15 September 2017: Global Water Partnership (GWP) regional groups met in Colombo, Sri Lanka, to develop a joint strategy for supporting countries in Asia to deliver on water-related commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Paris Agreement on climate change. The two-day meeting, from 12-13 September, resulted the development of a ‘Pan Asia’ strategy for their Water, Climate and Development Programme, spanning 2017-2019.

The GWP has four regional water partnerships in Asia, for China, Central Asia and Caucasus, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. GWP partners play a role in implementing commitments made under the SDGs, the Paris Agreement, and its associated National Adaptation Plans (NAPs) and Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

At the Colombo meeting, leaders from these four GWP partnerships discussed the current state of climate financing, and the possibility of developing regional cooperation on the Lancang-Mekong. They also heard a presentation about China’s ‘One Belt, One Road’ initiative.

The draft strategy for GWP’s Water, Climate and Development Programme (WACDEP) was developed by environmental engineering consultants HR Wallingford of the UK. GWP regional partnerships in Asia have previously met to discuss flood issues, urbanization and transboundary water management. [GWP Press Release] [Global Water Partnership Website]