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Climate change significantly impacts urban water systems through rising sea levels, erratic rainfall patterns, and increased occurrences of floods and droughts. This research, conducted by the UNESCO Chair in Urban Resilience at the University of Southern Denmark in collaboration with the UNESCO Urban Water Division, analyzed the urban water focus in 194 Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) submitted to the UNFCCC by June 2023. The study employed a five-phase methodology to compare the national and urban water content in the NDCs, assessing the extent to which these national climate policies address urban water issues and how this aligns with the critical role of cities in climate action. This analysis emphasizes the need for multi-level governance frameworks that effectively integrate urban water perspectives and empower local actors in climate change policies.
The analysis revealed that only 15% of NDCs explicitly address water adaptation challenges within urban contexts, compared to 78% at the national level. Similarly, only 8% of NDCs address water mitigation challenges within urban contexts, compared to 47% at the national level. This disparity highlights the limited attention given to urban-specific water challenges and underscores the need for a stronger urban focus in national climate policies.
Furthermore, the analysis revealed a significant gap in including adaptation and mitigation responses within urban contexts. While 81% of NDCs outline water adaptation responses at the national level, only 26% do so at the urban level. Similarly, 38% of NDCs outline water mitigation responses nationally, compared to 14% at the urban level. This result indicates a significant disconnect between acknowledging water-related challenges and outlining concrete actions to address them within urban areas.
The research emphasized the need for a multi-risk perspective to address interconnected water-related hazards, such as floods and droughts, whose interplay is increasing due to climate change. For example, while 73% of NDCs identify drought as a climate hazard nationally, only 7% do so at the urban level.
Moreover, the analysis highlights the need to learn from best practices observed in countries such as Nigeria, Myanmar, Chad, and the Central African Republic, which comprehensively address urban water challenges and responses for both mitigation and adaptation.
To address these gaps, the study recommends: 1) strengthening the urban water focus of NDCs, including the identification of challenges and responses for both mitigation and adaptation, as well as climate hazards; 2) enhancing the identification and alignment of urban water challenges and responses, ensuring coherence between national and urban levels in relation to water provisions; 3) improving the understanding of climate hazards related to urban water, particularly from a multi-hazard perspective; 4) expanding the inclusion of exposure and vulnerability to water hazards in NDCs at both national and urban levels; 5) increasing the focus on mitigation challenges and responses for urban water within NDCs; 6) maintaining and enhancing the focus on adaptation challenges and responses for urban water within NDCs; 7) integrating adaptation and mitigation actions for urban water within all NDCs to avoid negative rebound effects; and 8) strengthening the identification of urban water challenges within NDCs for both mitigation and adaptation.
In conclusion, this study provides crucial insights for policymakers and urban planners to enhance urban water resilience and effectively contribute to the goals of the Paris Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals. By prioritizing urban water considerations in national climate policies, countries can better address the implications of water-related climate challenges on urban ecosystems and transboundary resources.
| Keywords | Urban water; Climate Change; Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs); Paris Agreement |
|---|---|
| Best Congress Paper Award | Yes |
