Flavia LouresDr. Alistair Rieu-ClarkeMarie-Laure Vercambre
Everything you need to know about the UN Watercourses Convention
Contents
01 Introduction02 Acalltoaction05 Keyfacts10 UNWatercoursesConvention16 Keypolicygoalsandagreements16 MillenniumDevelopmentGoals18 ClimateChange19 Biodiversity20 Desertification21 Wetlands23 AnnexI:Ratificationhistory24 AnnexIII:Votingrecords25 AnnexIIII:Theinternationalcommunity26 Bibliography Fr
ontc
over
:©M
iche
lRog
go/
WW
F-C
anon
.Lef
t:©
Bre
ntS
tirto
n/W
WF-
UK
01
In 1997, more than one hundred nations joined together to adopt the United nations Convention on the Law of the non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses (Un Watercourses Convention)—a flexible and overarching global legal framework that establishes basic standards and rules for cooperation between watercourse states on the use, management, and protection of international watercourses. the Convention counts today 19 contracting states—16 short of the number required for entry into force.
since the Convention’s adoption, water pollution and overuse have worsened in many places, and the world’s poorest people are already facing shrinking supplies. The scale of the freshwater challenge is enormous, especially with climate change making water availability more unpredictable and causing more frequent, widespread droughts and floods. securing the water we need to meet growing human needs, safeguard fragile ecosystems, and maintain economic prosperity is actually one of the most serious and urgent tasks confronting the world in the 21st Century.
In order to succeed, we will depend not only on water bodies located entirely within one state’s territory, but also on freshwater systems that mark or cross international boundaries. transboundary waters are physically shared between two or more countries and are some of the most important and vulnerable freshwater resources on the planet. the states concerned have a responsibility to protect them, and to work together to manage them in a sustainable and integrated manner. However, transboundary water cooperation raises major practical and political issues.
In the past, nations have addressed those issues by adopting and implementing treaties that govern interstate cooperation on specific international watercourses, lakes, and aquifers. As a result, there are many different watercourse agreements, but most of the world’s transboundary water resources still lack sufficient legal protection. In most basins, either no management agreements are in place, existing agreements are inadequate, or not all states within the basin are parties to existing agreements. Without such protection, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for watercourse states to cope cooperatively with existing and future threats from human pressure and environmental change.
therefore, the UN Watercourses Convention is more relevant than ever. Its widespread ratification and implementation are necessary to ensure that states properly utilise and protect those precious water supplies—now and in the future.
We join other stakeholders in pressing governments, multilateral organisations, and the international water community at large to take immediate and effective action to achieve this.
Fron
tcov
er:©
Mic
helR
oggo
/W
WF-
Can
on.L
eft:
©B
rent
Stir
ton
/WW
F-U
K
A CALL to ACtIon: WHAt needs to be done noW
02
In the UN ‘Decade for Action: Water for Life,’ we call on the international community to do whatever is necessary to bring into force and widely implement the UN Watercourses Convention.
In particular, we ask:
• All countries who have not yet done sotobecomecontractingstatestotheConvention;
• Current contracting statestocallontheirneighboursandpartnercountriestojointheConventionaswell;
• All statestoemploytheirbesteffortstoacceleratetheprocessforentryintoforceoftheConventionandtopromoteitsbroadratificationandeffectiveimplementation,includingby:
– Involvingjoint river basin organisationsintheprocessandseekingguidancefromtheirexperts;
– Authorisingthe regional economic integration organisationsofwhichtheymaybeparttoaccedetotheConventionandengageinitsimplementation;and
– AskingtheUnited Nations General AssemblytogiveamandatetoanappropriateUNagencyorprogrammetoleadtheeffortstoraiseawarenessandpromotetheentryintoforceandimplementationoftheConventionwithintheUnitedNationssystem;
• All regional economic integration organisations dulyauthorisedtodosobytheirmemberstatestoaccedetotheConvention;
• UN Water, the relevant UN agencies, programmes, and initiatives, the World Bank, and other development institutionstoprovidefinancialandtechnicalassistancetocountriesthroughtheratificationandimplementationprocesses;and
• The international water community at large, includingnon-governmentalorganisationsinthefieldsofwater,conservation,humanrights,andgender,toraiseawarenessofthevalueandimportanceoftheConvention,especiallyamongministersandparliamentarians,forgettingthe16additionalratificationsnecessaryforitsentryintoforce.
©B
rent
Stir
ton
/Get
tyIm
ages
/W
WF-
UK
03
©B
rent
Stir
ton
/Get
tyIm
ages
/W
WF-
UK
04
©Z
ebH
ogan
/W
WF-
Can
on
05
KeY FACts: tHe stAtUs oF tHe WorLd’s InternAtIonAL WAterCoUrses And tHeIr governAnCe
• Humanconsumptionappropriates54% of the world’s accessible freshwater runoff.However,increasesinaccessiblewatersuppliesareunlikelytokeepupwithpopulationgrowth,andpercapitawateravailabilitywillshrinkinthecomingcentury.
• Worldwide,over1.1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and around 2.6 billion people have no access to adequate sanitation.Asaresult,morethanfivemillionpeopledieeachyearfromwater-relateddiseasesthataremostlypreventable.
• Water shortages alreadyaffecttwobillionpeopleinover40 countries.
• Ofallbiomes,freshwaterecosystemsarethemostthreatened,and1/5offreshwaterfishspeciesareinrapiddecline.
• Water securityisreachingthetopoftheinternationalagenda,asawarenessgrowsofthelinksbetweenthewatercrisisandenergyandfoodsecurity,andaswateroveruseandpollutionaffectmoreandmorepeopleeveryyear.
• Theworld’s276 international watercourses containkeyfreshwatersuppliesandsustainrichecosystemsin145 countries.
Theycoveralmosthalf the earth’s surface,arehometoaround40% of the world’s population,andgenerateabout60% of global freshwater flow.
• Stateshavemadesomeprogressinadoptingwatercourseagreementsatbasinandsub-basinlevels,butcooperative management frameworks existforonlyabout40% of the world’s international watercourses.
• Whereagreementsexist,80% involve only two countries,eventhoughother states may also be part of the watercourse in question.
Thestatesthatarepartiestothese“partial”agreements,astheyseektopromotetheintegratedmanagementofthewatercourse,havetorelyonthegoodwillofnon-partiestoengageinformallyinthecooperationprocess.
Inothercases,partiestopartialagreementsmakedecisionsamongthemselveswithoutdueregardfortheinterestsandneedsofotherco-watercoursestatesthatarenotpartiestothoseagreements.
• Manystatesarepartiestoseveralwatercourseagreements,eachwiththeirownuniquepoliciesandobligations,whichmakeseffective implementation moredifficult.
• Manyagreementshavesignificant gaps or failings.
