Highlights and images for 23 October 2024

Despite hearing a deluge of negative climate change impacts on water resources, delegates at 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention (MOP 10) heeded stories of hope during the meeting's high-level segment, with speakers sharing positive experiences of transboundary cooperation from various corners of the globe.

During the opening session, delegates listened to, amongst others, Jože Novak, Minister of Natural Resources and Spatial Planning, Slovenia, on behalf of Robert Golob, Prime Minister of Slovenia, who called for further collaboration on transboundary water management and effective cooperation between nations.

Amina J. Mohammed, Deputy Secretary-General of the UN and Chair of the UN Sustainable Development Group, highlighted outcomes of the recently-held UN Summit for the Future, which offer strategic tools to accelerate action on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including on water. Tatiana Molcean, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and UN Under-Secretary-General, concluded that transboundary water cooperation is an act of empowerment, of trust, and of hope in the face of increasing uncertainty.

Attention was drawn to the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its impacts on the environment, including on water resources. Returning to the agenda, delegates considered the status of ratification of the Convention and its Protocols, welcoming eleven countries that became Parties to the Convention in recent years. New Parties shared positive impacts experienced since joining the Convention.

A special session followed on “Our waters, our future: Transboundary water cooperation to power climate resilience,” with a report on Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation: Midterm status of SDG Indicator 6.5.2, with a special focus on Climate Change, and an action-oriented document on mainstreaming transboundary water management and cooperation into Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans. The ensuing panel discussion heard a rich tapestry of experiences from Namibia, Iraq, Spain, Indonesia, the European Commission, the Senegal River Development Organization, Slovenia, and a youth representative.

A celebration of the progress made under the Senegalo-Mauritanian Aquifer Basin cooperation initiative was held in plenary, before high-level statements from several ministers and officials from the riparian countries.

The afternoon started with a session on “Transboundary and intersectoral cooperation for climate mitigation: Implementing the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus.” Participants heard presentations describing water- and climate-related challenges in various countries and showcasing successful examples of transboundary and intersectoral cooperation to address these. 

High-level interventions from the floor highlighted prerequisites to success, including: paying attention to the water needs of nature and biodiversity, not only of consumers; working on water scenarios for the future; following a holistic approach in addressing floods and droughts; and promoting the vision that water lies at the heart of multilateralism.

A second afternoon session addressed “Building climate resilience through ecosystem and biodiversity preservation and restoration in transboundary settings.” High-level officials shared examples of risk management strategies in various regions of the world, stressing the importance of, among other things, knowledge and data, civil society involvement, gender equality, and biodiversity interests.

High-level interventions from the floor addressed, among other issues, the merits of nature-based approaches, community involvement, and initiatives by regional organizations. 

In closing the high-level session, Jože Novak and Tatiana Molcean enumerated an extensive list of conclusions, including: the call to prepare projects that increase climate change resilience; mainstreaming water into national climate policies and other sectors such as energy and agriculture; focusing on nature-based solutions and harnessing innovative technologies; and creating space for meaningful engagement with youth groups, and Indigenous Peoples and local communities.

Ensuring delegates were kept on their toes, the General Segment quickly resumed with a presentation on progress made on adapting to climate change in transboundary basins under the Water Convention.

Before heading to a reception hosted by Slovenia, delegates gathered on the podium for a group photo.