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

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 3, 699 - 713, 15.10.2025

Hatike Koçar Uzan

https://doi.org/10.33712/mana.1719517

Abstract

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.

Keywords

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

Ethical Statement

Bu makale Araştırma ve Yayın Etiğine uygundur. Beyan edilecek herhangi bir çıkar çatışması yoktur. Araştırmanın ortaya konulmasında herhangi bir mali destek alınmamıştır. Makale yazım ve intihal/benzerlik açısından kontrol edilmiştir. Makale, “en az iki dış hakem” ve “çift taraflı körleme” yöntemi ile değerlendirilmiştir. Yazar, dergiye imzalı “Telif Devir Formu” belgesi göndermişlerdir. Mevcut çalışma için mevzuat gereği etik izni alınmaya ihtiyaç yoktur. Bu konuda yazar tarafından dergiye “Etik İznine Gerek Olmadığına Dair Beyan Formu” gönderilmiştir. Yazar, çalışmanın tüm bölümlerine ve aşamalarına tek başına katkıda bulunmuştur.

Supporting Institution

Araştırmanın ortaya konulmasında herhangi bir mali destek alınmamıştır.

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

Ethical Statement

This paper complies with Research and Publication Ethics, has no conflict of interest to declare, and has received no financial support. The article has been checked for spelling and plagiarism/similarity. The article was evaluated by "at least two external referees" and "double blinding" method. The author sent a signed "Copyright Transfer Form" to the journal. There is no need to obtain ethical permission for the current study as per the legislation. The "Declaration Form Regarding No Ethics Permission Required" was sent to the journal by the author on this subject. The author contributed to all sections and stages of the study alone.

Supporting Institution

No financial support was received for the conduct of the research.