Amongotherproblems,sometreatiesfailtoconsiderlong-termchangesinwateravailabilityandtheneedtorevisitwaterallocationsaccordingly.Periodicalrevisionsmayprovenecessaryforsustainingtheresource,protectingecosystems,andmeetinghumanneeds,whilemaintainingafairbalancebetweenallthestatesconcerned.
Suchtreatiesarelesslikelytoaidpartiesinrespondingtothe effects of climate change on water resources inacooperativeandsustainablemanner.
©Z
ebH
ogan
/W
WF-
Can
on
Types of Problems Internationalwatercourses:a)Withnoagreementsatall;andb)Withagreements,mainlyorexclusively:(i)Coveringnavigationorfloodcontrol,(ii)Delimitingborders,or(iii)Focusingonspecificdevelopmentprojects.
Examples of where they occur Americas: Yukon,SanJuanandOrinocobasins
Asia:Salween,IIi,Red/SongHong,Ayeyarwady,TorasiandBenaninbasins
East Africa:LakeTurkana
Andnumeroussmallerbasins,butnotnecessarilylessimportant,inWest,NorthandEastAfrica,inEastandSouth-Asia,andinCentralandSouthAmerica.
Case studies of why they matter ColombiaandVenezuelasharetherelativelypristineOrinocobasinandhavemadeeffortstocooperateonwaterissuesthroughjointcommissions.However,plannedunilateralhydropowerdevelopmentandwaterdiversionsinmajortributariesrepresentagrowingthreat.Thetwocountrieshavenotyetreachedagreementonbasicstandardsandproceduresforthesustainabledevelopmentofthebasin,suchasthosecontainedintheUNWatercoursesConvention.
Smallerinternationalwatercoursesareoftenprecioustodependentcommunitiesorvulnerableecosystems.Evenso,suchresourcesmaynotgetsufficientpoliticalvisibilitytopushcountriestoadoptwatercourseagreementsuntilgreaterproblemsbegintoarise.Thisisthecase,forexample,withtheFlyandSepikbasinssharedbetweenPapuaNewGuineaandIndonesia,andthesmallwatershedsthatdraintheHeartofBorneo,inSouth-Asia.Forthosebasins,theUNWatercoursesConventioncouldserveasa‘catchall’forpromotinggoodmanagementwherespecialagreementsaremissing.
Types of Problems Internationalwatercourseswithagreementsthatdonotinvolveallthestateswithinthebasin.
Examples of where they occur Amur, Congo, Ganges-Brahmaputra, Ob, Mekong, and Nile basins.
Case studies of why they matter IntheGanges-Brahmaputrabasin,IndiahasreportedlyaccusedChinaofnotsharinginformationontheBrahmaputrariver’sstatusthatcouldhavepreventedfloodinginIndiaandBangladeshin2000.In2007,TheDailyStarannouncedthatNepalandIndiawere
exchangingblameforthemostcatastrophicfloodinginSouthAsiaindecades.Similarsituationswillhappenagainunlessallstateswithinthebasinbecomeengagedinaneffective,meaningful,open,andcontinuousdialogue.Throughitssubstantivenormsandproceduralmechanisms,theUNWatercoursesConventioncouldprogressivelybringallcountrieswithinthatbasinclosertogetherandhelpavoidsimilarsituationsinthefuture.
Types of Problems Gapsorfailingsinwatercourseagreementsthatmayposeaseriousobstacletocooperation.
Examples of where they occur TherecentlyadoptedtreatyontheVoltabasinincorporatesthegeneralprincipleofnotificationtowarnneighbouringcountrieswhenemergenciesoccur.Butitneitheraddressesthepreventionofharmfulconditions,suchasfloods,norcontainsdetailedrulesgoverningemergencies.
A1944Mexico/UStreatydeterminesafixedpartitionofthewaters,insteadofcreatingaprocessforwaterallocationandperiodicalreviews.
A1909US/Canadatreatyfailstocoverdomestictributariesofinternationalwatercourses.
TheagreementgoverningtheLakeChadbasinlackswaterallocationcriteriaanddoesnotrequireregularinformationexchange.
TheconventionontheGambiaRiverdoesnotcovergroundwater.
TheonlyagreementgoverningtheAmazonbasinlackseffectiverulesdealingwithdisputesettlement.
Case studies of why they matter IntheVoltabasin,forexample,accordingtoBBCNews,GhanaaccusedBurkinaFasoin2007ofaggravatingfloodsdownstreambyopeningthefloodgatesofadamlocatedintheupperstretchesoftheriver.TheVoltaBasinConventionisasignificantcommendablesteptakenbythestatesconcernedtoimprovetransboundarycooperationwithinthebasin.However,thatconventionhaslittletooffertopreventasimilarsituationfromhappeningagain,ortoclarifytherightsanddutiesofthewatercoursestatesinvolvedinlike-accidentsinthefuture.Initsturn,theUNWatercoursesConventiondealsinmoredetailwithharmfulconditionsandemergencies,andcouldbeappliedtosupplementtheVoltaBasinConventioninregardstothoseissue(seeArticles27-28oftheUNWatercoursesConvention).
A gLImpse At tHe probLems In tHe LegAL governAnCe oF InternAtIonAL WAterCoUrses
©B
rent
Stir
ton
/Get
tyIm
ages
/W
WF-
UK
06
07
©B
rent
Stir
ton
/Get
tyIm
ages
/W
WF-
UK
08
©Z
ebH
ogan
/W
WF-
Can
on
09
• Theinadequacyofexistingwatercourseagreementsandthelackofagreementsfornumerousinternationalwatercoursesarealarminglegalweaknesses in today’s international legal structure governing transboundary waters.
• Suchweaknessesmakeitfartooeasyforsomecountriestomanagetheirriversunilaterally,arbitrarily,andwithoutsharingrelevantinformationtheirneighboursmayneed.
• Ifactionisnottakentoimprovethelegalgovernanceoftransboundarywaters,states are likely to fail to cooperate towards promoting the integrated management of international watercourses.
• Theresultwillbeconflictoverincreasinglyscarceandpollutedsupplies,deterioratingbiodiversity,andseriousthreatstoeconomicdevelopment,humanhealth,andlong-termsustainability,especiallyinpoorercountries—allsignificant barriers to achieving the Millennium Development Goals.
Thepictureappearsgrim,butwhatweareactuallyfacingisa key moment of opportunity.ThroughtheentryintoforceandimplementationoftheUNWatercoursesConvention,wecaninfluencethemanagementoftheworld’stransboundarywatersinapositiveway.TheConventionwillpromotetheequitable utilisationandenvironmental protectionofinternationalwatercourses,catalysing regional integration and sustainable developmentaroundtheworld.
Manywatercoursestatesarealreadyworkingtogethertofacethechallengesandsharethebenefitsfromtransboundarywatercooperation,including,forexample,intheDanube,Mekong,Nile,Rhine,andZambezibasins.Andwithgrowingworldwideawarenessofthespeedandconsequencesofclimatechange,thereisfargreaterwillingnessfromgovernmentstocooperatetowardsaddressingthoseissues.
