The global agreements adopted in 2015, notably the Paris Agreement and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction as well as the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, highlight the importance of and links between climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, water management and transboundary cooperation. As the high number of signatures of the Paris Pact for Adaptation to Climate Change in the basins of rivers, lakes and groundwaters has shown, more and more basins worldwide are already or are planning to adapt their water management to climate change.
To support them in their efforts, the global network of basins working on climate change adaptation was created already in 2013 by the UNECE Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention) and the International Network of Basin Organizations (INBO). It aims to offer a platform for comparing methodologies and approaches, fostering exchange of experience and promoting a shared vision between the participating basins.
The third meeting that took place on 6-7 April 2016 had the following objectives:
- review the progress and the lessons learned by the basins since the last meeting of the global network in February 2014
- discuss common challenges such as financing of adaptation measures
- discuss how to further facilitate a regular exchange of experience between the participating basin and other similar initiatives
- review how the Paris Agreement and Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction can support basin-wide adaptation