COP Zirvelerinde Su Yönetiminin Evrimi: 1995’ten 2025’e Küresel İklim Politikalarında Stratejik Bir Dönüşüm

Öz

Bu çalışma, 1995–2025 yılları arasında Birleşmiş Milletler İklim Değişikliği Çerçeve Sözleşmesi (UNFCCC) kapsamında gerçekleştirilen Taraflar Konferansı (COP) zirvelerinde su yönetiminin geçirdiği tarihsel ve politik evrimi incelemektedir. Çalışmanın amacı, suyun küresel iklim politikalarında giderek artan stratejik önemini ortaya koymak ve su yönetiminin çevresel bir sorun olmanın ötesinde iklim adaleti, yönetişim reformu ve finansal eşitlik açısından kritik bir bileşen haline gelişini açıklamaktır. Bu doğrultuda, nitel araştırma yöntemlerinden doküman analizi kullanılmış; COP kararları, zirve bildirileri, resmi raporlar ve uluslararası kuruluşların teknik belgeleri tematik içerik analiziyle değerlendirilmiştir. Analiz bulguları, Paris Anlaşması (COP21) sonrası dönemde suyun iklim uyumu stratejilerinin merkezine yerleştiğini; COP22’de “Climate is Water” yaklaşımıyla kırılgan sektör olarak tanımlandığını; COP26’da Su Pavilyonu’nun kurulmasıyla kurumsal kimlik kazandığını; COP27 ve COP28 süreçlerinde su-gıda-enerji bağlantısı, doğa temelli çözümler ve dijital teknolojilerin öne çıktığını ve COP29 Su Bildirgesi ile Entegre Su Kaynakları Yönetimi’nin (IWRM) ulusal iklim planlarına entegrasyonunun zorunlu hale geldiğini göstermektedir. Ancak iklim finansmanının yalnızca %3’ünün su projelerine ayrılması, sınır aşan havzalardaki jeopolitik gerilimler ve veri paylaşımı eksiklikleri su yönetiminin uygulanabilirliğini sınırlamaya devam etmektedir. Çalışma, su yönetiminin artık yalnızca çevresel değil; iklim politikalarının sosyal, ekonomik ve yönetişimsel boyutlarının da merkezinde yer alan stratejik bir dönüşüm alanı olduğunu ortaya koymaktadır.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COP Süreci
• Su Yönetimi
• İklim Değişikliği
• İklim Uyumu
• İklim Adaleti

The Evolution of Water Governance at COP Summits: A Strategic Transformation in Global Climate Policies from 1995 to 2025

Abstract

This study examines the historical and political evolution of water governance within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conference of the Parties (COP) between 1995 and 2025. The study aims to highlight the increasing strategic importance of water in global climate politics, emphasizing that water governance has shifted from being treated as a secondary environmental issue to becoming a critical component of climate justice, governance reform, and financial equity. Methodologically, the research employs qualitative document analysis and applies thematic content analysis to COP decisions, summit declarations, official reports, and technical publications of international organizations. The findings indicate that since the Paris Agreement (COP21), water has emerged as a central pillar of climate adaptation strategies; it was framed as one of the most vulnerable sectors through the “Climate is Water” initiative at COP22, institutionalized with the establishment of the Water Pavilion at COP26, and further advanced at COP27 and COP28 with the prominence of the water–food–energy nexus, nature-based solutions, and digital monitoring technologies. The COP29 Water Declaration marked a new stage by mandating the integration of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) into national climate plans. Nevertheless, structural challenges persist, including the allocation of only 3% of climate finance to water-related projects, geopolitical tensions in transboundary basins, and limited data-sharing mechanisms. Overall, the study concludes that water governance has evolved into a strategic policy domain situated at the intersection of environmental sustainability, socio-economic development, and global climate governance.

Keywords

• COP Process
• Water Management
• Climate Change
• Climate Adaptation
• Climate Justice

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