WATER LAW, GOVERNANCE AND DIPLOMACY

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Transboundary water cooperation to address droughts

Human activities are increasingly affecting the climate worldwide (IPCC, 2021). A dry winter and spring followed by record-breaking summer temperatures hit across the Northern Hemisphere causing severe droughts particularly in Central Europe, China, and the US. (Hausfather, 2022). During the summer of 2002, rivers such as the Rhine, the Danube, the Elbe, the Yangtze, and the Colorado river dried up compromising navigation, and trade and hydropower activities.

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DAMS – water flows regulation in a fragmented world

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This document is the first output of this joint Geneva Water Hub and IUCN’s Environmental Law Centre initiative elaborating an assessment of the legal tools applicable to dams planning, developing and monitoring. This assessment includes a compendium of references grouping and analyzing the main frameworks and principles to be considered when addressing the challenges of dams in general and large dams in particular. This first output should be viewed as a “living document” which will be further developed and completed with additional practice.

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An insight into the cultural and spiritual value of water

Water is the foundation of life and approaches to valuing it vary depending on users, background and perspectives. The article focuses primarily on the spiritual and religious values associated with water, specifically when it is seen as holy, sacred, magical or mythical and how these values can clash with the perception of water as a resource at the disposal of society that can be used for economic development.

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Water is complex –
solutions require informed dialogues and participation

The Water Law, Governance and Diplomacy Support Platform (WADI) provides key resources and support to solve complex water challenges.

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WATER AND AGRICULTURE

3.2 billion people live in agricultural areas with high to very high water shortages or scarcity, of whom 1.2 billion people – roughly one-sixth of the world’s population – live in severely water-constrained agricultural areas. (FAO, 2020) 

WATER AND CLIMATE CHANGE

Globally, water scarcity affects 4 out of every 10 people.

WATER AND COOPERATION

60 percent of the world’s transboundary river basins lack any cooperative management framework. (UN WATER)

WATER AND ECOSYSTEMS

The world has lost 70 per cent of its natural wetland extent, including a significant loss of freshwater species, over the last 100 years. (United Nations, 2018)

WATER AS A HUMAN RIGHT

Today 1 in 3 people or 2.2 billion people around the world lack safe drinking water. (WHO/UNICEF 2019)

WATER AND WASTEWATER

Globally, it is likely that over 80% of wastewater is released to the environment without adequate treatment. (UN WWDR, 2017)

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310 transboundary river and lake basins worldwide.

Each one of these basins face different and unique environmental, social, economic and political challenges.


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OUR WORK

LEARNING TOOLS

Collection of resources useful for generating knowledge and moving people to action.

Photo taken at the meeting Water Diplomacy Dialogue in the Lake Chad basin, which took place in November 2019

PRACTICAL TOOLS

LAGO and TIDE are valuable tools for policy makers and practitioneers.

Cover page of the publication LAGO, an explanatory guide to the legal assessment tool of water governance

NEWS AND EVENTS

The role of women in water governance: International Women’s Day 2021.

Three women carrying water in canisters on their heads

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