May 21, 2025: SYP: Tracking Global Adaptation: Developing Water Indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation
Time: Wednesday, May 21, 2025 7-8 pm ET
Speaker: Dr. Ousmane Seidou
Topic: Tracking Global Adaptation: Developing Water Indicators for the Global Goal on Adaptation
Description:
The UAE-BELEM work programme on indicators, established under the Paris Agreement, represents a historic step forward in tracking global progress on climate adaptation. It aims to support the implementation of the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) by identifying a coherent, robust, and inclusive set of indicators. This unprecedented process mapped over 9,000 indicators sourced from Parties’ submissions, national adaptation plans (NAPs), nationally determined contributions (NDCs), international organizations, and academic research. Within this context, the Water Thematic Expert Group identified 649 indicators linked to GGA Target 9a, which focuses on reducing climate-induced water scarcity and enhancing resilience to water-related hazards.
Preliminary analysis highlights critical gaps: a substantial portion of the submitted items do not qualify as genuine adaptation indicators, are inadequately formulated, or pose significant challenges in terms of data collection due to limited availability and resource constraints. In response, the programme developed prioritization criteria based on global relevance, adaptation specificity, measurability, alignment with existing frameworks (e.g., SDGs, GBF), and the ability to aggregate or disaggregate data by demographic and contextual variables (e.g., gender, age, Indigenous status).
This presentation will explore the methodological challenges of this exercise, the approach taken to narrow the list to 100 core fit-for-purpose indicators, and the broader implications of indicator selection for developing countries. Special attention will be given to the representation of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the challenge of aligning political and technical processes, and the historic opportunity this work presents to shape the global adaptation agenda ahead of COP30.
Speaker’s Bio:
Dr. Ousmane Seidou is a Professor of Water Resources Engineering at the Department of Civil Engineering, University of Ottawa. He is also a Senior Research Fellow and Lead for Hydrology and Climate Change Analytics in Africa at the United Nations University – Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH). As an official expert on indicators under the UAE-BELEM work programme — a Paris Agreement initiative aimed at establishing a global framework to monitor progress on climate adaptation — he contributes to the development of robust metrics to assess advancement toward adaptation goals. With over 20 years of experience in research, teaching, and capacity building, Dr. Seidou has led and supported key international initiatives in North America and West Africa. His recent work includes support to the Niger Basin Authority in implementing the Nexus approach for integrated resource management and developing its 2025–2033 Operational Plan. He has also played a central role in initiating Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) processes in the Democratic Republic of the Congo as part of Congo Basin reform efforts. His contributions to the UNFCCC include supporting the selection of adaptation indicators under the UAE-BELEM program.