References

• AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT BANK GROUP (2023), “Heads of Multilateral Development Banks Explore Closing the Nature and Water Financing Gap”, At COP28, https://www.afdb.org/en/news-and-events/cop28-heads-multilateral-development-banks-explore-closing-nature-and-water-financing-gap-66793 (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• AHMED, Zia ve AMBINAKUDIGE, Shrinidhi (2023), “Does Land Use Change, Waterlogging, and Salinity Impact on Sustainability of Agriculture and Food Security? Evidence from the Southwestern Coastal Region of Bangladesh”, Environmental Monitoring and Assessment, S.195(1), ss.(74).
• BHADURI, Anik, RINGLER, Claudia, DOMBROWSKI, Ines, MOHTAR, Rabi ve SCHEUMANN, Waltina (2021), “Sustainability in the Water–Energy–Food Nexus”, Water International, S.46(3), ss.277-288,
• BİRLEŞMİŞ MİLLETLER TİCARET VE KALKINMA KONFERANSI (2021), “Scaling Up Climate Adaptation Finance Must Be on the Table at UN COP26”, UNCTAD Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Haber), https://unctad.org/news/scaling-climate-adaptation-finance-must-be-table-un-cop26. (Erişim Tarihi: 20.05.2025).
• BODANSKY, Daniel (2010), “Climate Change and Human Rights: Unpacking The Issues”, Georgia Journal of International and Comparative Law, S.38, ss.(511).
• BOWEN, Glenn A. (2009), “Document Analysis as a Qualitative Research Method”, Qualitative Research Journal, S.9(2), ss.27-40.
• CLASON, Caroline, RANGECROFT, Sally, OWENS, Philip N., ŁOKAS, Edyta, BACCOLO, Giovanni, SELMES, Nick, BEARD, Dylan, KITCH, Jessica, DEXTRE, Rosa María, MORERA, Sergio ve BLAKE, Will (2023), “Contribution of Glaciers to Water, Energy and Food Security in Mountain Regions: Current Perspectives and Future Priorities”, Annals of Glaciology, S.63(87-89), ss.1-6.
• COHEN-SHACHAM, Emmanuelle, WALTERS, Gretchen, JANZEN, Christine ve MAGINNIS, Stewart (2016), “Nature-Based Solutions to Address Global Societal Challenges”, IUCN Gland, https://portals.iucn.org/library/sites/library/files/documents/2016-036.pdf (Erişim Tarihi: 29.05.2025).
• COP29 PRESIDENCY (2024), “COP29 Declaration on Water for Climate Action”, Bilgi Notu, https://cop29.az/en/pages/cop29-declaration-on-water-for-climate-action (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• CORBIN, Juliet ve STRAUSS, Anselm (2015), Basics of Qualitative Research: Techniques and Procedures for Developing Grounded Theory, SAGE Publications, Wahington, 4. Baskı.
• DE STEFANO, Lucia, PETERSEN-PERLMAN, Jacob, SPROLES, Eric A., EYNARD, Jim ve WOLF, Aaron (2017), “Assessment of Transetboundary River Basins for Potential Hydro-Political Tensions”, Global Environmental Change, S.45, ss.35-46.
• EXPÓSITO, Alfonso (2023), “Exploring the Link Between Irrigated Agriculture and Food Security: Evidence from the Case of Spain”, Nourishing Tomorrow Clean Engineering and Nature-Friendly Living (Ed. David S.-K. Ting, Jacqueline A. Stagner), World Scientific Publishing, Singapore, ss.115-129.
• FISHER, Peter M. J. ve SMITH, David (2022), “The Water Industry and the Decarbonisation of Cities: A Comprehensive Review in the Context of COP26”, PLOS Water, S.1(6), ss.(e0000023).
• FLICK, Uwe (2018), An Introduction to Qualitative Research, SAGE Publications, London, 6. Baskı.
• FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION - FAO (2022), The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2022: Repurposing Food and Agricultural Policies to Make Healthy Diets More Affordable, United Nations, International Fund for Agricultural Development Publishing, Rome.
• FRANTZESKAKI, Niki, CASTÁN, Broto, VANESA, Coenen Lars ve LOORBACH, Derk (2019), Urban Sustainability Transitions, Routledge Publisher, Oxfordshire.
• FRIENDS OF ECOSYSTEM-BASED ADAPTATION (2021), “FEBA Journey at UNFCCC COP26”, IUCN, https://iucn.org/sites/default/files/2022-07/feba-journey-at-cop26.pdf. (Erişim Tarihi: 20.05.2025).
• GREEN CLIMATE FUND - GCF (2023), “Annual Report 2023”, Green Climate Fund Kurumsal Web Sayfası (Rapor), https://www.greenclimate.fund/annual-report-2023 (Erişim Tarihi: 20.05.2025).
• GREENWALT, Julie, RAASAKKA, Nina ve ALVERSON, Keith (2018), “Building Urban Resilience to Address Urbanization and Climate Change”, Resilience (Ed. Zinta Zommers, Keith Alverson), Elsevier Publishing, Rio de Janerio, ss.151-164.
• GRUBB, Michale, VROLİJK, Christiaan ve BRACK, Duncan (1999), Routledge Revivals: Kyoto Protocol (1999): A Guide and Assessment, Routledge Publisher, Oxfordshire.
• HEBARTH-KOLEMAN, Daniela (2024), “Putting Water at the Centre of Ambitious NDCs”, Policy Brief, https://siwi.org/publications/putting-water-at-the-centre-of-ambitious-ndcs/ (Erişim Tarihi: 23.05.2025).
• INTERNATIONAL UNION FOR CONSERVATION OF NATURE - IUCN (2020), Nature-Based Solutions: A Key to Sustainable Urban Water Management, International Union for Conservation of Nature Publishing, Gland.
• IORTYOM, Emmanuel T. ve KARGBO, Paul (2023), “Food and Water Security in the Context of Sustainable Development”, European Journal of Development Studies, S.3(2), ss.10-16.
• KEYHANPOUR, Mohammad, JAVAD, Jahromi, SEYED, Hadi Mousavi ve EBRAHİMİ, Hossein (2021), “System Dynamics Model of Sustainable Water Resources Management Using the Nexus Water-Food-Energy Approach”, Ain Shams Engineering Journal, S.12(2), ss.1267-1281.
• KOÇAR UZAN, Hatike (2023), “Sürdürülebilir Kalkınma Çerçevesinde İklim Değişikliğinin Kırsal Kalkınmaya Etkisi”, Fiscaoeconomia, S.7(3), ss.2250-2272.
• MAYRING, Philipp (2014), Qualitative Content Analysis: Theoretical Foundation, Basic Procedures and Software Solution, Klagenfurt Publisher, Beltz.
• McKINSEY COMPANY (2023), “COP28: Food and Water - Delivering on Climate Resilience”, McKinsey Company Kurumsal Web Sayfası (Sustainability Blog), https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/sustainability/our-insights/sustainability-blog/cop28-food-and-water (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• MESSERLI, Peter, MURNININGTYAS, Endah, ELOUNDO-ENYEGUE, Parfait, FOLI, Ernest G., FURMAN, Eeva, GLASSMAN, Amanda, HERNÁNDEZ LICONA, Gonzalo, KIM, Eun Mee, LUTZ, Wolfgang, MOATTI, Jean-Paul, RICHARDSON, Katherine, SAIDAM, Muhammad, SMITH, David, STANIŠKIS, Jurgis Kazimieras ve VAN YPERSELE, Jean-Pascal (2019), Global Sustainable Development Report 2019, United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, New York.
