Green Cities - scaling-up climate finance to combat water scarcity

Water touches every aspect of development, making it a bedrock of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This panel discussion will bring together practitioners, experts and financiers to discuss best practices and solutions for climate adaptation of urban water systems.

Under SDG 6, governments committed to water and sanitation for all by 2030. While cities must improve their delivery on SDG 6, their mission is challenged by increasing exposure to climate-related hazards. This is closely interlinked with the urgent need to build sustainable cities and communities (SDG 11) and step up climate action (SDG 13). As cities and their economies grow, many are also becoming climate vulnerability hotspots. A greater number of people, assets and economic activities are exposed to climate events. Cities feel climate change especially through their water systems, for example through sea-level rise, droughts or flooding. As an International Financial Institution, EBRD is heaviliy involved in financing urban water solutions. In 2023, EBRD’s Sustainable Infrastructure Group signed projects benefitting 1.53 million people from improved water supply and wastewater services (SDG 6), as well 33 projects that build climate adaptation (SDG 13). Acute scarcity of conventional water resources alongside insufficient water infrastructure charactise the EBRD’s countries of operation across North Africa and the Middle East. Compounded by population growth, the climatic conditions drive cities to non-conventional water resources such as wastewater reuse or desalination.

EBRD’s flagship Green Cities programme focuses on urban investments that increase service provision. Green Cities hosts a facility with the Green Climate Fund (GCF), operational in 15 countries. This has allowed cities to unlock finance for much-needed adaptation projects. For this event, EBRD is partnering with Global Center on Adaptation (GCA), who are well positioned as solutions broker to accelerate, innovate and scale adaptation action for a climate-resilient world. Working with partners, GCA provide a unique adaptation perspective across i.a. strategy and design of programmes, finance mobilisation, project implementation advisory or design of governance structures.

We will hear how cities are working to develop pioneering responses:

Understanding Urban Water Challenges: Firsthand insights into urban water challenges, exploring climate impacts and infrastructure limitations affecting the economic development of cities.

Integrating Water Adaptation into Cities: Successful case studies and best practices in urban planning that prioritize water resilience and sustainability.

Community Engagement and Resilience: The role of community engagement and empowerment in building resilient urban water systems.

Role of climate finance specifically for adaptation projects: Innovative financing mechanisms and partnerships that drive impactful change in urban water management.