©Z
ebH
ogan
/W
WF-
Can
on
tHe LegAL governAnCe oF InternAtIonAL WAterCoUrses: IssUes, rIsKs And opportUnItIes
10
What it seeks to achieve
TheUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheUNWatercoursesConventionin1997byanoverwhelmingmajority.TheConventionsetsouttherightsandobligationsofcountriessharinginternationalwatercourses.
Asagloballegalumbrella,theConventionseeksto supplement, facilitate,and sustain transboundary water cooperation at all levels,by:
• Addressing the legal weaknessesinthecurrentinternationalwatergovernancestructure,intheabsenceofotherapplicablelegalinstruments;
• Providingcoherent policy guidancefortheadoptionandimplementationofsoundandcomprehensivewatercourseagreements—guidancethatwillfacilitate the work of bilateral and multilateral institutionsassistingwatercoursestatesinmattersoftransboundarywatercooperation,suchastheEUWaterInitiative,theUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme,theWorldBank,anddevelopmentagencies;
• Fosteringandpreservingpolitical stabilityinsituationsthatmightotherwisebecomecontentious;
• Establishingafair level playing fieldamongwatercoursestates,conducivetothesharingofbenefitsandtosustainabledevelopment;and
• Incorporatingsocial and environmental considerations intothemanagementanddevelopmentofinternationalwatercourses.
Backin1997,theUNmemberstatescouldhavesimplyagreedonanon-bindingdeclarationofprinciplesandmechanismsguidingrelationsbetweenwatercoursestates.Instead,theUnitedNationsGeneralAssemblyadoptedtheUNWatercoursesConvention,assuch,withtheexpectationthatentryintoforceandwidespreadimplementationwouldvalidateitspoliticalandlegalrelevanceasasourceofinternationalwaterlawandenableittodevelopintoasolid,widely-acceptedglobalcodeinthefield.
Our challenge now is to take action to ensure that the UN Watercourses Convention is widely ratified and enters into force—and quickly.
Un WAterCoUrses ConventIon, 21 mAY 1997
©B
rent
Stir
ton
/Get
tyIm
ages
/W
WF-
UK
11
©B
rent
Stir
ton
/Get
tyIm
ages
/W
WF-
UK
12
©Z
ebH
ogan
/W
WF-
Can
on
13
TheUNWatercoursesConventiongovernstheutilisation,management,andprotectionofinternationalwatercourses.TheConventiondefinesawatercourseasasingleunitofsurfaceandundergroundwatersthatincludesthemainriver,itstributariesanddistributaries,andanyconnectedlakes,wetlands,andaquifers.
TheUNWatercoursesConventionrequiresstatestouseinternationalwatercoursesinanequitableandreasonablemannerconsistentwiththeirprotection.Thegoalistoutilisetheseresourcesinanoptimalandsustainableway,whilepayingspecialregardtovitalhumanneedsandtotheinterestsoftheotherwatercoursestates(Articles5-7,10).Inparticular,theConventionrequiresstatesto:
• Cooperateinadoptingagreementsthat implement and/or adjust the Convention to their specific circumstances and needs (Article3);
• Participate actively and equitablyinthedevelopmentandprotectionofinternationalwatercoursesandengageingood-faithandmutuallybeneficialcooperation,forexample,throughtheregularexchangeofrelevantinformation(Articles5,8,9,25);
• Takeallappropriatemeasures,whenutilisinganinternationalwatercourse,toavoid causing significant harmtootherco-watercoursestates;wheresignificantharmneverthelessoccurs,statesmustactdiligentlytoeliminate or mitigatesuchharm,inconsultationwiththeaffectedneighbouringcountry,withaviewtorestoringafairbalancebetweenthestatesconcernedinthedevelopmentofbeneficialwaterusesandtheprotectionofthewatercourse(Article7);
• Follow a procedure of consultation, negotiation, anddata exchange beforeimplementinganymeasuresthatcouldhaveasignificantadverseeffectuponotherwatercoursestates(Articles11-19);
• Jointlywithotherstatesconcerned,orindividually,protectandpreservetheecosystemsof
internationalwatercoursesandmanagetheminamannerthatsafeguards the marine environment, including estuaries (Articles20,22);
• Prevent, reduce and control pollution ininternationalwatercourses,withaviewtoavoidingsignificanttransboundaryharm(Article21);
• Takeallnecessarymeasurestoprevent the introduction into international watercourses of exotic species thatmaycausesignificantharmtootherstates(Article22);
• Takeallappropriatemeasurestopreventandmitigate harmful conditions relatedtoaninternationalwatercourse,aswellastoaddress emergencies,includingbynotifyingotherstatesthatcouldbeaffectedandtherelevantinternationalorganisationsasquicklyaspossible,andbypreventing,mitigating,andeliminatingtheirharmfuleffects(Article27-28);
• Consult over the establishment of joint management mechanisms,suchasbasinorganisations,transboundarymanagementplans,jointcontingencyplans,andagreedwaterqualitystandards(Articles21-24);and
• Seek the peaceful settlement of disputes,followingtheConvention’sproceduresintheabsenceofapplicableagreements(Article33).
The primary functions
TheUNWatercoursesConventionalreadyenablesandsustainstransboundarywatercooperationinnumerousways.However,entryintoforceandwidespreadimplementationarenecessaryfortheConventiontoperformallofsuchfunctionseffectivelyandfully,asdescribedandexplainedintheTableoverleaf.Thetablealsoshowsinwhatcircumstanceseachfunctionmayberelevant,clarifieswhichstakeholdersmaybeaffectedineachcase,listsexamplesofwhentheConventionhasinfluencedconcretesituations,andreferstokeydocumentsandstakeholdersrecognisingtheConvention’srelevancetoperformcertainfunctions.
©Z
ebH
ogan
/W
WF-
Can
on
sCope And mAIn provIsIons
14
The functions of the UN Watercourses Convention
Inspiresfutureregionalorwatercourseagreements.
Supportstheimplementationofregionalorwatercourseagreements.
Governsinternationalwatercoursesintheabsenceofapplicableagreements.
Newagreements,togovernbasinswithoutagreementsortosupplementexistingagreements.
Revisedagreementsreplacingexistingones,forstrengthening,readjusting,expanding,orupdatingthoseagreements.
Interpretationofagreements,e.g.,theConventioncanhelpclarifyambiguousprovisions.
Applicationofagreements,e.g.,theConventioncanguidedecision-makersinsolvingdisputes.
NoAgreements
Partialagreements,i.e.,agreementsnotinvolvingallwatercoursestates,ifbothstatesconcernedhavejoinedtheConvention,butonlyoneisapartytotheexistingagreement.
Issuesnotcoveredbyexistingagreements.
AlthoughanystatecanconsulttheConventionwhennegotiatingagreements,consensusarounditsbasicprincipleswillbegreateramongparties.WidespreadratificationwillthereforemaketheConventionmorerelevantasabasisforwatercoursenegotiations.
