In a significant stride for global climate policy, nearly 50 nations and leading non-state actors have endorsed the Baku Declaration on Water for Climate Action during the final thematic day of COP29.
This landmark initiative, spearheaded by the COP29 Presidency, addresses the critical interplay between climate change and water resources, promoting integrated approaches to mitigate and adapt to its impacts.
The declaration commits signatories to embed water-related solutions into national climate strategies, such as Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans.
It also emphasizes enhancing scientific research, fostering international data sharing, and developing basin-wide climate scenarios to address water stress and the cascading effects of climate change.
Non-state actors, including the World Wildlife Fund, Water.org, Water Equity, the Stockholm International Water Institute, and the Islamic Development Bank, have added their weight to the initiative, reflecting broad-based support from the environmental, financial, and development sectors.
Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action Launched
The Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action was unveiled as a collaborative platform designed to sustain momentum on water-related issues across future COPs.
Representatives from the European Union, the United States, and several other nations participated in the high-profile launch, which aims to bridge gaps in addressing climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and desertification.
COP29 President Mukhtar Babayev underscored the urgency of collective action, stating, “Water is the link that flows between the climate, biodiversity, and desertification crises. By enhancing collaboration between countries and between COPs, the Water for Climate Action initiative will allow us to act on all three fronts.”
Inger Andersen, executive director of the United Nations Environment Programme, also praised the initiative, noting its critical role in prioritizing water issues within the broader climate agenda. “As the impacts of the climate crisis become ever more extreme, it has never been more important for the world to manage freshwater ecosystems,” Andersen said.
A Broader Climate Vision
The Water for Climate Action initiative marks the culmination of COP29’s thematic day series, which tackled intersecting climate change issues, from energy transitions to biodiversity conservation. By anchoring Water at the heart of climate negotiations, the initiative reflects a growing recognition of its cross-cutting significance.
The declaration sets a precedent for integrating water-focused strategies into the climate agenda, paving the way for future collaboration as global leaders prepare for COP30.
As the international community grapples with the intensifying impacts of climate change, the initiatives launched in Baku stand as a testament to the importance of cohesive, multi-stakeholder action. Whether they will deliver tangible change remains to be seen, but for now, the message from Baku is clear: the path to addressing the climate crisis runs through its rivers and reservoirs.
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