Dharwad: A convention on ‘Global Water Meet-2016 for Climate Change Adaptation: Agrarian Perspectives” was held at the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwad from October 24-26. The event witnessed deliberations by climate change, water and agriculture experts from USA, France, UK, Zimbabwe, The Netherlands, Malawi, Iran, Australia, China, Slovakia, Palestine and Thailand.

The meet came out with “Dharwad Declaration on Climate Change, Water and Agriculture 2016”, to continue measures of adaptation and mitigation from the perspective of local people’s potential and needs, respecting their dignity and right to development.

Dharwad Declaration calls for community-based decentralised solutions to planning, rejuvenation, conservation and management of water resources, whether it is on a river basin management framework or revival of water bodies and aquifers.

The declaration recommends ecological agriculture as an important resilience tool for climate adaptation and mitigation, based on local communities’ wisdom, traditional knowledge and bottom up solutions. Increased public investment is urgently called for, with convergence among the state, civil society, communities and private sector institutions at the policy and implementation levels.

Besides urgent public awareness and joint action of all stakeholders to ensure environmental and ecological sustainability, Dharwad Declaration shows ways and means for execution of Paris Agreement and SDG 2030.

The Declaration will pave the way for creating a Global Forum for initiating a global action plan for restoration of natural water cycles, climate resilience and for taking forward the spirit and message of the GWM 2016.