Global Climate Action Water Day at COP 23

    The 23rd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 23) to the UNFCCC conclude successfully, and for two weeks Bonn was the center of global climate change diplomacy. COP23, presided by the Fijian Government, the first Pacific Island to ever assume this role, was attended by over 27000 people spread through two zones (Bula and Bonn).

    In view of raising political awareness for water within the climate change discussions, the World Water Council and its partners were actively engaged at COP23. In addition to carrying the voice of water with the #ClimateIsWater initiative, and supporting its members and their events throughout COP23, the Council was co-coordinating Water Day, which was held on 10 November as part of the non-state actor engagement mechanism of the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA).

    The Water Day highlighted the innovative work that is being done by the Council and its partners and facilitated opportunities for increased collaboration as we move forward. This year’s Water Day sessions were focused on exploring the critical linkages between water and the global climate adaptation, mitigation and finance agendas, knowledge and capacity development, as well as Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 11 on Zero Hunger and Sustainable Cities and Communities respectively. Water Day sessions hosted a number of high-level speakers from many different countries, including WWC Honorary President Loïc Fauchon who led the Council’s delegation.

    The Water Day sessions were also streamed live online and enabled interested viewers, who were not able to attend COP23, to follow the discussions.  

    Please find below the MPGCA Water Day events available online:

    One of the main outcomes from the Global Climate Action events was a Yearbook, which captures the climate actions of businesses, water, investors, cities, regions and civil society, demonstrating that non-Party stakeholders are steadily progressing to achieve the central goal of the Paris Agreement.
    The digital version of the Yearbook can be downloaded here.