Highlights and images for 24 October 2024

Protecting transboundary water resources and advocating for better management and distribution are a way of working towards peace and stability. With conflicts raging around the world, delegates in Slovenia attending the 10th session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Water Convention (MOP 10) reflected on the importance of their work as an instrument to promote collaboration and understanding.

On Thursday, they finalized an agenda item on climate change adaptation. While many noted progress in the area of cooperation with other conventions, such as those on desertification and climate change, major widely-shared issues were identified, including in data management, funding climate resilience strategies, involving communities, and applying transboundary early warning systems.

Participants then delved into reporting obligations under the Convention and under Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation). It was revealed that 140 transboundary water agreements have been concluded since the adoption of the Water Convention in 1992, 13 of which have been concluded in the past three years. Furthermore, the average value of SDG indicator 6.5.2 (proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation) is 81% for Parties, while the global average is 59%, with significant progress achieved notably in Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is still room for improvement, for instance in the areas of exchange of data and information, and procedures for mutual assistance in critical situations such as natural or industrial disasters.

If anyone still had doubts, they had ample opportunity to hear the benefits of reporting and making continuous progress in aligning national policies with the Water Convention. Transboundary resources, as emphasized time and time again, are a lifeline for many communities.

In the afternoon, MOP 10 discussed how to increase awareness of and accession to the Convention and application of its principles drawing on the benefits of cooperation. They heard presentations on several reports on this topic, including “The Water Convention: 30 Years of Impact and Achievements on the Ground.” 

The resounding success of two twinning initiatives (one involving Namibia and Finland, and the other Zambia, Hungary, and Ghana) saw new Parties eager to be paired up with more experienced countries.

Switzerland reported back on Tuesday’s pre-MOP Match-making Event, which was hailed as very useful, during which new Parties were able to learn from others and connect with technical and financial partners.

During the afternoon, participants also delved into the intricacies of the water-food-energy-ecosystems nexus in transboundary basins, and discussed how to support equitable and sustainable water allocation in a transboundary context.

Addressing the financing of the Convention, delegates agreed to establish an open-ended working group with the aim of developing a proposal for a more sustainable and predictable financing mechanism of the Convention’s work, entailing the establishment of a mandatory scheme for financial contributions. The working group will elaborate proposals to be considered by the next MOP.

Delegates also agreed to start the process to secure funds from the UN regular budget for translation and interpretation into Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish, so as to ensure the equal and effective participation of all Parties. However, as a representative from the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) pointed out, this road may be long and windy, going through UNECE, the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), and the UN General Assembly (UNGA), consecutively.

Having accumulated delays during the day, delegates left the conference center on Thursday with the knowledge that Friday’s entry session would reveal the country hosting the next MOP.