International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Session 2: International Cooperation as key factor to address the Water and Climate Relationship

March 22, room 24, 11:00-12:30 AM

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 outline 

Introduction – the history of climate-water relationship, with emphasis at the international and transboundary levels

Dr. Ulrike Pokorski da Cunha, Head of Sustainable Water Policy and Programme Director of Sanitation for Millions at GIZ (access the presentation)

Panel discussion on the water-climate linkages through ongoing work of targeted regional and international actors

  • Ambassador Maria Jacqueline Mendoza Ortega, General Secretary, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization
  • Dimitris Faloutsos GEF-UNDP Drin River Basin Project, Global Water Partnership
  • Karin Krchnak, Water Resource Group 2030, World Bank
  • Dimitris Faloutsos – GEF-UNDP Drin River Basin Project, Global Water Partnership
  • Steffen Hansen, Global Environment Facility
  • Patricia Grazziotin Noschang, Professora de Direito Internacional, Universidade de Passo Fundo-RS
  • Mary Matthews, GEF-UNDP Kura-Aras River Basin Project

Suggestions on the way forward also through exchanges with the panel speakers

Conclusions and next steps

Isabelle van der Beck – UN Environment