PRESS RELEASE FROM GWP

3 November 2009

Water evaporates from the climate change negotiating text

Governments, UN agencies, international NGOs and civil

society advocates gathered at a Water Day in Barcelona today,

to urge negotiators toconsider the critical role that water plays

in climate change adaptation.

Participants called for recognition that water is not a sector but is

the primary medium through which climate changes will impact

on humanpopulations, society and ecosystems, due to predicted

changes in itsquality and quantity. The way that water is managed

in and betweencountries will be a critical component for the success

of any efforts to adapt to the impacts of climate change. It will also

be a vitalconsideration for many mitigation activities,

including hydropower,agriculture and forestry projects.

To a large extent, the global climate crisis is a global water crisis.

Yet the latest iteration of the negotiating text on adaptation, the

so-called Non-Paper 31, has deleted any clear references to water and

its management as a vital consideration for climate change adaptation.

This is despite increasing mobilisation by the water community to call

for a strong outcome on water from Copenhagen.

"If we look at the issue of climate justice, the countries hardest hit

by climate change are those least able to afford the massive adaptation

and social change efforts that are required. Many other regions and

countries are also facing huge adaptation costs - such as the

Philippines following the recent typhoons. Increasing water scarcity and

extreme flood events both cause great suffering, and temperature

increases will bring more water-related disasters in future. A just and

fair deal on climate change requires that these issues are put firmly on

the negotiating agenda, and kept there."

Dr Ania Grobicki, Executive Secretary, Global Water Partnership

Read full press release here:

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