The World Has Awoken to its Climate Crisis: 37 Countries Sign-on to the Freshwater Challenge at COP28UAE

The world is at a tipping point as rivers and wetlands, essential components of healthy ecosystems, remain undervalued and under threat. Despite international recognition within frameworks like the Sustainable Development Goals and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, current approaches have been falling short in meeting global targets. The Freshwater Challenge (FWC) emerges as a country-led initiative seeking to restore 300,000 km of degraded rivers, conserve 350 million hectares of wetlands, and protect intact freshwater ecosystems by 2030. At COP28UAE’s Ministerial Roundtable on the Protection and Restoration of Freshwater Ecosystems, several of the 37 countries signing-on to this FWC shared some of their commitments to this challenge.

“Freshwater ecosystems are critical carbon stores. And yet, freshwater ecosystems have always been overlooked and undervalued.” - H. E. Razan Al Mubarak

This initiative strives to align interventions for rivers and wetlands with national strategies, significantly increasing investments in restoration and conservation efforts. The FWC emphasizes the interconnectedness of freshwater ecosystems with international commitments on climate, biodiversity, restoration, land degradation, food insecurity, and disaster risk reduction. To realize these ambitious goals, active participation from all sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, finance, energy, and urban planning, is crucial.

“The climate crisis is a water crisis. We know that healthy freshwater ecosystems are central to global efforts to adapt to these impacts and to build long term resilience.” - H. E. Razan Al Mubarak

The success of the Freshwater Challenge hinges on collaborative efforts, urging stakeholders at all levels to contribute, from policy reforms to grassroots projects. By revitalizing and safeguarding rivers and wetlands, the FWC aims not only to meet environmental goals but also to foster sustainable economic development aligned with the broader global agenda. The urgency of this challenge requires a united front to ensure the future health and resilience of our freshwater ecosystems.

Photo by Nadine Shaabana on Unsplash