International Drought Resilience Alliance
No country is immune to drought and its impacts on food, water, and energy security, forced migration and natural resource conflicts. Europe, the western United States, Chile, Australia, and the Horn of Africa have all suffered extreme droughts in recent years. These unprecedented droughts have far-reaching impacts on agriculture, energy, transportation, tourism, and human health.
From 1998 to 2017, drought generated economic losses of about US$124 billion across the world, not to mention the cost in human suffering and lives.
Drought frequency, severity, and duration are projected to increase in the short term due to climate change, which is expected to cause to a large displacement of people from affected areas in the long run.
The overwhelming evidence points to the need to shift from crises management to drought preparedness and adaptation measures that significantly reduce vulnerability and exposure at all levels. World leaders recognize the need for a global collaborative platform, with political engagement at the highest level and a network of implementing partners to support countries and communities considering their different circumstances.
Responding to these needs, the International Drought Resilience Alliance was first announced by Spain at the 77th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2022 to be officially launched at the UNFCCC COP27 in November 2022. The alliance is jointly convened by President of Senegal Macky Sall and President of the Government of Spain Pedro Sánchez. Interested members of the Alliance see the urgent need to pivot from emergency response to increasing drought resilience through a more coordinated and effective response.
When: 09 - 20 November 2026
Where: Antalya
COP 31 will be held in Antalya, Türkiye, from 9 to 20 November 2026. In the lead-up, the COP 30 Presidency and the incoming COP 31 Presidency are working together to foster an open, transparent and inclusive process, through regular engagement with Parties and observers throughout the year.Their engagements will bring together ministers, Heads of Delegation and negotiators, as well as observers and stakeholders, to build shared understanding and lay the groundwork for successful outcomes in Antalya.The Presidencies will coordinate closely with the Chairs of the subsidiary bodies to ensure coherence across the UNFCCC process.The incoming COP 31 Presidency and Australia will work in close partnership, in line with the Türkiye-Australia Partnership Modalities. The Presidencies call on Parties to engage in a spirit of unity and shared purpose as they work together to deliver transformative and ambitious outcomes at COP 31 that enhance ambition and implementation of the global response to the threat of climate change.
When: 02 - 04 December 2026
The Conference, co-hosted by Senegal and the UAE, aims to accelerate the implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG 6), enhance global water governance and further elevate water-related issues on the international agenda. Participation will include governments, UN agencies, non-governmental organizations, academic institutions, Indigenous Peoples, the private sector and international financial institutions. More info.