The event was moderated by Bai Mass Taal, Executive Secretary of AMCOW. He noted that water as a topic entered the UNFCCC negotiations at COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009, but that it finally is receiving the focus it deserves at COP21 in Paris. Representing GWP on the panel were Chair Dr. Ursula Schaefer-Preuss and Executive Secretary Mr. Rudolph Cleveringa.
Dr. Schaefer-Preuss gave an overview of the Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP), which has been developed together with AMCOW since 2010.
“WACDEP supports countries to integrate water security and climate resilience in development planning processes, build climate resilience, and support countries to adapt to a new climate regime through increased investments in water,” she said. She added that “Alone, we would not achieve much. We owe the progress we have made and the results achieved to our partners.”
Dr. Schaefer-Pruess also announced the launch of an expanded WACDEP. This is in addition to the eight countries that have been supported. GWP will work with its partners and AMCOW to decide on the ten new countries from 2016 and support implementation up to 2019.
Executive Secretary Rudolph Cleveringa gave further details on WACDEP in his presentation, explaining that adaptation and mitigation have powerful co-benefits and that investing in water security pays off. He emphasized that GWP’s partners are ready to accelerate the delivery of the SDGs to achieve transformative action.
Photo credit: IISD Reporting Services