MPGCA Water Action Event: Water Solutions for Climate Action

It will demonstrate tangible water solutions that enable progress on the 2030 Climate Solutions and the High Level Climate Champions’ priorities and aim to inspire more ambitious water action to be taken by all sectors and by a wide range of stakeholders.

The event includes key initiatives that came out of COP28 that aim to drive urban water resilience, enhance water resilient food systems and boost nature-based solutions funding. Calling for more ambition, action, and coordination in global processes and on the ground from countries and non-state actors.

Agenda

Master of Ceremony: Maggie White, Senior Manager of International Policy, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), Sweden

Welcome & Introduction

• Meike van Ginneken, Special Water Envoy,  the Kingdom of the Netherlands

Setting the scene water solutions for climate action

• Dr Mohamed CBC Diatta, Senegal’s Sherpa for the UN 2026 Water Conference, Ministry of Hydraulics and Sanitation, Senegal

Presentations of COP28 to COP29 Water related initiatives

Freshwater Challenge: 2-minute video followed by 13-minute fireside chat moderated by:

• Dr Adnan Aziz, Chief Program Officer (CPO), Global Islamic Finance Program for Climate, Nature, and Development (GIFP) 
• Professor Leslie (Phil) Duncan, Galambany Professorial Fellow at the University of Canberra, member of the Gomeroi Nation, Australia

Water Resilient Food Systems – 2-minute video followed by 13-minute fireside chat moderated by

• Chiara Christina Colombo, Policy engagement advisor, IWMI, Italy;
• Sharon Cherono, Officer, Kenya National Farmers’ Federation (KENAFF), representative of World Farmers Organisation, Kenya
• Ginya Truitt Nakata, Director of Global Agriculture and Food Systems Policy, TNC, USA

Navigating the Waters: Building Water-Resilient Cities – 3 minute video: Community stories video from cities in the global South
Followed by 11 minutes fireside chat moderated by:

• Martin Shouler, London Water Leader, ARUP, UK  
• Mara Ramos, Executive Assistant, Sustainability, Water and Sanitation Company of the State of Sao Paolo, SABESP, Brazil 
• Gary White, CEO and co-founder, Water.org, USA

Announcement of “key messages for urban water resilience for COP29 and beyond”

Q&A with the audience

Reflections and moderation by:

• Ahmed Elhadj Taieb, climate activist, General Secretary of Youth for Climate Tunisia and Youth Ambassador for the Break Free from Plastic movement, and member of STOP ECOCIDE Organization, Tunisia

Synthesis

• Ingrid Timboe, Senior Policy Lead and Deputy Executive Director, Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA), USA

Water for the COP29 Presidency

• Ms. Kamala Huseynli, on behalf of the COP29 Presidency for the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate, Azerbaijan

Closing Remarks

• Ms. Nigar Arpadarai, COP29 High Level Climate Champion, Azerbaijan