Study Calls for Cross-cutting Action on Water to Promote Adaptation and SDGs | News | SDG Knowledge Hub

5 September 2017

Study Calls for Cross-cutting Action on Water to Promote Adaptation and SDGs

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Titled ‘Water – the common liquid thread running through Agenda 2030 and the Paris Climate Agreement,’ the article highlights the fundamental role water plays in climate change adaptation and its “significant potential for implementing the 2030 Agenda on a cross-sectoral basis”.

The article stresses the linkages among SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation) and 13 (climate action).

However, according to the publication, only a small number of NDCs include measures for integrated water resources management (SDG 6.5) and for universal access to drinking water (SDG 6.1).

28 August 2017: During World Water Week 2017 in Stockholm, the German Development Institute (Deutsches Institut für Entwicklungspolitik (DIE)) published a column recommending that the issue of water be “addressed at a cross-cutting level to promote sustainable development and national strategies for adapting to climate change.”

The article stresses the linkages between Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 6 (clean water and sanitation) and 13 (climate action). It notes that, while 65% of the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) stress the vulnerability of the water sector to climate change, and nearly 80% contain adaptation measures in the water sector, there are gaps. According to the publication, only a small number of NDCs include measures for integrated water resources management (SDG 6.5) and for universal access to drinking water (SDG 6.1). “Very few” NDCs identify the need to protect water ecosystems (SDG 6.6). NDCs also rarely mention climate initiatives involving sanitation provisions (SDG 6.2) or the reduction of pollution (SDG 6.3).

The publication links climate measures in the water sector to SDGs 6 (clean water and sanitation) and 13 (climate action), as well as SDGs 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), 14 (life below water) and 15 (life on land).

Calling for “actively incorporating interactions and jointly implementing” the Paris Agreement on climate change and 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the publication also links climate measures in the water sector to SDGs 2 (zero hunger) and 9 (industry, innovation and infrastructure), as well as SDGs 1 (no poverty), 7 (affordable and clean energy), 14 (life below water) and 15 (life on land). [Water – the Common Liquid Thread Running through Agenda 2030 and the Paris Climate Agreement] [Publication Landing Page]