• MISRA, Anil K. (2014), “Climate Change and Challenges of Water and Food Security”, International Journal of Sustainable Built Environment, S.3(1), ss.153–165.
• MUTANDA, Given ve NHAMO, Godwell (2024), ”Impact of Climate Change on Africa’s Major Lakes: A Systematic Review Incorporating Pathways of Enhancing Climate Resilience”, Frontiers in Water, S.6, ss.(1443989).
• NATURE4CLIMATE (2022), “N4C Round-Up: Top outcomes from COP 27”, Natures Newsroom, https://nature4climate.org/top-outcomes-from-cop-27/ (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• O’LEARY, Zina (2017), The Essential Guide to Doing Your Research Project, SAGE Publications, London, 3. Baskı.
• PATRA, Subhradeep, SHILKY, Kanika A. ve SAIKIA, Pranab (2023), “Impact of Land Use Systems and Climate Change on Water Resources: Indian Perspectives”, Advances in Water Resource Planning and Sustainability (Ed. Praveen Kumar Rai), Springer Nature Publisher, Singapore, ss.97-110.
• REM TIMES (2023), “Dire Dawa Announces Water Management PPP at COP28”, Facilities Management, https://www.remtimes.com/blogs/news/cop28-dire-dawa-announces-water-management-ppp.php (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• REVI, Aromar, ROSENZWEIG, Cynthia ve SATTERTHWAITE, David (2022), “Climate-Resilient Urban Water Systems”, Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, S.55, ss.(101146).
• ROCKSTRÖM, Johan (2023), “Safe and Just Earth System Boundaries”, Nature, S.619(7968), ss.469-478.
• SANITATION AND WATER FOR ALL - SWA (2022), “SWA at the COP 27”, SWA Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Duyuru), https://www.sanitationandwaterforall.org/swa-cop-27 (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• SANITATION AND WATER FOR ALL - SWA (2023), “Negotiators at COP28 Recognize Water and Sanitation are Critical to Climate Adaptation”, SWA Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Haber), https://www.sanitationandwaterforall.org/news/negotiators-cop28-recognize-water-and-sanitation-are-critical-climate-adaptation (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• SCHREIER, Margrit (2012), Qualitative Content Analysis in Practice, Sage Publisher, London.
• SEDDON, Nathalie, CHAUSSON, Alex, BERRY, Pam, GIRARDIN, Camille, SMITH, Alison ve TURNER, Beth (2020), “Understanding the Value and Limits of Nature-Based Solutions to Climate Change and Other Global Challenges”, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, S.375(1794), ss.(20190120).
• SIWI (2021), “Huge Success for Water Pavilion at COP26”, SIWI Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Haber), https://siwi.org/latest/huge-success-for-water-pavilion-at-cop26/ (Erişim Tarihi: 20.05.2025).
• SIWI (2022), “What does COP27 Mean for Water?”, SIWI Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Haber), https://siwi.org/latest/what-does-cop27-mean-for-water/ (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• THE UNESCO WORLD WATER ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME - WWAP (2016), The United Nations World Water Development Report 2016: Water and Jobs, UNESCO Publisher, Paris, https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000243938 (Erişim Tarihi: 23.05.2025).
• UN WATER – UNITED NATIONS UN WATER (2019), Climate Change and Water UN-Water Policy Brief, United Nations Publisher, New York, https://www.unwater.org/sites/default/files/app/uploads/2019/10/UN_Water_PolicyBrief_ClimateChange_Water.pdf (Erişim Tarihi: 29.05.2025).
• UN WATER – UNITED NATIONS UN WATER (2022), UN World Water Development Report 2022, United Nations Publisher, New York, https://www.unwater.org/publications/un-world-water-development-report-2022 (Erişim Tarihi: 29.05.2025).
• UNECE & UNESCO (2021), Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation: Global Status Report 2021, United Nations Publisher, New York.
• UNEP-DHI CENTRE ON WATER AND ENVIRONMENT (2023), “Blending IWRM and Climate Change Adaptation to Accelerate Climate Action”, UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai, https://www.unepdhi.org/cop28-blending-iwrm-and-climate-change-adaptation-to-accelerate-climate-action (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• UNITED NATIONS - UN (2016), “COP22 Spotlights Water as Part of the Climate Change Solution”, United Nations Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Blog), https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/blog/2016/11/cop22-spotlights-water-as-part-of-the-climate-change-solution/ (Erişim Tarihi: 29.05.2025).
• UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE - UNFCCC (2021), “COP26 Resilience Hub Synthesis Report”, UNFCCC Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Rapor), https://cop-resilience-hub.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/COP26-RH-Synthesis-Report.pdf (Erişim Tarihi: 20.05.2025).
• WAM (2022), “COP27 Presidency Launches AWARe Initiative to Address Water Security as Part of Climate Change Adaptation”, WAM Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Haber), https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303101809 (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• WATER FOR WOMEN FUND (2022), “Reaffirming and Learning: Reflections from COP27 and Looking Ahead in the Water Action Decade”, Water for Women Fund Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Haber), https://www.waterforwomenfund.org/en/news/reaffirming-and-learning-reflections-from-cop27-and-looking-ahead-in-the-water-action-decade.aspx (Erişim Tarihi: 25.05.2025).
• WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION - WMO (2021), “State of the Global Climate”, WMO Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Rapor), https://wmo.int/publication-series/state-of-global-climate-2021 (Erişim Tarihi: 20.05.2025).
• WORLD WATER COUNCIL - WWC (2016), “Blue Book on Water and Climate”, WWC Kurumsal Web Sayfası (E-Rapor), https://www.worldwatercouncil.org/sites/default/files/Official_docs/WWC_Activities_Report_June_November_2016.PDF (Erişim Tarihi: 28.05.2025).