TheConventionperformsthisfunctionregardlessofwhetherthestatesinvolvedarepartiestoitornot.Thisimpactwillheightenprogressivelyinlinewiththenumberofstatesbecomingapartytoit,butcouldweakenovertimeandpossiblyceasecompletelyinthecaseofnon-entryintoforce.
Bindingonparties.
The2000RevisedSADCProtocolonSharedWatercoursesandtheSenegalRiverChartermakeexpressreferencetotheUNWatercoursesConventionasabasisfortheirdrafting.
In1997,theInternationalCourtofJustice,inadisputeconcerningtheDanube,invokedtheUNWatercoursesConventiontojustifyitsdecision.
Onlyuponentryintoforce.
Functions Circumstances Stakeholders affected Examples
15
The functions of the UN Watercourses Convention
Supplementsenvironmentalconventions.
Advancesinternationalpolicygoals.
Offersabasisforthedevelopmentoftreatylawatthegloballevel.
ConventiononBiodiversity
RamsarConvention
ConventiononClimateChange
MillenniumDevelopmentGoals
IWRM-relatedinternationaldevelopmentcooperation.
IssuesnotcoveredbytheConvention.
Issueswhichdeservefurtherdevelopment(e.g.,transboundaryaquifers).
InternationalCommunity
InternationalCommunity
Allstatessharingwaterresourcescouldbenefitfromauniversallyagreedbasisforfurtherdevelopingthisfieldoflaw.
Onceinforce,theConventionwillbepoliticallybettersuitedtoserveasamothertreatyforfutureprotocolsadoptedwiththatintent.
Functions Circumstances Stakeholders affected Examples
CBDDecisionsVIII/27&IX/19urgestatestoratifytheUNWatercoursesConventionasameanstohelpprotectbiodiversityininternationalwatercourses.
UNSGAB’sHashimotoActionPlanurgesstatestobecomepartiestotheUNWatercoursesConventiontoimprovetransboundaryIWRMandsohelpadvancetheMDGs.
TheILCDraftArticlesonTransboundaryAquifersdrawheavilyfromtheConvention,applyingandadjustingittothespecialcaseofgroundwaters.
BecausetheConventionisstillnotinforce,itispossiblethatthedraftarticlesareadoptedasaseparate,independenttreaty,ratherthanaprotocoltotheconvention.Thisoutcomewouldruncountertothegoalofpromotingintegratedwaterresourcesmanagement.
16
HoW tHe Un WAterCoUrses ConventIon reLAtes to KeY poLICY goALs And Agreements
Millennium Development Goals: TheHashimotoActionPlanoftheUNSecretaryGeneral’sAdvisoryBoardonWaterandSanitation(UNSGAB)calls on governments to ratify and implementtheUNWatercoursesConvention.UNSGABincludesleading international political, legal,andscientific water experts.Theiractionplanidentifiestheconcrete measuresneededtoachieve the Millennium Development Goalnumber7,Target10,onsustainableaccesstosafedrinkingwaterandbasicsanitation.
Theprotectionoftheecosystemsofinternationalwatercourses,themaintenanceofpeacefulandequitablerelationsbetweenwatercoursestates,andthecooperativemanagementanduseofsharedriverbasinsinsupportofsocioeconomicprogressareallpreconditionsforachievingTarget10.TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillcontribute to meeting those conditionsandthereforesupporttheMDGs.
Sustaining aquatic ecosystems:
• Healthy,well-managedaquaticecosystemssustaintheecologicalfunctionsandservicesthatarecriticalforlivelihoodsandwateruses,especiallyinthedevelopingworld,andthusforachievingtheMDGs.
• TheConventionaimstosecuretheenvironmentalintegrityofwatercourses,whileenablingstatestoco-utilisesuchresourcestobenefittheireconomiesandpopulations.Statesmustpursuemutuallybeneficialandsustainableoutcomesthroughthefairsharingofwaterresources,consistentwiththeiradequateprotection.
• TheConventionpromotesanintegratedmanagementapproachthroughtheequitableparticipationofallco-watercoursestatesintheprotectionanduseofinternationalwatercoursesandinthenegotiationandimplementationofspecificagreements.
17
International peace and security:
• Sustainabledevelopment,neededtoadvancetheMDGs,cannotflourishamidstconflictandpoliticalinstability.Butpoliticaltensionsinevitablyeruptwhenwatercoursestatesfailtocooperatewithoneanother.
• Water—orthelackofit—hasoftenfuelledinterstatedisagreements.Aswegazeintothefuture,therehavealreadybeenwarningsofmorefrequentandwidespreadwaterconflicts,evenwars,andclimatechangewillonlymakethisworse.
• Freshwaterwillincreasinglybeasourceoftensionsanddisputeunlessinternationallegalinstrumentsareinplace,supportedbyappropriatelevelsofinvestment.Suchagreementsarecrucialtogovernandpromotethecooperativeandfairmanagementanduseofinternationalwatercourses,aswellastoestablishefficientandclearrulestopreventandsettledisagreementsbetweenwatercoursestates.
• TheUNWatercoursesConventionisdesignedtoprovideexactlythis,anditnowseemsclearthatwecannotrelyonlyonexistingwatercourseagreements.
Economic progress and human development:
• Closeandstablecooperationbetweenwatercoursestatesistheonlypossibleavenueforpromotingwin-winsolutionstowardstheoptimalandsustainableuseofariverbasin,insupportoftheMDGs.
• TheUNWatercoursesConventionexpresslyrecognisesthespecialneedsofdevelopingcountries.Whenestablishingtherightsanddutiesofparties,theConventiontakesintoaccountthevaryinglevelsoftechnicalandeconomiccapacityamongstates.
• TheConventionisflexibleenoughtoadjusttothespecificcircumstancesofeachwatercourse,withoutoverlookingwidersocialneedswhenbalancingtherightsandinterestsofparties.
• WhiletheConventiondoesnotexplicitlyrecognisearighttowater,itwillsupportthepracticalapplicationofsucharight,includingwithrespecttowateraccess,sanitation,andfoodsecurity,andbenefitunder-servedpopulations.
• TheConventionrequiresstatestoallocatewateramongtheminafairandreasonablemanner,takingintoaccountdependentpopulationsandgivingspecialregardtovitalhumanneeds.AnyformofwaterutilisationwhichmightsignificantlyharmhumanhealthandsafetywouldbeaviolationoftheConvention.
©E
dwar
dP
arke
r/W
WF-
Can
on
Climate Change: Climatechangewillhaveanenormousadverseeffectonwaterresources,withdisastrousenvironmental,social,andeconomicconsequences,especiallyinthepoorestnations.Itwillfuelthepotentialforwatertobecomea source of serious conflict within and between countries.Andthemostvulnerablenationsareoftenthosewithweakgovernancemechanisms,ornoneatall.Inmuchofthedevelopedworld,robustwatercourseagreementsareinplace.Yet,thosecountrieswouldfeelathometheeffectsofwaterconflictsabroad,intheformofmass migrations, economic and political disruption,andrising food prices.
