The United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27) was held in Egypt from 6 to 18 November. At the conference, action was taken on the creation of a fund to help countries most affected by global warming.
Elena Manaenkova, deputy secretary general of the World Meteorological Institute, said: “74% of all natural disasters are water-related, we still need to do much more to help societies, we need to have effective disaster management strategies that protect communities and limit climate-related hazards.
The congress therefore launched the Action for Water Adaptation and Resilience (AWARe) initiative to address the world’s water-related challenges.
It aims to provide transition adaptation solutions for the planet and people, starting with the world’s most vulnerable communities and ecosystems, including countries experiencing water scarcity.
Total water storage over the last 20 years. Source: GFZ Potsdam
Water is an important factor in people’s social and cultural well-being, contributing to sustainable development. The global water crisis currently affects billions of people around the world and is expected to be exacerbated by increasing demand, changes in water availability and increased floods and droughts, requiring greater international cooperation.
The mission of the AWARe initiative is to:
- Reduce overall water loss and improve water supply.
- To propose and support the implementation of mutually agreed policies and methods for cooperative adaptation action related to water and its associated benefits.
- Promote cooperation and linkages between water and climate action to achieve the 2030 Agenda, in particular Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6).
Further information: United Nations Climate Change
