Extended deadlines for national climate plans present a crucial opportunity for the water and sanitation sector to influence climate policy. SWA looks at key takeaways from the webinar: Countdown to COP30: Prioritizing Water and Sanitation in Climate Action.
World leaders are under pressure to deliver ambitious climate plans before the UN Climate Conference (COP30) in Brazil in November. These plans – known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) – will help define the global response to climate change for years to come.
Although most governments missed the February 2025 delivery date, the UN extended deadlines to help countries do a “first-rate” job.
The delay provides a crucial opportunity for the water and sanitation sector to help governments shape national climate strategies over the next few months, speakers said during a webinar hosted by the Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) partnership. The event, held on February 11, convened more than 550 participants to discuss how water and sanitation can gain greater visibility in climate negotiations.
Here are 5 key takeways from the event.
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It’s time to push for the inclusion of water and sanitation in the NDCs and NAPs.
Water and sanitation have been underprioritized in NDCs and NAPs, despite their crucial role in tackling climate change. Cecilia Scharp, Director of Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene at UNICEF, highlighted the devastating climate disasters of 2024, including floods and forest fires, that swept across every continent. “It’s imperative that we build systems that can withstand these shocks and stresses,” she said.
Britta Horstmann, Co-Chair of the UNFCCC Adaptation Committee, urged the water and sanitation sector to participate in key events like the NAP Expo in April, and directly contribute to strengthening adaptation plans. She also highlighted resources, including upcoming NAP guidelines set for release later this year and an interactive country profile portal that tracks climate adaptation progress worldwide.
One country already making strides in this area is Uganda, which has integrated water and sanitation into its NDCs and NAPs, beginning with a climate risk assessment. “Water was highlighted as one of the most vulnerable and high-risk sectors,” said Martha Naigaga from Uganda’s Ministry of Water and Environment.
Naigaga emphasized that developing a climate rationale has enabled Uganda to implement actions that reduce vulnerability and strengthen resilience to disasters like flood and drought. It has also helped track budgeting for adaptation measures across different sectors, ensuring more effective resource allocation.
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Water is widely recognized as key to adaptation, but its mitigation potential is overlooked.
During the webinar, participants reviewed several studies from UNECE, WaterAid and the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) and SWA which looked at the prioritization of water and sanitation across the NDCs and NAPs. According to Daniel Ddiba, Research Fellow, at SEI, only 5% of the 198 NDCs submitted prior to May 2024, prioritized water supply as a key climate issue. In contrast, 61% of NAPs designated water supply as a high priority.
The discrepancy suggests that while policymakers widely acknowledge water’s role in adaptation, its contribution to mitigation – reducing greenhouse gas emissions – remains underutilized.
Hoping to bridge this gap, the Water for Climate Pavilion—an alliance of more than 70 partners from across the sector – provides dedicated envoys to the COP negotiations and educational programing on the links between water and climate, including adaptation and mitigation.
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The Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework is putting water and sanitation at the forefront.
At COP30, negotiators will present indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) Framework. The first target of the Framework aims to ensure water and sanitation systems can withstand the shocks of a changing climate.
Animesh Kumar, Head of the UN Disaster Risk Reduction Office emphasized the importance of water-related indicators, especially in early warning systems for hazards like floods and droughts.
Jose Gesti, SWA’s Senior Climate Advisor, is working with the SWA partnership to provide inputs to the GGA indicators. “Expect a framework with no more than 100 indicators – some of which will focus on combating climate-induced water scarcity, building resilience to water-related disasters, and expanding universal access to drinking water,” he said.
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There needs to be a common definition for climate- resilient water, sanitation and hygiene.
The inclusion of climate-resilient water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in the GGA has created an urgent need for a clear, standardized definition, according to Professor Juliet Willetts from the University of Technology Sydney. The definition, which was drafted by the SWA Climate Task Force Team, will support the development of the GGA indicators.
“When climate and water stakeholders sit at the same table, it is important to come together with common understanding...This helps us have discussions at the country level,” said Alejandro Jimenez, Director of Water and Sanitation at the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
The definition also empowers the sector to better influence NDC and NAP cycles, increasing the likelihood of securing climate finance for water and sanitation infrastructure. Funding mechanisms like the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund require strong justification for investing in climate resilience, Willetts added.
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Securing climate finance must be a top priority.
One of the biggest challenges ahead is mobilizing large-scale financing to achieve climate goals. Alex Simalabwi, CEO of the Global Water Partnership, outlined three key financing pillars:
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Engaging high-level political leaders to prioritize water and sanitation in climate investments. The SWA partnership has been supporting Presidents and Prime Ministers to develop Heads of State Initiatives, which create national strategies and dedicated funding for climate-resilient water and sanitation.
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Improving absorption capacities to enable governments and multilateral development banks (MDBs) to deploy investments more efficiently.
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Mobilizing domestic finance through collaboration with governments, rather than relying solely on aid from developed countries.
Simalabwi highlighted the African Water Investment Programme, which uses a Water Investment Scorecard to track not just financial commitments, but how much funding reaches communities.
Ddiba says it’s critical that national climate plans indicate where finance is coming from. “We want the NAPs and NDCs to reflect how much governments are actually committing to implementing their own national plans and how much is going to be sourced externally.”
Want to learn more about how you can influence your country’s national climate policies? Watch the webinar here: Session I | Session II
Photo: UN Climate Change - Kiara Worth