Topre-emptandaddresstheseissues,theUNFrameworkConventiononClimateChange(UNFCCC)iscrucial,butitisnot enough on its owntopromotebettercollaborationamongwatercoursestates:
• TheUNFCCCdoesnot specificallyaimtoenabletransboundaryclimate change adaptationthroughthesustainableandcooperativemanagement of international watercourses;
• Norisitintended topreventandpeacefullysettlethetypesofdisputesthattypicallyarisebetween watercourse states.
TheUNWatercoursesConvention,asaglobal legal instrument specifically designed to govern relations between watercourse states,issoimportantinthiscontext,becauseitwill:
• Support cooperation between watercourse statestowardsrespondingtoenvironmentaldisasters,suchasdroughtsandfloods,andadaptingtheirwater-sharingandmanagementstrategiestotheeffectsofclimatechange;and
• Help ensurethatanymeasuresgovernmentsmaytakeunder the UNFCCC,suchashydropowerdevelopmentandwaterstorage,neitherinjuretheecosystemsofinternationalwatercourses,nordisregardthehealth and livelihoods ofdependentcommunities.
©E
dwar
dP
arke
r/W
WF-
Can
on
19
Forexample,theUNWatercoursesConvention:
• Recognisesfreshwater flowsneededtoprotectecosystemsasbeingjust as importantasotherformsofwaterutilisationinquestionsofwater allocation;
• Includesnatural conditions, transboundary environmental effects,andtheconservation of water resourcesamongthefactorsthatmustbeconsideredinthepromotionofreasonableandequitablewateruseandbenefit-sharingacrossborders;
• Integratesthemanagementofwater quality and quantity;and
• Requiresstatestoactdiligentlyintheprotection and preservation of the ecosystemsofinternationalwatercourses.
Inmanyrespects,theUN Watercourses Convention supplements the CBD.
• Article14(1)(c)oftheCBDrequirespartiesplanningtoimplementmajor measurestonotifyandconsultwithotherstateswhomightbesignificantlyaffected.TheUNWatercoursesConventioncreatesadetailedprocedurefordoingthis,withspecificobligationsandtimetables.
• Thesameistruewithtransboundary pollution—akeythreattobiodiversitythattheCBDdoesnotaddressspecifically,butwhichtheUNWatercoursesConventionclearlycovers.
• WhiletheCBDmerelyrequiresitspartiestofacilitatetheexchange of relevant information,theUNWatercoursesConventionsetsoutinmoredetailhowthisshouldbedone.
TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillthereforeencouragetheproductionanddisseminationofthesortofinformationthatcouldbeincludedinthewebportaloftheCBD’sRiverBasinInitiative(RBI).Initsturn,thisportalcouldhelptopromotetheimportanceoftheUNWatercoursesConvention.
Biodiversity: TheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(CBD)promotestheconservationandsustainableuseofbiodiversity,especiallythroughtheprotectionofecosystems.Atthesametime,theCBDrespectscountries’sovereignrightsoverbiologicalresourceswithintheirownterritories.Forinternationalwatercourses,cooperation between watercourse states is essential to protect the wider ecosystem.TheUNWatercoursesConventionoffersthenecessary legal frameworkforthiscollaborationtotakeplace—somethingtheCBDhascalledfor,butalonecannotprovide.
©E
dwar
dP
arke
r/W
WF-
Can
on
©Ji
kkie
Jon
kman
/W
WF-
Can
on
TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillofferan enhanced legal frameworkformanagingandsustainablyusinginternationalwatercourses.Insodoing,theconventionwillbetterenablestatestocooperatetowardstacklinganyharmfulconditionsrelatingtothoseresource,suchasdroughtanddesertification.Itwillthereforefacilitate the implementation of the UNFCCD.
Forexample,theUNWatercoursesConvention:
• Recognisesthatclimatic factors and variabilityareimportantintheachievementofanequitable and reasonable balanceamongwatercoursestates;
• Requireswatercoursestatesto,whendeveloping,managingandprotectinginternationalwatercourses,dowhattheycantoprevent and mitigate the effects of drought and desertificationthatmaybeharmfultotheirneighbours;and
• Requiresstatestocollect,process,andexchangeinformation on meteorological conditions.
Desertification: TheConventiontoCombatDesertification(UNFCCD)requiresstatestopromotetherestoration,conservation,andsustainablemanagementoflandandwater,andtocooperatewitheachotherfortheprotectionofthoseresources.TheUNFCCDalsorequiresneighbouringcountriestoworktogetherindevelopingactionprogrammes,whichmayincludethejointsustainablemanagementoftransboundarywaterresources.
©M
artin
Har
vey
/WW
F-C
anon
21
TheRamsarConventionworksmostlybymoral persuasion and lacks detailed binding rulesclarifyingtherightsanddutiesofstatessharingwaterresources.Thereis,therefore,aneedforamoresubstantiveframeworkgoverninginterstatecooperation,disputepreventionandsettlementtosupplementtheRamsarConventionanditsguidelinesoninternationalcooperation.
TheUNWatercoursesConventioncansupplythis.Itcontainskeystandards, obligations,andproceduresforpreventingdisputesandfosteringcooperationonthedevelopmentandconservationofinternationalwatercoursesandtheirecosystems,includingwetlands.Fortheworstcases,theUNWatercoursesConventionalsoestablishesrobust conflict resolution mechanisms.TheseprocedureswillfurtherreinforceimplementationofrelevantrecommendationsundertheRamsarConvention.
TheUNWatercoursesConventionwillthereforehelptoensuretheadequateprotectionandsustainablemanagementofthosewetlandsthataresharedbetweentwoormorecountriesorareconnectedtointernationalwatercourses.
Wetlands: TheRamsarConventiononWetlands(RamsarConvention)promotestheprotectionandmanagementofwetlands,requiringcountries to consult with each other inrelationtotransboundarywetlandsystemsorsharedfreshwaterresources.ExistingRamsarresolutionsfurtherrecognisetheneedfortransboundarywatercooperation,butavailable guidance only goes as far as to recommend,forexample,thatstatesjointlyidentifyandmanagetransboundarywetlands,establishmanagementregimesforsharedriverbasins,andexchangeexpertiseandinformation.
