Session 2: International Cooperation as key factor to address the Water and Climate Relationship
Historically, the water and climate agendas have developed to a large extent separate from one another, with unsystematic and often poor integration at the policy and institutional levels.
More recently though (with the Agenda 2030 and International Climate Negotiations), it is becoming more self-evident to both communities that sustainable management of water resources is critical for an effective response to climate change (especially in adaptation but also in mitigation actions) and, at the same time, that water management is being affected not only by the impacts of climate change, but also by various aspects of climate policy.
The session will examine the climate-water relationship, present relevant existing initiatives, and discuss options and challenges ahead, especially at the international and transboundary levels and with a special attention on cross-cutting issues (e.g. gender, youth, rights).
Specifically, the session will aim at better understanding of the water-climate interaction and inter-linkages, also through a nexus approach and a diversity perspective (gender, youth, etc); gaining insights from existing initiatives on related international cooperation efforts, as well as exploring ptions on next steps for enhancing the water-climate relationship, especially at international and transboundary levels.
Session outlineIntroduction – the history of climate-water relationship, with emphasis at the international and transboundary levels Panel discussion on the water-climate linkages through ongoing work of targeted regional and international actors
Suggestions on the way forward also through exchanges with the panel speakers Conclusions and next steps Isabelle van der Beck – UN Environment |