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To address the climate crisis effectively, the world needs to focus on water solutions. SIWI is bringing this message to the climate meeting COP26 where we are hosting the first-ever Water Pavilion with partners – and you are invited to join us.
SIWI will be taking active part in the United Nations’ Change Conference COP26, from 31 October to 12 November. The event has been described as the most important climate summit ever since the window of opportunity to tackle climate change is rapidly closing. The summit also comes hard on the heels of a global pandemic, an unprecedented wave of weather extremes around the globe and a new report from the UN’s climate panel IPCC warning that the climate crisis is worse than scientists had anticipated.
Against this backdrop, the world needs a new kind of climate action, where water has a pivotal role to play. The IPCC assessment report in August 2021 emphasized how global warming is projected to further intensify the global water cycle, “including its variability, global monsoon precipitation and the severity of wet and dry events”. The world looks set to experience more water-related disasters and more pressure on food and freshwater as the climate crisis worsens. But many of these pressures can be alleviated through improved water management.
During COP26, SIWI will present different water-related climate solutions. We have banded together with more than 30 organizations committed to water to raise awareness of the crucial role of water in climate action. Our Water Pavilion is situated in the Blue Zone of the COP 26 venue in Glasgow as a convening space for government representatives, observer organizations and the media attending the COP. However, it will also have a strong digital presence, broadcasting important events and making them available to anyone in the world.
Check out the programme here and listen in to the many interesting sessions on offer.
- Water and climate
- World Water Week
- Water governance
- Water and climate
- Water and the 2030 Agenda
- World Water Week
- Water and the 2030 Agenda
- World Water Week
- Water cooperation
- Water and the 2030 Agenda
- Water and climate
- Water cooperation
- Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH)
- World Water Week
- Stockholm Water Prize
- Stockholm Junior Water Prize
Water and Climate Pavilion at COP26
SIWI is leading a historic effort to mobilize the water community and partners in the global climate action community to debut the first-ever Water & Climate Pavilion at the COP26 UK in Glasgow.
Explore the Water Pavilion
Tune into these sessions to listen to SIWI experts at COP26:
Water Pavilion launch event
On 1 November, at 9.30 am CET, SIWI’s Executive Director Torgny Holmgren opens the Water Pavilion at this launch event which will set the scene for all the water activities in the coming two weeks.
Water and mitigation: from science to practice
This event on 1 November, at 3pm CET, is moderated by Torgny Holmgren and aims to raise awareness of the often underestimated role of water in climate mitigation. In the session, SIWI’s Dr. Malin Lundberg Ingemarsson will share insights from new research on the potential of water-related mitigation solutions. Her SIWI colleague David Hebart-Coleman will update us on how countries are currently implementing water in their climate action plans. We will also hear from IUCN, UNDP, UNICEF, Xylem and the new Water Initiative for Net Zero, founded by Jon Lane who heads SIWI’s Scientific Programme Committee.
Water-wise nature-based solutions to turn climate risks into opportunities for action
4 November is Nature day in the Water Pavilion. SIWI’s Executive Director Torgny Holmgren will be speaking in the opening session to draw attention to the underutilized tool of nature-based solutions. Starts at 9am CET.
Hope comes out of the blue: Inspiring climate action from source–to–sea
On 4 November, at 10am CET, we are co-hosting a session on the source-to-sea methodology to increase the impact of climate action. At this event, moderated by SIWI’s Ruth Mathews, you will meet the United Nations’ Special Envoy for the Oceans Peter Thomson and IMF’s Assistant Director Ralph Chami.
Design and planning of nature-based solutions to address climate change
On 4 November, at 1pm CET, SIWI and other organizations offer a session on making better use of nature-based solutions. You will meet SIWI’s Landscapes expert Lotta Samuelson, as well as representatives from ARCC (part of the Peruvian government), Arup Gleeds Mace, FAO, GIZ, IUCN, IWMI, Stockholm Resilience Centre, the UNDP-SIWI Water Governance Facility, UNEP, and the UK Government Department of International Trade.
Today’s choices, Tomorrow’s Impact – Youth Action in the Water and Climate Nexus
On 5 November, Youth day, from 14:30 until 15:30 CET, SIWI’s Youth Empowerment focal point will be participating in this dialogue on issues, challenges as well as pathways for youth contribution and collaboration in building resilience in climate through water.
Global Water Partnership (GWP) International Secretariat for Water (ISW), World Youth Parliament for Water, GWP CEE, OoskaNews
Adaption: Building adaptive capacity through climate resilient water, sanitation and hygiene solutions
On 6 November at 10:00 CET, SIWI’s Water and Sanitation expert, Robin Ward, will give a presentation on breaking down water sector silos for climate action.
Policy, Accountability and Monitoring: Needs and opportunities for water, sanitation and hygiene
Also on 6 November at 12:40 CET, SIWI’s Director of Water and Sanitation, Alejandro Jiménez PhD will moderate a panel on WASH integration in climate planning
Further on the same day, 6 November at 16:30 CET, SIWI will moderate this session which will explore the important contribution that drinking water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) makes to climate mitigation, and through case studies. This session will present a menu of opportunities for policy makers and practitioners that can help contribute to countries meeting their mitigation targets.
SIWI, UNICEF, WaterAid, IWMI
Adaptation and resilience in urban water: Lessons from practice
A segment of case studies where SIWI’s Panchali Saikia will be sharing experiences from the City Water Resilience Approach as well as moderating the event.
Arup, RS, WRI, RCN, Wateraid, SIWI, IWA, WSUP, GIZ
- Water governance
- Water and climate
- Water and the 2030 Agenda
- Water and food
- Water and climate
- Water and the 2030 Agenda
- Freshwater and ecosystems/biodiversity
- Water and the 2030 Agenda