The Rise of Hydro-Diplomacy
The Rise of Hydro-Diplomacy
© adelphi
A recent report highlights how transboundary river basins improve inter-governmental cooperation. Long seen as a potential source for conflict, foreign policy experts increasingly recognise water as a means to foster peaceful exchanges between countries sharing river basins.
The report ‘The Rise of Hydro-Diplomacy: Strengthening foreign policy for transboundary waters’ was published by the Climate Diplomacy Initiative of Berlin-based think tank Adelphi and the German Federal Foreign Office, with lead author Benjamin Pohl and a well-rounded team of experts contributing. Its publication coincides with recent milestones reached in legal frameworks: the UNECE Water Convention “opened up” to all countries beyond the traditional UNECE region last year and this summer the UN Watercourses Convention entered into force (see article p. 13).
The report emphasises there is little precedent for major “water wars” in history, but there are many cases where cooperation on water has led to integration and the creation of “islands of cooperation” in otherwise conflict-prone relationships. The report highlights case studies from around the world, including the Danube River Basin and the ICPDR, to demonstrate the value and importance of cooperation; it then goes into means to enhance this cooperation, ranging from capacity building to funding to institutional frameworks. The report is a valuable resource with thorough reflections on the dynamic and emerging world of transboundary water management.
