Building Momentum: Water at the Heart of Panama Climate Week and the Road to COP30

The President-Designate calls for an “unprecedented global mobilisation” that unites formal UNFCCC negotiations with the dynamism of self-organised initiatives around the world. This integrated approach bridging the Global Stocktake, the Global Action Agenda, and Leaders’ Summits is designed to accelerate momentum on the road to COP30 in Belém, Brazil.

Panama Climate Week: A Pivotal First Step

From 19–23 May 2025, Regional Climate Week in Panama marks one of the first key moments in this journey. Organised under the auspices of the COP Presidencies, the UNFCCC, the Marrakech Partnership for Global Climate Action (MPGCA), and the High-Level Climate Champions, the event aims to align intergovernmental decision-making with local and regional action.

The week brings together a broad range of stakeholders governments, non-state actors, Indigenous Peoples, youth, and technical experts—to co-create solutions for climate resilience, ambition, and implementation.

SIWI’s Contribution: Water as a Unifying Force

As coordinator of the Water for Climate Pavilion and co-lead of the Water Thematic Group within the MPGCA and Climate Champions framework, SIWI is proud to support this crucial gathering. We have convened a delegation of leading water organisations—AGWA, FAO, GIZ, SWA, UNICEF, and others—to ensure that water and sanitation are central to this dialogue. Together, we are contributing to sessions focused on:

• Advancing the submission and implementation of ambitious Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and National Adaptation Plans (NAPs)
• Enhancing climate finance as a driver for action
• Supporting the Enhanced Transparency Framework (ETF) through Biennial Transparency Reports
• Promoting gender equality, Indigenous Peoples’ inclusion, access to information, and the just transition
• Strengthening understanding and implementation of Article 6 and carbon market mechanisms

Three Principles for COP30: Continuity, Consistency, and Collaboration

1. Continuity
   To sustain the gains from COP26 to COP29, there is a need for continued high-level visibility of water at COP30. The Water for Climate Pavilion and MPGCA Thematic Days offer a vital platform to keep water solutions at the forefront of climate action.
2. Consistency
   Panama Climate Week lays the groundwork for a unified Global Climate Action Agenda, bridging the outcomes of the Global Stocktake (GST) with non-state actor implementation. Through the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA), water already has dedicated targets—connecting with broader frameworks like the UNCCD, UNCBD, Ramsar Convention, and the Sustainable Development Goals. These connections underscore the cross-cutting power of water in global climate governance.
3. Collaboration
   With a strong focus on implementation, this week provides multiple opportunities for knowledge exchange and joint action—from finance and innovation to carbon markets and capacity development. Water, as a natural connector across sectors and systems, is essential for a just, inclusive, and climate-resilient transition.