Fluid Dynamics at COP28: Navigating Water Management and Political Currents

In this blog, we'll delve into the key takeaways from the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) and implications for water management and political dynamics in Africa. We'll explore the intersection of climate change with water resource management, highlighting the challenges and potential solutions or policy initiatives.

COP28 marked a significant moment with the declaration of the "Beginning of the End of the Fossil Fuel Era." Looking at Figure 1, signifying a global tie to combat climate change. UN Secretary-General António Guterres emphasized the need for worldwide collaboration to achieve a 1.5 degrees Celsius cap on global temperature increase and a global net zero by 2050. This raises the question for readers: do you see this goal as overly ambitious and potentially unachievable?

Figure 1. Photo of leaders of various countries/states at COP28.

Back to Water, COP28 recognised the significance of water and climate change, concluding three important initiatives of improving access to clean water and ecosystem through international cooperation. 

    1. Preserving Freshwater Systems: committed to the UN Water Challenge to restore "300,000 km of rivers and 350 million hectares of wetlands under restoration by 2030". This can only be achieved through stable and efficient water and land management. Zambia and Kenya leads the effort in Africa and introduced this to vast African countries at the Africa Climate Summit 2023. 

    2. Funding Water Security: UAE and the UK have committed $150 million and £40 million respectively, to support low-income and climate-vulnerable countries for better water management. The UK's "Just Transitions to Water Security Programme" focuses on improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Don't forget that these important smallholder farmers account for around 80% of production in Sub-Saharan Africa. 

    3. Urban Water Resilience Programme: the Urban Water and Sanitation Initiative (UWCI) will offer technical, financial, and infrastructure support to urban water utilities, enhancing their sustainability and contributing to Sustainable Development Goal 6: Clean Water and Sanitation.

These initiatives may sound attractive, but challenges may arise when it comes to implementation. Such challenges and potential strategies to combat it may include:

1. Managing Water at the Appropriate Scale: Implementing water management practices at scales that are most effective, whether local, regional, national, and even transnational for their mutual benefit.

2. Ensuring Cross-Sectoral Policy Coherence: Aligning water management policies with other sectors like agriculture, food, industry, and urban development to achieve comprehensive and sustainable outcomes.

3. Improving Water-Related Data, Monitoring, and Evaluation: Enhancing the collection and analysis of water data to better monitor resources and evaluate the impact of water management policies.

4. Addressing the Funding Gap: Identifying and securing necessary financial resources (possibly the aforementioned programme) to support water management initiatives and infrastructure.

5. Addressing Transparency and Integrity Issues: Ensuring open and honest practices in water management to build trust and effectiveness and reduce corruption.

6. Strengthening Stakeholder Engagement: Involving all relevant stakeholders, including communities, governments, and businesses, in water management discussions and decisions.