Water is increasingly cited as the lifeblood connecting biodiversity, climate and land. At last year’s three UN Rio Conventions conferences – Biodiversity COP16, Climate COP29 and Desertification COP16 – water took central stage for sustaining ecosystems, tackling climate change and nurturing healthy soils.
In 1992, governments gathered at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro to discuss the interlinked challenges of climate, land and biodiversity loss. This summit was the origin of three separate global agreements known as the Rio Conventions:
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
Water and sanitation utilities are key players in addressing climate change, desertification and biodiversity loss. Mitigation efforts like energy efficiency, water loss reduction and wastewater reuse reduce emissions and conserve resources, supporting global climate goals. Adaptation measures, including nature-based solutions like wetland and forest protection, enhance water security and biodiversity. Water Operators’ Partnerships have a large potential to amplify these efforts by sharing expertise and scaling proven solutions.
Here is how GWOPA engaged in UNFCCC COP29 and the UNCCD COP16 – and our take aways in the run up to this year’s Climate COP30 in Belém, Brazil and Desertification COP17 in 2026 in Mongolia.
At COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, GWOPA joined the global water-for-climate community to highlight the transformative role of effective water and sanitation management in fostering sustainable and equitable urban development and climate neutrality. As a leading advocate, GWOPA spearheaded the Urban Water Resilience Day at the Water for Climate Pavilion, emphasizing multi-level water governance, equitable access to water and sanitation, and the urgent need for financing climate-resilient infrastructure and services.
More information on the Water for Climate Pavilion can be found here.
GWOPA also advocated at the Multilevel Action and Urbanization Pavilion for the vital role of utilities in transitioning to climate neutrality. Water and sanitation contribute to around 10 per cent of global emissions, underscoring the importance of the utilities in helping cities and countries race to net zero and deliver on ambitious climate policies.
COP16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was held from 2–13 December and focused on a mid-term evaluation of the 2018–2030 UNCCD strategic framework and charting new avenues to achieve land degradation neutrality by 2030.
GWOPA engaged with partners advocating the capacity building need for water and sanitation utilities in preparing for drought and water scarcity, supporting community resilience building in upstream watersheds, and sustaining healthy soil and vegetation. Together with partners, GWOPA led an event providing solutions for reuse of wastewater to establish urban water circularity to support and maintain green infrastructure and ecosystem regeneration which generated large interest.
GWOPA actively contributed to the Riyadh Action Agenda, launched as a global platform, mobilizing ambitious, voluntary commitments and action from governments and non-state actors to conserve and restore 1.5 billion hectares of land by 2030 – helping deliver a prosperous future for all. The Riyadh Action Agenda includes three action areas (land restoration, drought and water resilience, and agrifood systems) and three enablers (finance, governance, as well as science, technology and innovation) while underscoring the critical role of finance to unlock action.
Looking towards the next COPs, GWOPA sees a need to continue advocating to position water utilities as leaders in building a sustainable, resilient future.
The Climate COP30 will mark the key milestones for renewed and ambitious climate policies, such as new round of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs), to be submitted and it will have a significant focus on biodiversity, recognizing the interconnectedness of climate change and biodiversity loss. The conference will work towards the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework where water plays a central role in enhancing the ecosystem-based adaptation.
GWOPA gears up to engage with local members in Brazil and mobilize its international network to advocate for improving the access to safe water and sanitation for people especially those who are disadvantaged and historically underserved. We plan to engage with partners supporting ecosystem-based adaptation and mitigation actions, emphasizing the significant role that utilities can play in delivering the ambitious climate policies