©M
artin
Har
vey
/WW
F-C
anon
©M
egG
awle
r/W
WF-
Can
on
22
©M
iche
lGun
ther
/W
WF-
Can
on
Country/regional Date of signature States that ratified (r), economic integration accepted (A), approved (AA), organisation acceded to the convention (a)
AnneX I: rAtIFICAtIon HIstorY As oF JULY 2010
Côte d’Ivoire 25Sep1998Finland 31Oct1997 23Jan1998AGermany 13Aug1998 15Jan2007rGuinea-Bissau 19May2010aHungary 20Jul1999 26Jan2000AAIraq 9Jul2001aJordan 17Apr1998 22Jun1999rLebanon 25May1999aLibyan Arab Jamahiriya 14Jun2005aLuxembourg 14Oct1997Namibia 19May2000 29Aug2001rNetherlands 9Mar2000 9Jan2001ANorway 30Sep1998 30Sep1998rParaguay 25Aug1998Portugal 11Nov1997 22Jun2005rQatar 28Feb2002aSouth Africa 13Aug1997 26Oct1998rSpain 24Sep2009aSweden 15Jun2000aSyrian Arab Republic 11Aug1997 2Apr1998rTunisia 19May2000 22Apr2009rUzbekistan 4Sep.2007aVenezuela (Bolivarian Republic of) 22Sep1997Yemen 17May2000
23
TheTablebelowcontainsthecurrentsignatoriesandcontractingstatestotheUNWatercoursesConvention.Thesecondcolumnshowsthesignatories,i.e.,thosecountrieswhichsignedtheConventionduringthe3-yearperiodinwhichitwasopenforsignature(Article34).Amongthose,fivestateshaveyettocompletetheprocessforbecomingpartiesbyactuallyratifyingtheConvention.Theothercountries,whichbecamecontractingstatesafterthat3-yearperiod,didnothavetosignit.Theydirectlyacceptedit,approvedit,oraccededtotheConvention.Thelegaleffectsof
ratification,acceptance,approvaloraccessionarethesame.Ratificationapplieswhenthefinalactforbecomingapartyisprecededbysignature.Theterms“accession,”“acceptance,”and“approval”varyaccordingtoacountry’sinternalusage,butagain,producetheexactsamelegaleffects.
©M
iche
lGun
ther
/W
WF-
Can
on
AnneX II: votIng reCords
Sponsors (38)
AntiguaandBarbuda,Bangladesh,Bhutan,Brazil,Cambodia,Cameroon,Canada,Chile,Denmark,Finland,Germany,Greece,Grenada,Honduras,Hungary,Italy,Japan,Jordan,LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublic,Latvia,Liechtenstein,Malaysia,Mexico,Nepal,Netherlands,Norway,Portugal,RepublicofKorea,Romania,Sudan,Sweden,SyrianArabRepublic,Tunisia,UnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland,UnitedStatesofAmerica,Uruguay,Venezuela,Vietnam.
In Favour (106)
Albania,Algeria,Angola,AntiguaandBarbuda,Armenia,Australia,Austria,Bahrain,Bangladesh,Belarus,Belgium*,Botswana,Brazil,BruneiDarussalam,BurkinaFaso,Cambodia,Cameroon,Canada,Chile,CostaRica,Côted’Ivoire,Croatia,Cyprus,CzechRepublic,Denmark,Djibouti,Estonia,Fiji*,Finland,Gabon,Georgia,Germany,Greece,Guyana,Haiti,Honduras,Hungary,Iceland,Indonesia,Iran(IslamicRepublicof),Ireland,Italy,Jamaica,Japan,Jordan,Kazakhstan,Kenya,Kuwait,LaoPeople’sDemocraticRepublic,Latvia,Lesotho,Liberia,LibyanArabJamahiriya,Liechtenstein,Lithuania,Luxembourg,Madagascar,Malawi,Malaysia,Maldives,Malta,MarshallIslands,Mauritius,Mexico,Micronesia(FederatedStatesof),Morocco,Mozambique,Namibia,Nepal,Netherlands,NewZealand,Nigeria*,Norway,Oman,PapuaNewGuinea,Philippines,Poland,Portugal,Qatar,RepublicofKorea,Romania,RussianFederation,Samoa,SanMarino,SaudiArabia,SierraLeone,Singapore,Slovakia,Slovenia,SouthAfrica,Sudan,Suriname,Sweden,SyrianArabRepublic,Thailand,TrinidadandTobago,Tunisia,Ukraine,UnitedArabEmirates,UnitedKingdomofGreatBritainandNorthernIreland,UnitedStatesofAmerica,Uruguay,Venezuela,Vietnam,Yemen,Zambia.
*Theofficialvoterecorded103votesinfavourand27abstentions.Subsequently,however,Belgium,Fiji,andNigeriainformedthattheyhadintendedtovoteinfavour.Forthisreason,thislistincludesthemamongcountriescastingavoteofapproval.
Abstentions (26)
Andorra,Argentina,Azerbaijan,Bolivia,Bulgaria,Colombia,Cuba,Ecuador,Egypt,Ethiopia,France,Ghana,Guatemala,India,Israel,Mali,Monaco,Mongolia,Pakistan,Panama,Paraguay,Peru,Rwanda,Spain,UnitedRepublicofTanzania,Uzbekistan.
Absent (31)
Afghanistan,Bahamas,Barbados,Belize,Benin,Bhutan,CapeVerde,Comoros,DemocraticPeople’sRepublicofKorea,DominicanRepublic,ElSalvador,Eritrea,Guinea,Lebanon,Mauritania,Myanmar,Niger,Palau,SaintKitts&Nevis,SaintLucia,SaintVincentandtheGrenadines,Senegal,SolomonIslands,SriLanka,Swaziland,Tajikistan,TheformerYugoslavRepublicofMacedonia,Turkmenistan,Uganda,Zaire,Zimbabwe.
Against (3)
Burundi,China,Turkey.
24
On21May1997,theUnitedNationsGeneralAssembly,atits51stSession,approvedResolutionA/RES/51/229,adoptingtheUNWatercoursesConventionandinvitingcountriestobecomepartiestoit(UNDoc.A/51/PV.99).Thetablebelowshowsthevotingrecords,includingtheConvention’ssponsors.Duringthevoting,thosestatesunderscoredtheimportanceoftheConventionandurgedallmemberstatesoftheUnitedNationstosupportitsadoption.Thestatesthatsponsored
andvotedinfavouroftheConventionarenotunderalegalobligationtobecomeparties.However,theirsponsorshipandapprovingvotecreatedanexpectationintheinternationalcommunitythat,inresponsetothecallforratificationscontainedinResolutionA/RES/51/229,thosecountrieswouldeventuallyjointheConvention.
