Baku Dialogue at COP30 Calls for Strong Water Intelligence to Tackle Climate Risks

Launched during COP29 in Baku in 2024, the Baku Dialogue was established as a global mechanism to strengthen cooperation and accelerate water-focused climate solutions.

“How can you manage a dam, a flood, or a hydroelectric plant if you have no information or data? You can’t.” With these words, WMO Secretary-General Celeste Saulo opened the high-level meeting of the Baku Dialogue on Water and Climate Action at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. Her message was direct and urgent: water intelligence — the monitoring, measurement and sharing of hydrological information — has become one of humanity’s most important tools for survival.

The sentiment underscored a central challenge of the 21st century. Water security, once assumed in many regions, is now threatened by intensifying climate impacts. Without reliable data, countries remain dangerously ill-prepared to manage the risks that threaten lives, livelihoods, infrastructure, and national economies.

The Baku Dialogue: A Platform Born From Crisis

Launched during COP29 in Baku in 2024, the Baku Dialogue was established as a global mechanism to strengthen cooperation and accelerate water-focused climate solutions. It seeks to keep water consistently visible in international climate discussions — not as an occasional topic, but as a permanent pillar of climate policy.

The Dialogue addresses the interconnected pressures of climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, drought, and desertification. It encourages shared action at local, regional, national and transboundary levels, acknowledging that rivers and water systems do not follow political borders.

COP29’s President emphasized that water must never again be allowed to slip in and out of the climate agenda. At COP30, this message was reinforced, with leaders stressing the need for sustained global attention and coordinated governance.

Connecting Global Agendas to People’s Realities

Nicola Speranza, Chief of Staff to the COP30 President, spoke of reconnecting high-level policy discussions with the daily realities of communities. Around the world, water insecurity affects household income, agricultural productivity, energy generation and public health. Speranza pointed to finance and capacity-building as “the key to success” in enabling countries to respond effectively.

WMO, under its mandate, has taken the lead in delivering science-based expertise for the Dialogue. This includes monitoring tools, hydrological modeling, risk assessments and capacity-building programs that help countries understand their water situations and create actionable policies.

“We Cannot Manage What We Do Not Measure”

Secretary-General Saulo reiterated a core WMO principle: effective water management is impossible without accurate data. Hydrological information systems, river-basin observations, rainfall analytics and real-time monitoring are essential for forecasting droughts, floods and supply shortages.

She noted that while investment in these systems may appear substantial, the cost is minuscule compared to the economic devastation caused by severe flooding, prolonged drought or the construction of mis-designed water infrastructure. Reliable hydrological intelligence, she argued, is the foundation of preventive action and sustainable development.

An Unpredictable Water Cycle With Global Consequences

WMO’s State of Global Water Resources 2024 report underscores the growing unpredictability of the global water cycle. Regions now experience too much or too little water — often at the wrong time or place. This volatility affects ecosystems, energy grids, agriculture, transportation, drinking water supply and disaster risk.

Saulo highlighted emerging threats such as atmospheric rivers — massive airborne water systems capable of producing extreme rainfall — and the rapid retreat of glaciers that serve as the planet’s “water towers.” Melting glaciers simultaneously increase short-term hazards and create long-term insecurity for water-dependent communities.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Water Management

One of the promising areas discussed at the event was the use of Artificial Intelligence. AI-powered tools now support hydrological work across the value chain: monitoring, analytics, data management, real-time forecasting and scenario modeling. These technologies can identify patterns that human analysts may miss, enabling faster and more accurate predictions of water-related hazards.

WMO’s Major Initiatives Supporting Global Water Security

WMO leadership, including Stefan Uhlenbrook, Director of Hydrology, Water and Cryosphere, outlined several critical programs designed to strengthen global water resilience.

Hydrological Status and Outlook System (HydroSOS)

Provides real-time and forecasted information on water availability at global, regional and river-basin scales. It enables countries to monitor water resources across the hydrological cycle — from rainfall to groundwater and soil moisture.

World Water Data Initiative

Improves water data collection, sharing and transparency. It supports countries in sustainably managing rivers, lakes, aquifers and water-related ecosystems.

Early Warnings for All

Enhances countries’ ability to anticipate and respond to water-related disasters such as floods, droughts and landslides. The goal is universal coverage of multi-hazard early warning systems.

Integrated Water and Climate Monitoring

Expands the availability of climate-risk assessments, basin-wide hydrological scenarios and water-related vulnerability studies to guide adaptation planning.

Building Cooperation Across Borders

Ministers and experts stressed the necessity of integrating water concerns into national climate strategies, adaptation policies and disaster-risk plans. They also underscored the importance of transboundary cooperation, particularly in shared river basins where upstream–downstream dynamics can determine regional stability.

In an era of escalating climate impacts, water must be viewed as a shared global responsibility. The Baku Dialogue has emerged as a platform that recognizes this reality — promoting collaboration, technology, data systems and investment to protect communities and economies worldwide.

Looking Ahead

As COP30 progresses, the Baku Dialogue continues to build momentum. With stronger datasets, technological innovation, and shared governance, countries can better confront the mounting risks of droughts, floods, glacial melt, water scarcity and extreme weather. The path forward is clear: without water information, societies remain blind. With it, they gain the tools to build resilience and safeguard the future.