Deltares at COP30: water is key for climate adaptation and mitigation
COP30 is taking place in Brazil. This is the largest global United Nations event for discussions and negotiations on climate change. As world leaders gather, the need for climate action is more important than ever to keep the Paris Agreement alive. Deltares echoes the calls for climate action and implementation. Although not on-site this time, we will be present at several sessions over the coming days, focusing on a range of topics and featuring several programmes.
The Brazilian COP30 Presidency has placed water as one of its thematic axes of its Global Climate Action Agenda, signalling a heightened global commitment to integrating water into climate discussions. Deltares supports this and echoes its previous messaging that water plays an essential role in climate action. We also repeat our previous calls on the climate community and water sector to work together. Not taking into account the role of water mitigation and adaptation means that the Paris Agreement will likely be out of reach.
Water for Climate Pavilion
We are not alone in these calls. This year, Deltares became a member of the Water for Climate Pavilion, a collaborative effort of over 90 organisations to unify and amplify the voice of the international water community within climate spaces. This allows the water sector to work with others on cross-cutting issues and amplify key messages to the policy- and decision-makers attending COP30. Deltares contributes its expertise across a range of working groups to this cooperation, including:
- urban water resilience and local adaptation: raising the profile of water and sanitation in the climate conversation; this may be the most actionable sectors. We especially stress the importance of multi-level governance for climate action.
- watering the NDCs & NAPs: ensuring water is factored into countries’ Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs). Water must be mainstreamed in climate commitments and being used as a connector across sector strategies and plans at the country level.
- Water, peace, security and health: exploring the links between water, environment, and peace, and highlighting how cooperation around shared water resources can advance stability and resilience in a changing climate.
Deltares programmes at COP30
Deltares’ work will also contribute to COP30, including through the presentation of the Water Resilience Tracker (WRT) and several sessions focusing on water and peace.
With water positioned as a key theme at COP30, there is an urgent need to support countries in advancing water-climate integration and raise awareness of water resilience within global climate governance. The WRT will be present at COP30 to demonstrate its work alongside national and subnational partners in Brazil, advocating the importance of water resilient approaches in both climate adaptation and mitigation, impart technical knowledge of how to integrate water resilience into national planning, and to discuss how to access public and private funding to translate policies into climate action.
Sessions on water and peace will feature Deltares experts, exploring international peace initiatives on water and climate, and highlighting how cooperation around shared water resources can advance stability and resilience in a changing climate.
Water diplomacy is also featured; as climate pressures intensify, managing water across boundaries demands both scientific insight and diplomatic skill. Inclusive approaches are essential for resolving water conflicts and fostering collaboration. Trust, dialogue, and shared learning are crucial for advancing global climate resilience.
IPCC Working Group II
Deltares is co-host for the IPCC’s WGII Technical Secretariat Unit (TSU). Our Scientific Director, Bart van den Hurk, is co-chair of WGII and will be present at COP30.
The IPCC WGII will have an active presence at COP30 through a diverse set of events and collaborations, contributing to several discussions across the IPCC, UNFCCC, and thematic pavilions. Issues include action in cities and community-led responses, sustainable finance for Small Island Development States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and a focus on the Seventh Assessment Report ambitions.
Join us!
- Wednesday 12 – 14.00-15.00 BRT
Water Diplomacy for Climate Action – Discussion on SIWI new handbook on water diplomacy - Thursday 13 – 16.15-17.15 BRT
Peace initiatives on water and climate: looking back and moving forward - Wednesday 12 – 09.00-10.00 BRT
Building Urban Water Resilience: From Cities to National Climate Commitments - Tuesday 18 November 13:15 – 14:45 BRT
Mobilizing Public and Private Funding for NDCs and NAPs: From Policies to Solutions
