Motion 023

https://fundacionglobalnature.org/wetlands4climate
https://livinglakes.org/living-lakes-position-paper-for-conference-of-the-parties-cop29/

------------------------------------

The Freshwater Challenge is a voluntary global initiative that aims to restore 300,000 km of degraded rivers and 350 million hectares of degraded wetlands by 2030 and conserve intact freshwater ecosystems important for biodiversity and people. At CBD COP 15 in 2022, Colombia, joined by Mexico, Ecuador, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Gabon, made a pivotal call to action to restore and conserve inland waters at a ministerial event. Together, these countries embraced the concept of the Freshwater Challenge, setting the stage for a global movement to address the alarming degradation of freshwater ecosystems. The Freshwater Challenge is rooted in Targets 2 and 3 of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which commits parties to restore 30% of degraded inland waters and conserve 30% of freshwater ecosystems by 2030, creating a critical milestone for global freshwater ecosystems. These ambitious goals underscore the urgent need for transformative action to safeguard freshwater resources and ecosystems, which are vital for biodiversity, climate resilience, and human well-being. The formal launch of the Freshwater Challenge took place at the UN Water Conference in March 2023, in a high-level event organized by the six initial countries. Since then, the initiative has garnered widespread momentum, with 49 countries and the European Union joining the Challenge. Moreover, in December 2024, the GEF announced a US$5 million investment in the Freshwater Challenge, contributing to achieving the targets in the GBF as it will accelerate action by addressing some of the most critical needs and challenges identified by the Member countries. This growing coalition reflects the shared recognition of freshwater ecosystems as critical natural assets that underpin sustainable development and resilience to climate change. The Freshwater Challenge has three core objectives:

1. Integrate - Ensure that restoration and conservation of freshwater ecosystems are integrated and adequately addressed in the relevant global, regional, and national processes to tackle the climate and nature crisis and achieve sustainable development;
2. Substantiate - Quantify existing global ambitions and account for the contributions of the different stakeholders to restore and conserve freshwater ecosystems by supporting countries to define quantitative, geographically specific, and coherent targets across sectors and connecting targeted interventions from non-state actors with national plans and strategies, and track progress; and
3. Accelerate – Fast-track the implementation of freshwater commitments by increasing the overall investment in the restoration and conservation of freshwater ecosystems, mobilizing resources through existing funds and initiatives, and leveraging investments.

As a global initiative, the Freshwater Challenge underscores the interconnectedness of biodiversity, water, and climate action. It aligns with IUCN's mission to protect nature, demonstrating how robust freshwater restoration efforts can help address biodiversity loss, secure livelihoods, and combat climate change. By supporting the Freshwater Challenge, IUCN members can help accelerate action on freshwater ecosystem restoration.