Driving Climate Action Through Water

Negotiations have stalled at the COP29 climate talks in Baku, as countries grapple over how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. So far, proposals to phase out coal, curb deforestation, and set concrete methane targets have met fierce resistance, threatening progress on mitigation—the cornerstone of efforts to limit global warming to 1.5 or 2 degrees Celsius.

We spoke with Michael Kakande, founder of Resilient40, about the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) negotiations, the demands from the Global South, and the role the water sector should play in the finance discussions.

José Gesti, Water for Climate Pavilion Envoy on the Global Goal on Adaptation and Senior Climate Advisor at Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) shared insights on the discussions at COP29 and outlined what lies ahead in advancing these critical adaptation efforts.

On day three of COP29, the Water for Climate Pavilion tackled the issue of urban water resilience - how to design it, how to fund it, and how to make sure it's just and inclusive for all. Here are four key takeaways from the conversation.

It was standing room only at the Water for Climate Pavilion opening, as high-ranking officials and climate activists called for greater inclusion of water in climate policies and financing mechanisms at COP29.

As COP29 opens in Baku, Azerbaijan next week (Nov 11-22), the stakes are at an all-time high. This UN climate conference, a critical checkpoint in the global fight against climate change, will draw over 40,000 participants—from heads of state to activists—to strategize on the policies and funding commitments needed to address accelerating climate threats.

With the recent announcements and action for the GGA and adaptation and resilience in general, it is important to not only keep in mind the essential role of common platforms but also common definitions. In their March 2024 Newsletter, AGWA highlighted the need for confidence in adaptation and resilience, and the gap between stated definitions for adaptation and/or resilience and their actual measurement.