The Water theme day at COP27 is wide-ranging, with discussions on water scarcity, flooding, adaptation and sea level changes. We've looked briefly at these issues and others and searched for some good news stories for work that has been done to meet needs in some of these areas. (Gender also runs as a theme today).
Father we thank you for the symbolism of water in your word and its associations with life and hope. We thank you for the fresh water from our taps that we take for granted each day. We confess that we are both amazed and horrified by the photos we see of houses surrounded by flood water, of raging torrents tearing up everything in their paths and the destruction of low lying coastal areas because of rising seas. We pray for areas that long for rain, for people forced to move in search of water for their crops and animals and we ask your forgiveness for the way we have contributed to this.
Father, as the Parties at COP27 discuss aspects of water we think of those who have too little and those who have too much.
We pray for East Africa affected by the worst drought the region has experienced for more than 40 years, with more than 36 million people across Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya and South Sudan affected. We pray for the 22 million children, women and men who do not have enough food to survive and who are living on the line between life and death. We pray for a region and a people who are taking desperate measures to survive in the face of extreme hunger, caused by failed harvests, livestock deaths and water shortages, made worse by the climate crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic and Russian’s invasion of Ukraine.
We pray for Pakistan devastated by floods, experiencing a “climate-induced humanitarian crisis of epic proportions” that has killed at least 1,100 people. We pray for more than 6 million in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, for families left homeless and children orphaned as homes have been destroyed, and crops, livestock and businesses have been washed away.
Father these people, are our neighbours, and they are a people in crisis beyond anything we can imagine. We ask that you come close to them, that emergency agencies in both regions will bring safety and relief.
John 7: 37-39 (NIV)
On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.” By this he meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive. Up to that time the Spirit had not been given, since Jesus had not yet been glorified.
Isaiah 44:3 (NIV)
For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants.
Extreme weather events are making water more scarce, more unpredictable, more polluted or all three. These impacts throughout the water cycle threaten sustainable development, biodiversity, and people’s access to water and sanitation.
Even without the extremes of flooding and droughts, climate change impacts the water cycle by influencing when, where, and how much precipitation falls, impacting people and ecosystems.
Disasters can destroy or contaminate entire water supplies, increasing the risk of diseases like cholera and typhoid
Large-scale flooding and sea level rises can both cause contamination of water bodies, including community water supplies and water required for ecosystem health.
Rising sea levels flood low-lying coastal areas, depriving people of their homes and livelihoods. These are permanent changes.
Melting glaciers, ice caps and snowfields contribute water to many of the great river systems and can interrupt the regulation of freshwater resources for vast numbers of people in lowland areas.
Vulnerable water supplies have a huge impact on health. UNICEF highlights some of these for children:
Around 450 million children do not have enough water to meet their everyday needs
Water and sanitation related diseases are one of the leading causes of death in children under 5 years old
Every day, over 700 children under 5 die from diarrhoea linked to inadequate water, sanitation and hygiene
By 2040, almost 1 in 4 children will live in areas of extremely high water stress
The world’s water and sanitation systems are currently generally high-carbon impact and low-resilience and contribute about 10% of global greenhouse gas emissions per year.
There are other pressures on water resources in addition to climate change, including population growth, migration, economic development, urbanisation, shifting consumption patterns, land-use change, environmental degradation and biodiversity loss.
Some flooding defense/ protection success stories:
Integrating Flood and Drought Management and Early Warning for Climate Change Adaptation in the Volta Basin funded by the Adaptation Fund.
Being able to predict floods will save lives in West Africa - development of an early warning system.
Early warnings for floods in South Africa: engineering for future climate change - some intitial progress.
Helping communities cope with flood threat - starting with training.
Equipping people living in flood-prone communities in Bangladesh to become resilient to disasters.
Some drought prevention/ water provision success stories:
Tapping into potential - washing hands is vital to stop the spread of illnesses and diseases such as diarrhoea and the coronavirus, but what happens when you’re not able to do this at home?
Basheera's living water - a single mum with an uphill battle to find safe water for her family - a story of a good result in the face of challenges.
Gravity - it was a long gruelling walk to the nearest water for Priscilla in rural Uganda, so they brought the water to her with a new scheme.
AWARE (Action for Water Adaptation and Resilience) initiative official launch: In partnership with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This initiative aims to encourage political efforts, practical action, knowledge sharing and development of field capacity to place water management systems at the heart of the climate change adaptation agenda, and establishing a pan-African hub for water.
Early Warnings & Early Adaptation Actions for Water Sector: Five sub-sessions considering (a) ways of advancing implementation of the UN Secretary-General Global Early Warning Initiative, (b) water scarcity and drought adaptation actions, (c) public private partnerships (PPPs) in the water sector, (d) flash flood protection, and (e) rainfall harvesting.
Earth Observations System for Monitoring and Managing River Basin Systems: an overview of the complexities of such systems, and a case study of the Nile River Basin monitoring carried out.
Water Security and Sustainable Development: a series of five panel discussions dealing with tangible solutions to limit water scarcity and improve water security in a sustainable way within exposed geographies. Covering water efficiency, desalination, drainage water recycling and digitalisation of water management systems.
Climate Adaptation for Water Sector in Africa: showcasing success stories from Africa (Smart irrigation, flood protection, rainfall harvesting) and examining how to go beyond these accomplishments to scale resilience to worsening climatic conditions, using public private partnerships, sustainable financing, and communities engagement.
Impacts & Solutions for Sea Level Rise: presenting the very latest scientific knowledge on the impacts of sea level rise. Identification of major solutions and adaptations to be taken to protect exposed geographies and inhabitants to rising waters e.g. in delta zones. Covering natural and man-made solutions, and ways to attract climate finance for coastal protection.
Inputs to UN Midterm Comprehensive Review of the Water Action Decade: A series of presentations by leaders of the Water conferences, recapping the main messages, outcomes, and announcements so that they can be emphasised ahead of the United Nations water 2023 conference.
United Nations, not dated. Water and Climate Change, on the UN Water website.
UNICEF, 18 March 2022. Water and the global climate crisis: 10 things you should know, on the UNICEF website.
National Geographic, not dated. How Climate Change Impacts Water Access, on the National Geographic Learn with us website.
Cooper R. and Price R., 19 July 2021. Water security and climate change.