25
AnneX III: tHe InternAtIonAL CommUnItYThe UN Watercourses Convention in the eyes of the International Community
Calls for ratifications:
UNSGAB’sHashimotoActionPlansIandII,of2006and2010,respectively
2006DecisionVIII/27ofthe8thConferenceofthePartiestotheConventiononBiodiversity,reiteratedatCOP-9,in2008,byCBDDecisionIX/19
UNSecretary-General,actinginhiscapacityasdepositary,aheadofthe2007,2008,2009and2010UnitedNationsTreatyEvents
TheDutchGovernmentandtheUnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram,insupportofthe2007UnitedNationsTreatyEvent
2007CallforActionontheRatificationoftheUNWatercoursesConventionbyWestAfricanStates
HisRoyalHighnessthePrinceofOrange,speakingtothePlenaryofthe118thAssemblyoftheInter-ParliamentarianUnion,asChairofUNSGAB,in2008
GlobalPublicPolicyNetwork(GPPN),NGOs,Women,andTheDutchGovernment,inthecontextoftheReviewofCSD-13DecisionsonWater&Sanitation,duringthe16thSessionoftheCommissiononSustainableDevelopment,in2008
TheGovernmentofIraqduringthe36thMeetingoftheRamsarStandingCommitteeon25-29February2008
TheDutchGovernment,duringtherecentinformalMeetingofWaterDirectorsoftheEuropeanUnion.CandidateandEFTACountries,in2008
2008AntiguaDeclarationonthe1997UnitedNationsConventionontheLawofNon-NavigationalUsesofInternationalWatercourses
2008MediterraneanCivilSocietyStatementtotheEuro-MediterraneanMinisterialConferenceonWater(December22th2008)
2009BangkokPlanofActionforStrengthenedTransboundaryFreshwaterGovernance.
2010OSUDeclaration,InterimGuineaCurrentCommission,duringthe2ndMeetingoftheCommitteeofWestandCentralAfricanMinistersoftheGuineaCurrentLargeMarineEcosystemProject.
International Policy Documents taking note of the importance of the Convention:
1999RamsarConventionGuidelinesforIntegratingWetlandConservationandWiseUseintoRiverBasinManagement(AnnextoResolutionVII.18)
1999ProtocolonWaterandHealthtothe1992ConventionontheProtectionandUseofTransboundaryWatercoursesandInternationalLakes
2000ReportoftheWorldCommissiononDams
2003“WaterforPeaceStatement,”adoptedduringthe3rdWorldWaterForum,inJapan
2004UnitedNations“WaterwithoutBorders”Backgrounder,launchedaheadoftheUNInternationalDecadeforAction:WaterforLife
2008DeclarationoftheEuro-MediterraneanMinisterialConferenceonWater,adoptedintheEuro-MediterraneanConferenceonWater,Jordan(22December2008).
26
The UN Watercourse Convention Global Initiative
Partners in events and other activities to raise awareness of the UN Watercourses Convention:
AfricanCentreforWaterResearch
AssociationofCivilOrganizationsofLakeBalaton(ACOLB)
ConservationInternational
EconomicCommunityofWestAfricanStates(ECOWAS)
FrenchWaterPartnership
GlobalNatureFund
GlobalWaterPartnership-Bangladesh,Europe,Mediterranean,andWestAfrica
GovernmentofGhana
GovernmentofItaly
GovernmentofNetherlands
GovernmentofNorway
GovernmentofSweden
GreenCross
GTZ
IHP–HELPCentreforWaterLaw,PolicyandScience,undertheauspicesofUNESCO
InterimGuineaCurrentCommission
InternationalWaterAssociation
IUCN—TheWorldConservationUnion
LivingLakes
LondonSchoolofEconomicsandPoliticalScience:LondonWaterResearchGroup
OrganisationpourlaMiseenValeurdufleuveSénégal(OMVS)
PromotionAssociationforMountain-River-LakeRegionalSustainableDevelopment(MRLSD)
SecretariatoftheConventiononBiologicalDiversity(SCBD)
SecretariattotheRamsarConventiononWetlands
StockholmInternationalWaterInstitute(SIWI)
SwedishNetworkofPeace,ConflictandDevelopmentResearch
UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP)
UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme
UNOfficeofLegalAffairs
UNSGAB
WaterandClimateCoalition
WorldDevelopmentMovement
WWF
27
Antigua Declaration on the 1997 United Nations Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses[online](4thDecember2008),Spanishversionavailableat:http://www.gwpcentroamerica.org/uploaded/content/event/889753255.pdf.
Bangkok Plan of Action for Strengthened Transboundary Freshwater Governance,[online],High-LevelMinisterialConferenceonStrengtheningTransboundaryFreshwaterGovernance:theEnvironmentalSustainabilityChallenge,Bangkok(20-22May2009),availableathttp://www.unep.org/environmentalgovernance/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=aX1QDZAhEEE%3D&tabid=604&language=en-US.
BBCNews,African floods prompt aid appeal, [online]Sept.21,2007,availableat:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/7005969.stm.
Charter of the Senegal River, 28May2002(onfilewithauthors).
CommissiononSustainableDevelopment,16thSession, Review of CSD-13 Decisions On Water & Sanitation,StatementbyH.E.Mr.TonBoonvonOchssée,AmbassadorforSustainableDevelopmentinNetherlands,[online](12May2008),availableat:http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/statements/netherlands_12may_water.pdf
CommissiononSustainableDevelopment,16thSession,Review of CSD-13 Decisions On Water & Sanitation, StatementbyNGOs[online](13May2008),availableathttp://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/statements/ngo_13may_water.pdf
CommissiononSustainableDevelopment,16thSession,Review of CSD-13 Decisions On Water & Sanitation,StatementbyWomenMajorGroup[online](13May2008),availableat:http://www.un.org/esa/sustdev/csd/csd16/statements/women_13may_water.pdf
Convention and Statutes relating to the Development of the Lake Chad Basin,[online]22May1964,Cameroon-Chad-Niger-Nigeria,availableat:http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7414b/w7414b05.htm
ConventiononBiodiversity,COP8Curitiba,Brazil,20-31Mar.2006,DecisionVIII/27,Alienspeciesthatthreatenecosystems,habitatsorspecies(Article8(h)).Further consideration of gaps and inconsistencies in the international regulatory framework,[online]Paragraph22,availableat:http://www.cbd.int/decisions/?m=COP-08&id=11041&lg=0
ConventiononBiodiversity,COP9,Bonn,Germany,19-30May2008,Biological diversity of inland water ecosystems, Decision IX/19, Paragraph 3, [online] available at: http://www.cbd.int/decisions/?m=COP-09&id=11662&lg=0.
ConventiononBiodiversity,COP9,Bonn,Germany,19-30May2008,Biological Diversity of Inland Water Ecosystems: The allocation and management of water for maintaining ecological functions and the role of watercourse conventions in implementing the programme of work, Note by the Executive Secretary, [online]U.N.Doc.UNEP/CBD/COP/9/INF/4(28Apr.2008),availableat:http://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-09/information/cop-09-inf-04-en.pdf
Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, [online]17Mar.1992,31I.L.M.1312(inforce6Oct.1996),availableat:http://www.unece.org/env/water/text/text.htm
Convention on the Statute of the Volta River and Setting up the Volta Basin Authority,19Jan.2007(notinforce)(onfilewithauthors).
Convention relating to the Creation of the Gambia River Basin Development Organization, [online]Article19,30June1978,Gambia-Guinea-Senegal(TheOMVGwaslaterjoinedbyGuinea-Bissau.),availableat:http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7414b/w7414b0c.htm
TheDailyStar,India,Nepal trade blame for worst floods in decades,[online](7Aug.2007),availableat:http://www.thedailystar.net/2007/08/07/d708071322125.htm.
