COP31 should fully recognize water-climate connection, experts say

Experts say COP31, to be held in Antalya, Türkiye, in November, should fully recognize the connection between water and climate on its agenda, and also build public awareness on sharing water during droughts. Speaking to Anadolu, Ko Barrett, Deputy Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), said Türkiye is not alone in experiencing more extreme rainfall and droughts, and such events are the predicted results of climate change.

Hydrological extremes

"With increasing levels of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere, more heat, more energy is being trapped in the Earth's system, in the atmosphere, and in the ocean. And because of all of that extra energy, it makes storms more intense, and it also makes droughts more intense as well," she said. Barrett noted that Türkiye had its highest national temperature of 50.5°C last year. "The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that with the changing climate, we are likely to see hydrological extremes: water extremes, more extreme precipitation, but also more drought."

Water priorities for COP31

Barrett said Türkiye's hosting of COP31 offers an opportunity to put two water priorities on the climate agenda: fully recognizing the connection between water and climate, and measuring water resilience and early warning through clear indicators for the global goal on adaptation.

Public awareness

Eddy Moors, a professor at the IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, told Anadolu that at times of scarcity, water will need to be shared, requiring public awareness. He said children are a good starting point for building it through education. "Don't wait. As a person yourself, you can take measures. You can change your behavior," Moors concluded.