COP29 Presidency to Convene Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action at Bonn Climate Talks

Interim meeting on June 16 will review progress on integrating water into global climate policy, with country case studies and stakeholder input shaping priorities ahead of COP31

The COP29 Presidency will convene an interim meeting of the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action on June 16, 2026, during the Climate Meetings of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany.

The Push to Integrate Water into Climate Policy

Water and climate change are deeply interconnected, with climate impacts frequently manifesting through water-related disruptions such as intensified droughts, more erratic rainfall, glacial melt, and increased flooding. Despite this close relationship, water considerations have historically been integrated into international climate policy frameworks in a fragmented or inconsistent manner, with many national climate commitments and international negotiating processes treating water as a secondary consideration rather than a central pillar of climate action.

This gap has drawn growing attention within the UNFCCC process in recent years, as policymakers and technical experts have increasingly argued that effective climate adaptation and mitigation strategies cannot be fully realized without more deliberate attention to water resource management. It was in response to this recognized gap that the Baku Dialogue on Water for Climate Action was launched under the COP29 Presidency, with the explicit goal of strengthening how water considerations are integrated into broader climate policy and action.

The Bonn Interim Meeting

The upcoming interim meeting is being hosted by the COP29 Azerbaijan Presidency, with support from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). This combination of supporting institutions reflects the cross-cutting nature of the water-climate relationship, drawing on organizations with expertise spanning regional economic cooperation, environmental policy, and meteorological and hydrological science.

The meeting is scheduled to take place during the UNFCCC’s Bonn Climate Meetings, a recurring set of intersessional negotiations that typically occur mid-year between the annual Conference of the Parties (COP) summits, providing space for more detailed technical and procedural work to advance ahead of the next full COP session.

Meeting Agenda and Objectives

During the interim meeting, participants will receive an update on progress made in implementing the Baku Dialogue, including developments within its broader work programme and its three core action areas. This progress review is intended to give Parties and stakeholders a clear picture of how the Dialogue’s initial objectives are being translated into concrete activity since its launch.

The meeting will also feature country case studies and practical experiences focused on integrating water into national climate commitments, offering participants real-world examples of how different countries have approached this integration challenge in practice. Beyond these presentations, the meeting is designed to provide an opportunity for Parties and stakeholders to exchange views, offer feedback, and discuss ongoing efforts to advance water-related climate action as preparations continue ahead of UNFCCC COP31.

Looking Ahead to COP31

The interim meeting is expected to play an important role in shaping priorities and potential outcomes for the Baku Dialogue as preparations continue toward COP31, positioning it as a key checkpoint within the broader multi-year process of embedding water considerations more firmly into the UNFCCC’s climate policy architecture.

Organizers have indicated that a detailed concept note and agenda for the meeting will be released ahead of the event, providing additional specifics on the structure and expected outcomes of the discussions.

Why This Matters

The continuation of the Baku Dialogue through this interim meeting reflects a sustained institutional effort to keep water squarely within the UNFCCC’s climate negotiating agenda, rather than allowing it to remain a peripheral or occasional topic within broader climate discussions. Given the wide-ranging support from UNECE, UNEP, and WMO, the Dialogue also illustrates how addressing the water-climate nexus increasingly requires coordinated input from multiple international institutions with differing but complementary areas of technical expertise. As preparations for COP31 continue, the outcomes of this Bonn meeting are likely to inform how water-related commitments and initiatives are positioned within the next full round of UNFCCC negotiations.

Register to attend here.