30 November – 12 December 2023 | Expo City, Dubai
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties of the UNFCCC, more commonly referred to as COP28, marks the conclusion of the first Global Stocktake, a comprehensive assessment of the progress made in achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement.
Acknowledging that the world is off-track, COP28 President-Designate HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber has said he will work to keep the 1.5C goal alive and ensure that the world responds to the Stocktake with a clear plan of action, including measures that need to be put in place to bridge the gaps in progress.
Visit the COP28 Program website for full details of the thematic program.
AWP and Our Partners at COP28
AWP is supporting speakers to participate in a range of sessions in the Blue Zone at COP. The Blue Zone is UNFCCC’s managed site at COP, where participating nations host events and formal negotiations occur across the two weeks of the conference. The World Climate Action Summit will also be held at the Blue Zone and it will be home to the official presidency events and hundreds of live-streamed UNFCCC side events including panel discussions, round tables, and cultural events.
We will be co-convening sessions at the Australian Pavilion, Water Pavilion, Monash Pavilion and Resilience Hub.
Together with Australian Partners Phil Duncan (University of Canberra), Monash University Professor of Sustainable Development Tony Wong and Hon. Karlene Maywald (Maywald Consultants Pty Ltd), AWP General Manager Sarah Ransom and Communication Manager Zoe Talsma will also be on site to support and deliver the sessions below.
Where to watch
Webcast events will be livestreamed on the UNFCCC website and available on demand following the event.
Australia Pavilion
December 6 | 9:00 – 10:00 Dubai, 15:00 – 16:00 AEST
From sea to source: stories of climate resilience connected by water
Convened by Australia – Water Partners for Development
Session contributors: Australian Water Partnership, Water for Women Fund, SPC – Pacific Community, The University of Technology Sydney-Institute for Sustainable Futures, World Vision, Monash University, University of Canberra.
Welcome to the Marshall Islands. This beautiful country has increasing high tides and saltwater inundation due to climate change, challenging the resilience of people across the atoll. This climate reality is the starting point for an exploration of adaptation stories showcasing perspectives on the critical role of managing water resources and water, sanitation and hygiene for resilience and planetary health.
Speakers include:
- Kathy Jetnil Kijiner – Marshellese poet and RMI Climate Envoy
- Alison Baker – Water for Women
- Sarah Ransom – Australian Water Partnership
- Anna Nuariki – Tungaru Climate Alliance
- Turea Wickham – World Vision Papua New Guinea
- Tony Wong – Monash University
- Leslie ‘Phil’ Duncan – University of Canberra
- Mina Guli – Water Advocate
Visit the Australia Pavilion website for the full event schedule.
Water Pavilion
AWP is part of the Steering Committee for the Water Pavilion which will host a series of events focused on the interplay between water and climate. Water is a necessary part of the climate solution: without considering freshwater in mitigation and adaptation, the Paris Agreement will likely be out of reach.
By investing in adaptive water planning and management, countries can help build climate-resilient societies that benefit both people and the planet. If water is not considered in decision-making, there are risks to climate action, with many net zero initiatives dependent on abundant and reliable water.
Visit the Water Pavilion website for full details of event sessions and speakers.
Monash Pavilion
December 10 |3:00 – 5:00pm Dubai
Voices of Resilience – Water, Food & Climate
Changes in precipitation patterns, extreme weather events, reductions in water availability and increases in temperatures are impacting food availability, access and quality, affecting nutrition, health and livelihoods. Co-presented by the Australian Water Partnership and the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC), the session will address the impacts of climate change on water and food systems, which are vital components of sustainability, and their effective management is part of climate action.
The session will showcase collaboration with Indigenous groups and diverse knowledge sources, reflecting a commitment to inclusivity and indigenous knowledge in climate solutions. The aim is to promote collaboration with Pacific partners, fostering regional cooperation on climate resilience and adaptation, as well aims to be cross-sectoral by linking with food and agriculture focused organisations.
SPC will use a 3D model to demonstrate impacts of climate change on communities and their water and food systems. This will be followed by “riverside” chats on how diverse knowledge, including from Indigenous and local communities in Australia and the Pacific, supports water resilient food systems and identifies how climate change impacts these systems. Combining practices such as rainwater harvesting, re-introduction of traditional climate tolerant crops, and community governance models, with data, models and western science provides a more robust approach to resilience.
Speakers include:
- Anna Nuariki – Tungaru Climate Alliance
- Karlene Maywald – South Australian Water Ambassador
- Leslie ‘Phil’ Duncan – University of Canberra
- Mina Guli – Thirst Foundation
- Safaira Tagivuni – Soqosoqo Vakamarama (Women Forum) Lau Province in the Fiji Islands
- Tony Wong – Monash University
- Zoe Talsma – Australian Water Partnership
Monash Pavilion events will be livestreamed on the Monash University COP webpage.
Resilience Hub
December 8 | 13:30-14:30 Dubai
Landscapes for water – Scaling up locally-led climate action
Session co-hosts: Alliance for Global Water Adaptation (AGWA), Australian Water Partnership, Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI), The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Local communities are on the frontlines of climate change impacts and have a leading role in managing natural resources. When landscapes are managed sustainably through holistic and inclusive approaches, they can provide a wealth of ecosystem services that are vital for climate change adaptation and mitigation. These services include water regulation and provision, habitat provision for biodiversity and maintenance of carbon stocks.
This session will focus on best practices, tools, and local initiatives that strengthen climate action and water resilience across landscapes, followed by a discussion on how they can be upscaled and systematically incorporated into global and national processes.
Speakers include:
- Thomas Rebermark, SIWI
- Leslie “Phil” Duncan, Australian Water Partnership
- Steven Shupai Majee, TSURO Trust (tbc)
- Dr Malin Lundberg Ingemarsson, SIWI
- Amy Duchelle, FAO
- Fumihiko Tominaga, Green Climate Fund
- Karlene Maywald, South Australia Water Ambassador
Register to access the Resilience Hub Virtual Platform.