One of the main issues that the GWP delegation will bring to the COP19 table is the urgent need of a dedicated Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) for water on the post-2015 agenda.
GWP will participate in several of the venues of the conference, and the network representatives will also host a press briefing on Thursday 21 November – "Getting on with Business: Water Security and National Adaptation Plans".
There will be a GWP booth with information about the network in the exhibition hall during the second week of the conference, and GWP’s Chair Dr. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss is expected to speak at the High Level Segment on the last day.
GWP's Key Messages in Warsaw:
- An SDG on water with associated targets on disaster risk reduction has the potential to contribute to the objectives of the national adaptation plans (NAPs) and promote coherence on water related adaptation.
- Capacity development is required to strengthen water resources information requirements and aid smart decision making, build robust and flexible institutions that can respond to sudden changes and shocks. Capacity requirements include strengthening water resources monitoring and data collection, modelling, mapping and risk assessment, policy development investment programme preparation and performance measurement.
- Data, information and knowledge management – decision makers must be served with appropriate and robust information on which to take decisions on adaptation priorities, and water management processes more generally. Building and using the knowledge base on water and climate change is essential for informed decision making.
- Financing for implementation – adapting to climate change will require mobilisation of financial resources through dedicated multi-lateral climate funds and also domestic budgets. Action is required to improve efficiencies in use of already available public funding and also secure additional funding for implementing adaptation options and building resilience in water management.
- Prioritising no and low regret options – there is a high degree of uncertainty over climate change impacts, but techniques to manage natural resources in a sustainable way, avoiding conflict and over exploitation will improve the resilience of natural systems under any future climate scenarios.
- Building partnerships and engaging stakeholders – working across sectors to integrate the management of water resources and ensuring stakeholder participation in decision making supports more resilient development and avoids conflicts and inequalities over water in the context of a variable and changing climate.
Photo: Warsaw by night/ Wikimedia Commons