Water for Women at COP28 in Dubai

The 28th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the UNFCCC will take place in Dubai, UAE from 30th November to 12th December

UN Climate Change conferences (or COPs) take place every year, and are the world’s only multilateral decision-making forum on climate change with almost complete membership of every country in the world.  

To put it simply, the COP is where the world comes together to agree on ways to address the climate crisis, such as limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius, helping vulnerable communities adapt to the effects of climate change, and achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

More than 70,000 delegates are expected to attend COP28, including the member states (or Parties) of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Business leaders, young people, climate scientists, Indigenous Peoples, journalists, and various other experts and stakeholders are also among the participants.

At COP21 in 2015, the world agreed to limit global warming to 1.5°C compared to pre-industrial levels by 2050. To remain on target, science tells us that emissions must be halved by 2030. We only have another seven years to meet that goal. COP28 UAE is a prime opportunity to rethink, reboot, and refocus the climate agenda.

We are in a decisive decade for climate action.

The latest science from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change indicates that greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut 43% by 2030, compared to 2019 levels. This is critical to limit temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius by the end of this century and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, including more frequent and severe droughts, heatwaves and rainfall.

COP 28 is an opportunity to identify global solutions for limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees, inform countries’ preparations for revised and more ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (national climate plans) due by 2025, accelerate the green transition that is already happening and ultimately achieve the delivery of the Paris Agreement goals. With the most important details of the Paris Climate Change Agreement negotiated and agreed over the last few years, COP 28 is all about implementing the Agreement and ramping up ambition and action.

Australia - water partners for development @COP28

Water for Women will again be collaborating with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and Australian Water Partnership (AWP) as Australia – water partners for development. Many water and WASH partners across the two programs will be playing an active role during COP28.

Water partner sessions

Below please explore a range of events that Water for Women, AWP and partners are leading, participating in and co-convening (times listed are Dubai time (GMT+4). 

Water for Women will be represented on the ground by

• Dr Alison Baker, Fund Manager, Water for Women
• Turea Wickham, PNG WASH Consortium Coordinator, World Vision Papua New Guinea
• Prof. Juliet Willetts, Professor and Research Director, The University of Technology Sydney's Institute for Sustainable Futures

Monday 4 December

Sowing the seeds of change for a climate resilient future

4 December | 17:00 – 18:00 Dubai time (12:00, 5 December AEDT)

Monash Pavilion | Zone B7, Building 90

Learn more

Wednesday 6 December

From sea to source: Stories of climate resilience connected by water

6 December | 09:15 – 10:15AM Dubai Time (16:15 AEDT)

Australian Pavilion | Mobility Petal, Blue Zone, Zone B3, Building 29

Welcome to the Marshall Islands. This beautiful country has increasing high tides and saltwater inundation due to climate change, challenging the resilience of people across the atoll.  This climate reality is the starting point for an exploration of adaptation stories showcasing perspectives on the critical role of managing water resources and water, sanitation and hygiene for resilience and planetary health.

Watch recording

Saturday 9 December

Climate resilient Water Supply and Sanitation in South Asia: Challenges and solutions

9 December | 14:00 – 15:00 Dubai Time (21:00 AEDT)

Government of Nepal Pavilion | Zone B3, Building 31

This session aims to discuss water challenges for drinking water and sanitation in a changing climate in South Asia region, opportunities and challenges in policy and implementation level for designing and implementing climate resilient and inclusive water supply and sanitation systems and services. Building on policy, research and development experiences, this session will draw key recommendations for making water security and science-based actions visible in the WASH sector in general, and the climate actions particularly.

Convenors 

Ministry of Water Supply, Nepal, Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation, Nepal, Water for Women Fund, International Water Management Institute (IWMI), UNICEF, SNV

Dr Alison Baker, Water for Women Fund Manager will be speaking at this event.

Water for Climate Pavilion

This year at COP28, we are proud to be a core partner of the #Water4Climate Pavilion, mobilising to put water and #WASH at the heart of climate action.

The Water for Climate Pavilion is located in Zone B7, Building 89

From emissions reduction and carbon storage, to nature-based solutions and resource management, inclusive water management and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) plays a vital role in mitigating the impact of climate change. Water action is key to embed resilience and strengthen communities.

With COP28 focused on #actionism now is the time for the water community and partners to unite and accelerate solutions for climate action.

Together, we can we build a world that is:

🌿 Net zero

🌎 Climate-resilient

💦 Water-smart

Learn more: waterforclimate.net

Dr Alison Baker will be engaging at COP28 as a Water Pavilion Envoy.