Join us at COP27

COP27 will take place in the Egyptian city Sharm El-Sheikh to discuss progress on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, which was signed 30 years ago. In particular, all countries party to the convention need to demonstrate how they are working to achieve the Paris Agreement from 2015.

This year’s meeting is expected to focus on practical solutions that countries and institutions can implement, but also the fundamental questions about who should pay for this so that low-income countries don’t fall further and further behind. The Egyptian presidency has highlighted the role of water in addressing these issues and SIWI will be sending a delegation to share our expertise.

SIWI’s Executive Director Torgny Holmgren will be speaking in several events at COP27, including the official Water Day on 14 November. Other SIWI experts have also been invited to share their knowledge in official side events as well as other activities organized throughout the COP.

Furthermore, SIWI is organizing several events on important topics and is also an implementing partner of the multi-stakeholder Water Pavilion.

Here are a few highlights:

• New landmark report on the role of water in climate mitigation. On 9 November, SIWI’s Dr Malin Lundberg-Ingemarsson will present a landmark study on the role of water in climate mitigation. SIWI, the Potsdam Institute on Climate Impact Research, the Stockholm Resilience Centre, GIZ and UNDP have conducted the first-ever review of current scientific on the topic. The report shows that water is much more crucial than previously acknowledged, which calls not only for a new kind of climate strategies but has great implications also for food and energy production.
  Learn more about the report
• Preparations for the UN Water Conference. On 12 November, SIWI is the co-organizer of the event Accelerating action on water and adaptation together with the governments of the Netherlands and Tajikistan to highlight how countries can work more effectively with climate adaption. The United Nations 2023 Water Conference, co-chaired by these two governments, will be a major focus of this event.
• Monday 14 November is the official Water Day at COP27. SIWI is involved in the organization of the side event Water Action Day to demonstrate impactful solutions that should be replicated and scaled up. The event is co-organized together with the High-Level Climate Champions and the World Resources Institute.
• Source-to-sea governance. SIWI’s experts Ruth Mathews and José Murillo will be on-site to talk about how source-to-sea management can help us overcome the fragmentation that is a great obstacle to effective climate action.
• Water-smart food production. Anton Earle, who leads SIWI’s Africa Regional Centre, will attend to advocate for greater investment in rainfed agriculture. This is one of the most critical issues for food security and livelihoods in Sub-Saharan Africa and other regions hit hard by global warming.
• Forests, landscapes, and WASH services. SIWI’s Dr. Malin Lundberg-Ingemarsson will be speaking in several sessions to raise awareness of how improved management of water is the key to more powerful climate solutions. One example is forestry, where a better understanding of water could also lead to measures that boost forests’ ability to sequester carbon.

See the calendar for details on how to access events online