Dec 1, 2023 marked the final meeting of the Water and Climate Coalition Leaders panel. The meeting was held in person at Expo City Dubai in Dubai, UAE, during COP28. Several of the leaders, including myself, were not able to attend in person, and participated online.
This meeting marked three years of the Water and Climate Coalition Leaders Panel. The Leaders ‘are a panel of eminent representatives of UN Members, civil society, and the private sector. Invited by WMO Secretary-General Petteri Taalas and UN-Water Chair Gilbert Houngbo, the Water and Climate Leaders aim to set and pursue an integrated global Water and Climate Agenda in support of sustainable development and national mitigation and adaptation actions. Their focus is on catalyzing action through leadership and example.’
The Water and Climate Leaders comprised current and former Heads of State and Government, Ministers, heads of UN entities and other international organizations, as well as representatives of the private sector and youth at the highest possible level.
The Water and Climate Coalition Leaders
The Panel has provided strategic guidance on integrating the water and climate agendas, as well as maximizing synergies in designing and implementing actions to achieve SDGs 6 and 13, alongside ensuring effective climate action for adaptation and resilience.
Hosted by the secretariat of the World Meteorological Organization, the Water and Climate Coalition began in early 2021. At this time, I was invited to join this distinguished panel of leaders based on my leadership with youth in the international water sector. My experience as the former president of the World Youth Parliament for Water (2018-2021), has supported my development of engaging young people in leadership roles as well as engaging them in water policy dialogues. I was honored to represent the voice of the Next Generation of water and climate leaders to this panel.
Summary of Water and Climate Leaders Activities
While our last meeting represented an end point to the past three years of engagement, our Leaders had many activities and accomplishments to reflect on during this meeting. These included:
- At the UNFCCC COP26 held in Glasgow, UK from 1-12 November 2021, the Water and Climate Leaders provided strategic guidance on integrating the climate and water agendas, as well as maximizing synergies in designing and implementing actions to ensure effective climate action for adaptation and resilience.
- At the 9th World Water Forum in Dakar, Senegal in March 2022, the Leaders launched their Call for Action entitled “Leaders for Integrated Water and Climate Action”, at the event “Water and Climate Leaders – Recipe for Successful Adaptation”. WCL provided strategic guidance on integrating the water and climate-related agendas: the UN 2030 Agenda, the Sendai Framework, the Paris Agreement and Africa’s 2063 Agenda).
- In the lead-up of the Dushanbe Water Conference in June 2022, WCL endorsed their Action Plan for Integrated Water-Climate Agenda. The Action Plan contains six data-driven solutions to ensure the transition from awareness to action. The six solutions described in the Action Plan are: a set of global water information services, a water and climate stocktake, a cryosphere information mechanism, a new financing rationale, local engagement and regional cooperation for early warning systems.
- On 24 and 25 October 2022, the UN President of the General Assembly convened a Stakeholder consultation and Preparatory meeting for the UN 2023 Water Conference at the UN Headquarters in New York. to discuss game changing ideas related to water and sustainability and to agree on the five main themes of the interactive dialogues for the Conference. At this event, the Water and Climate Leaders advocated for water to be prominently discussed in the context of climate change during the Conference and introduced the proposed global water information system as a Conference ‘gamechanger’.
- At COP27 in Sharm El Sheikh the Water and Climate Leaders released a statement titled “The Water Imperative for Climate Action: Message to National and Global Leaders Attending COP27” that urged heads of state and government to take more integrated water and climate action to replace the existing fragmented approach where water is often seen as a problem rather than being “part of the solution” to achieve the Paris Agreement goals.
- In the lead up to the UN 2023 Water Conference of March 2023, the Water and Climate Leaders published an Op-ed titled “Wake up to Water”, drawing attention to the interlinkages of water and climate change mitigation actions. They described water as a “blind spot” in climate discussions highlighting the cross-cutting need for water in climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.
- WCL engaged with youth from across the globe through the United International Federation of Youth for Water and Climate (UNIFY). They welcomed UNIFY’s Youth Development Plan and Agenda, which represents a collective view of the youth on water and climate challenges, as well as presents a set of solutions.
Our Final Water and Climate Leaders Report highlights our full list of actions.
Final Reflections of the Water and Climate Coalition Leaders
While I was proud of the progress we collectively made of raising the profile of water on the climate agenda, I was simultaneously left hungry for making more progress. There is clearly still more work to do when it comes to protecting our world’s water resources for future generations. As we emphasized in our Op-Ed, the world still needs to ‘wake up to water.’
Reflections on Youth Engagement in the Water and Climate Space
Throughout my leadership term with the Water and Climate Coalition, I gained firsthand insights into effective approaches for engaging youth in the water and climate sectors. This experience has provided me with a clearer understanding of what’s effective and what is not when it comes to engaging youth. While amplifying youth voices remains vital, in my opinion that goal is not effective enough. I’ve come to realize a much stronger avenue for engaging youth – we must prepare them to be the next water and climate leaders. It is far more essential to actively attract, train, and equip young individuals with the skills needed for meaningful contributions to water resources management.
What Is Next?
As I transition from my role as a Water and Climate Coalition Leader, my primary focus will revolve around narrowing the talent gap within the water sector. My aim is to be the bridge between what the industry experts of today need while simultaneously empowering and preparing young professionals for impactful roles that shape the future of our industry. My time as a Leader of the Water and Climate Coalition affirmed this next step.
During our meeting, I urged my colleagues to join efforts with me as I work to build the capacity of the next generation of the water workforce.
Here is how I will be specifically working on this:
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- I will research and better understand the talent and capacity gaps that exist in the water workforce through meeting one on one with industry leaders. I want to fully understand their pain points when it comes to a retiring workforce and the need to fill the gap.
- I will develop service offerings that address the needs in the water workforce.
- I will help raise the profile and attractiveness of water jobs (especially in the water utilities industry) in a way that helps make water jobs as attractive as jobs in the tech industry.
As I conclude this journey with the Water and Climate Coalition Leaders, I’m reminded of the immense potential for continued collective action in shaping a sustainable future. The leaders, friendships, dialogues, insights, and collaborative efforts have been truly inspiring.
Looking ahead, NextWave Consulting remains committed to driving positive change in the water and climate sectors.
Are you interested in leveraging our expertise to propel your initiatives forward? Reach out to NextWave Consulting today at lindsey[at]nextwaveconsult.com and let’s see how we can work together to ride the next wave for water.