January 23, 2025
We are excited to share some information with you about what truly began as and continues to be a grassroots effort to highlight the plight of ocean-facing river deltas in a warming climate today and well into the foreseeable future. It has fast developed into a global initiative and gathering of relevant stakeholders at United Nations (UN) headquarters, COPs and now in Thailand. The First UNCCRD Delta Summit 2025, with the theme “’Deltas Unite’ to save our deltas with a United Nations Convention on Conserving River Deltas,” will take place at the Asian Science Institute, Thailand from March 17 – 20, 2025. This 3-day summit is aimed at addressing the unprecedented challenges faced by river deltas globally, emphasizing the need for collaborative efforts and urgent action to conserve these critical ecosystems.
Many ocean-facing and inland river deltas are “sandwiched” between two existential external threats: climate change related sea level rise and upland climate, water, and weather-related processes that are simultaneously affecting both human and ecosystems wellbeing. And deltas are, as you know, also adversely affected by extreme hydromet hazards which seem to be intensifying in frequency and magnitude. You have all heard this before, not just today not just this decade but for decades especially since the early 1970s, as we became more aware of the consequences of
anthropogenic emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
Sea level rise related to global warming has been noted and measured in real time, but the few millimeters a year were seen as so infinitesimal and inconsequential to policy makers, except to some scientific researchers. As a result, such slow-onset changes are usually not taken seriously by policy makers (e.g., soil erosion, mangrove destruction, ground water depletion, deforestation,
melting glaciers, and so on). Sea level rise is but one example of “creeping” environmental changes that adversely affect river deltas’ environmental and societal well-being. If left unattended they become creeping environmental problems (CEPs) that eventually become crises for ecosystems, settlements and decisionmakers.
Our group, having embarked on finding sustainable solutions for deltas using our own resources, has grown to include others, such as representatives from the Mekong, Mississippi, Indus, Nigerian Niger, the Yangtze rivers and the multinational MegaDelta Initiative. We have presented our idea for a United Nations Convention for Conserving River Deltas (UNCCRD) at a few conferences to date, most recently at the Stockholm World Water Week 2024 only a few months ago.
Seeking to keep our “Deltas UNite” and UNCCRD efforts on a fast track — and still being encouraged by the UN to do so, we are planning to convene, during UN Water Week 2025, an international multidisciplinary delta summit in March 2025 in Thailand. The venue is the Asian Institute for Technology (AIT) near Bangkok.
To date, we have been a grassroots-based activity, using limited resources to pursue a UNCCRD. However, only now are we in the process of considering the resources needed to make the 4-day summit a reality. Such resources include funding as well as the experience and involvement of scientists (physical, biological, and social), policy makers and ethicists, and representatives of local and indigenous communities that are on the frontlines of a changing climate.
The desire and urgent need to showcase the plight of an estimated half-billion inhabitants of river deltas clearly exist. To this end we are seeking broader support and would greatly appreciate your ideas, suggestions, and involvement in our pursuit to achieve the formal recognition by the UNGA of the need for and value of a UN Convention on Conserving River Deltas (UNCCRD).
THE SUMMIT
The Delta Summit will bring together international, multidisciplinary, and intergenerational stakeholders from various sectors, including governments, academia, private enterprises, civil society, and the United Nations. The event seeks to develop actionable steps, programs, and policies to address the challenges faced collectively by river deltas worldwide. A focal point of discussion was unveiled in Dubai at COP28: the preparation of UNCCRD designed to actively involve indigenous peoples and local communities in the governance and decision-making processes needed for better delta futures (particularly, human and ecosystem health and their biodiversity and livelihood security).
The summit will employ plenary sessions, interactive workshops, and networking events to facilitate knowledge exchange, collaboration, and the development of innovative solutions. It will focus on three main areas: ocean-facing river deltas affected by sea-level rise, pollution (particularly plastic and oil and gas) and multiple stressors contributing to biodiversity decline. Key topics will include climate change, deforestation, aquaculture, policy deficit, river-basin and transboundary collaboration, pollution, human rights, citizen participation.
Meeting Objectives
Objectives: The summit seeks to raise awareness, promote environmental values, coordinate stakeholder input for a UNCCRD, collaborate with the United Nations to create a UN sponsored Global Deltas Day, and achieve local and/or citizen participation in delta governance. The delegates will draft a Green Paper as a consultation document of policy proposals for debate and discussion. A potential structure for the summit is as follows: Day 1: Landscapes – sediment, water, ecology/biodiversity; Day 2: Livelihoods – ecosystem services, cultural heritage, land-use change/production, etc.; Day 3: Threats & Solutions – risk & vulnerability, delta governance, locally led adaptation, localizing the SDGs specifically for deltas, climate change & human health. Day 4: Field trip to a river delta.
The Meeting Outcome
The outcomes of the summit are expected to contribute significantly to global efforts in conserving river deltas under the umbrella of the new UNCCRD. Key objectives include raising awareness, promoting environmental values, and garnering additional stakeholder input for the operationalization of UNCCRD. The summit participants and other stakeholders hope to secure support for a United Nations declaration of a Global Deltas Day and foster citizen participation in the governance of these critical ecosystems. Furthermore, the summit aimed to deliver a draft White Paper as a consultation document of policy proposals for debate and discussion. The event’s success will be evidenced by increased collaboration, an accelerated pace of UNCCRD operationalization, and a UN Global Deltas Day dedicated to raise the awareness and support of civil societies around the globe for the protection of all river deltas.
Increased indigenous peoples and local communities’ participation as well as collaboration among deltas countries, call for the operationalization of UNCCRD, a White Paper and UN declaration of a special day for global deltas. The summit aims to promote environmental protection, enhance indigenous participation, support gender inclusivity, foster global collaboration, and contribute to the sustainable governance of river deltas.
Summit deliverables: Deliverables, outlined below, will ensure the success and impact of the First International United Nations Delta Summit 2025, facilitating collaboration, knowledge exchange, and action towards the conservation and sustainable management of river delta’s worldwide.
- A White Paper that will serve as an international consultation document containing policy proposals, recommendations, and action plans developed by delegates during the summit through debate and discussion.
- Operationalization of UNCCRD for 2025 – 2026 that will include concrete steps and commitments from stakeholders to support and implement the United Nations Convention on Conserving River Deltas (UNCCRD).
- A proposal document for a Global Deltas Day that will serve as awareness-raising and advocacy efforts and collaboration with the United Nations to declare a special day dedicated to the protection and conservation of global river deltas.
- Promotional materials such as brochures, posters, and social media content highlighting the objectives, themes, and significance of the summit.
- Press releases, newsletters, and media kits to disseminate information about the summit to the public, local communities, academia, media outlets, and potential UNCCRD sponsors going forward.
- A comprehensive report documenting the proceedings, outcomes, key discussions, and Next Steps based on the summit sessions, workshops, and plenaries.
- Research articles, policy briefs, and academic papers derived from the discussions, research findings, and policy proposals presented at the summit, including – Op-eds, blog posts, and articles in relevant publications to raise awareness and disseminate summit outcomes to a wider audience.
- Establishment of working groups, task forces, and/or consortia to follow up on the implementation of recommendations and action plans developed during the summit. These will include – collaboration agreements, partnerships, and funding commitments from participating organizations and governments to support ongoing initiatives for delta conservation and governance.
For more information, please check: First UNCCRD Delta Summit 2025 – DeltasUNite to save our deltas
Item submitted by Michael H. Glantz, Consortium for Capacity Building (CCB); University of Colorado, USA & Freeman Elohor Oluowo, African Centre for Climate Actions and Rural Development (ACCARD), Nigeria