hosted in Rabat in July 2016, in cooperation with the Government of France and the World Water Council.
The publication collects the orientations and recommendations brought forth by the international water community to support the implementation of climate commitments and proposes a variety of concrete and applicable solutions related to adaptation and resilience through water management.
“This aligns perfectly with COP22, which is striving to be a COP of action!” said Mrs. Charafat AFAILAL, Minister Delegate in charge of Water of Morocco. “Now, we need to realize what is at stake, since water insecurity leads to increased conflicts, tension between populations, and also provokes migration that threatens overall stability.”
Climate justice is also a priority of the Water Action Day, as evidenced by the launching of the “Water for Africa” initiative, established by the Kingdom of Morocco and supported by the African Development Bank.
This initiative aims to render justice to Africa through the adoption of a specific action plan that will mobilize different international political, financial and institutional partners to improve water and sanitation services and management in Africa, for those most affected by climate change.
Roberto Ramirez de la Parra, the President of the International Network of Basin Organizations said that the adaptation of water resources to climate change must be organized at the natural level of national or transboundary basin 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, in concertation and in due time, a common vision to face the climate change challenges.
