COP29: Baku Water Declaration set to shape global climate agenda

The highly anticipated Baku Water Declaration will be formally adopted today, November 21, at COP29, marking a significant step in addressing water management issues on a global scale.

Jason Morrison, President of the Pacific Institute and head of the UN Global Compact's Water Mandate, emphasized the importance of this milestone, Caliber.Az reports.

Speaking to reporters, Morrison stated, "Today, the Baku Declaration will be adopted on water management issues. I hope we will build on this momentum towards the next conference in Brazil next year."

He highlighted the urgency of accelerating climate change mitigation efforts, stating, "We are not moving fast enough. Our ambitions remain insufficiently high, and the results are still not on track." Morrison further underlined the growing recognition of climate adaptation and resilience, asserting that water and adaptation will remain central themes for COP discussions moving forward.

The Declaration is particularly significant for Azerbaijan, a country deeply familiar with water security challenges. Kamala Huseynli-Abyshova, Deputy Representative of the COP29 Chairmanship's Water Centre and Action Agenda, addressed these concerns at a high-level roundtable titled “Water for Climate: Integrating Water Solutions into NDCs and NAPs. The Biodiversity, Water, and Climate Nexus.”

“In Azerbaijan, we know first-hand the problems related to water security,” Huseynli-Abyshova remarked. “You may have heard about the alarmingly rapid shrinking of the Caspian Sea, the sea we identify with. When Azerbaijan won the COP chairmanship, we realised the need to put this important issue on the climate agenda.”

She announced that the Baku Declaration is the first-ever COP water declaration, accompanied by the launch of the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action, a platform designed to ensure continuity between COP conferences. “We intend to create a strong and sustainable platform that will raise the issue of water at every COP,” she added.

Huseynli-Abyshova stressed that water lies at the heart of the climate crisis. “The water cycle is changing, largely due to climate change. This issue is directly linked to current global challenges, from biodiversity loss to pollution and desertification,” she said.

Nicholas Franke, a representative of the UN Expert Group on Water and Climate Change, echoed this sentiment during the roundtable discussions. “The role of water in climate change mitigation is still not well understood. We hope this issue will help us better understand the linkages between water and climate change, and assist countries in designing appropriate measures,” Franke stated.

The adoption of the Baku Water Declaration is not just a milestone for this year’s COP but a cornerstone for future conferences. As Morrison pointed out, “The Baku Declaration will play an important role at the global level. It will help strengthen our position and set the stage for COP30 in Brazil.”

This groundbreaking declaration and the initiatives it inspires aim to bring water security, climate adaptation, and sustainability to the forefront of global climate action, paving the way for comprehensive solutions to one of humanity’s most pressing challenges.

By Tamilla Hasanova