Dakar Call for Action on the Ratification of the 1997 UN Convention on the Law of the Non-navigational Uses of International Watercourses(onfilewithauthors).
EcologicalSocietyofAmerica,IssuesinEcology,Water in a Changing World, [online]Number9(2001),p.1,availableat:http://www.epa.gov/watertrain/pdf/issue9.pdf
EUWaterInitiative,EUWI Brochure,[online](2004),availableat:http://www.euwi.net/files/euwi/niki_tmpphpuQygJH.pdf
Final Synthesis,InformalMeetingofWaterDirectorsoftheEuropeanUnion,CandidateandEFTACountries,Brdo–Slovenia,16-17June2008,p.5(onfilewithauthors).
Garane,A(2008)UN Watercourses Convention: Applicability and Relevance in West Africa,[online],availableat:http://www.internationalwaterlaw.org/bibliography/WWF/RA_West_Africa.pdf
GlobalPublicPolicyNetwork(GPPN),Up to and Beyond 2015: Emerging Issues and Future Challenges for the International Water and Sanitation Agenda. A synthesis report of global stakeholder views…,(onfilewithauthors)
GlobalPublicPolicyNetwork(GPPN),Water, Sanitation and IWRM: Some Key Recommendations for CSD, A synthesis report of global stakeholder views…, (onfilewithauthors)
HisRoyalHighnessthePrinceofOrange,speechdeliveredtothePlenaryofthe118thAssemblyoftheInter-ParliamentarianUnion,CapeTown,SouthAfrica,13-18April2008,[online]availableat:http://www.unsgab.org/about/docs/chair_080415.htm
InterimGuineaCurrentCommission,OSU Declaration,[online],2ndMeetingoftheCommitteeofWestandCentralAfricanMinistersoftheGuineaCurrentLargeMarineEcosystemProject(Accra,2ndJuly2010),availableat:http://gclme.org/igcc/reports/Reports_10/OSU_declaration/OSU_declaration_English_version.pdf.
InternationalCourtofJustice,Case Concerning the Gabcíkovo-Nagymaros Project (Hung. v. Slovk.),[online]1997I.C.J.No.92(25Sept.),availableat:http://www.icj-cij.org/docket/files/92/7375.pdf.
InternationalLawCommission,60thSession,Geneva,5May-6Juneand7July-8August2008,The law of transboundary aquifers: Title and texts of the preamble and draft articles 1 to 19 on the law of transboundary aquifers adopted, on second reading, by the Drafting Committee, UNDoc.A/CN.4/L.724(29May2008).
bIbLIogrApHY
JohanG.Lammers,InformationDocument“WhytheUNWatercoursesConventionShouldBeRatifiedandEnterIntoForce,”AndrewHudson,Presentation“TheUNWatercoursesConvention&theMillenniumDevelopmentGoals,”andH.E.Mr.FranciscusAntoniusMariaMajoor,OpeningSpeech,duringthePanel/Reception“AGlobalCoalitiontoBringintoForcetheConventionontheLawoftheNon-NavigationalUsesofInternationalWatercourses”,NewYork,1October2007,organisedjointlybyTheNetherlands,GreenCrossInternational,UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgram,UnitedNationsOfficeofLegalAffairs,andWWF,insupportofthe2007UnitedNationsTreatyEvent.
Mediterranean Civil Society Statement to the Euro-Mediterranean Ministerial Conference on Water,[online]DeadSea(December22th2008),availableathttp://www.medaquaministerial2010.net/events/12april/Civil_Society_Statement_3.doc.
OregonUniversityCollegeofScienceetal.,Atlas of International Freshwater Agreements[online](2002),availableat:http://www.transboundarywaters.orst.edu/publications/atlas/
Protocol on Shared Watercourse Systems in the Southern African Development Community Region, [online]7Aug.2000,40I.L.M.321(inforce22Sep.2003),availableat:http://www.fao.org/docrep/w7414b/w7414b0n.htm
Protocol on Water and Health to the 1992 Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes…,[online]London,17July1999,availableat:http://www.unece.org/env/documents/2000/wat/mp.wat.2000.1.e.pdf.
Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat,[online]2February1971(inforce21Dec.1975),availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-texts-convention-on/main/ramsar/1-31-38%5E20671_4000_0
RamsarConvention,10th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, Changwon, Republic of Korea, 28 Oct.-4 Nov. 2008, Wetlands and river basin management: consolidated scientific and technical guidance, Resolution X.19, [online]availableat:http://ramsar.rgis.ch/pdf/res/key_res_x_19_e.pdf
RamsarConvention,Report of the 36th Meeting of the Standing Committee,Gland,Switzerland,[online]27-29February2008,p.29,para.203,availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-standing-36th-meeting-of-the-22742/main/ramsar/1-31-41%5E22742_4000_0
RamsarConvention,7th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties, San José, Costa Rica, 10-18 May 1999, Guidelines for Integrating Wetland Conservation and Wise Use into River Basin Management[online](AnnextoResolutionVII.18),Para.61.2,availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/cda/en/ramsar-documents-guidelines-guidelines-for-20778/main/ramsar/1-31-105%5E20778_4000_0
RamsarConvention,7thMeetingoftheConferenceoftheContractingParties,SanJosé,CostaRica,10-18May1999,Guidelines for Integrating Wetland Conservation and Wise Use into River Basin Management [online](AnnextoResolutionVII.18),Para.61.2,availableat:http://www.ramsar.org/key_guide_basin_e.htm
Report of the World Commission on Dams, Dams and Development: A New Framework for Decision-Making,[online]p.252-53(2000),availableat:http://www.dams.org//docs/report/wcdreport.pdf
Revised Convention pertaining to the Creation of the Niger Basin Authority,29Oct.1987,Benin-BurkinaFaso-Cameroon-Chad-CoteD’Ivoire-Guinea-Mali-Niger-Nigeria(onfilewithauthors).
S.Brels,D.CoatesandF.Loures,CBDTechnicalSeriesNo.40,Transboundary Water Resources Management: The Role of International Watercourse Agreements in the Implementation of the CBD(SecretariatoftheConventiononBiodiversity,2008),[online],availableat:http://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-40-en.pdf.
Tänzler,D.,Schinke,B.,andBals,C.Is there “Climate Security” for India? “Tipping Points” as Drivers of Future Environmental Conflicts,[online](2006),p.8,availableat:http://www.krium.de/upload/Beitraege/Kriumworkshop_Backgroundpaper.pdf
TreatybetweentheUnitedStatesandGreatBritainrelatingtoBoundaryWatersbetweentheUnitedStatesandCanada,PreliminaryArticle,[online],11Jan.1909,36Stat.2448,[online]availableat:http://www.ijc.org/rel/agree/water.html#text
TreatybetweentheUnitedStatesandMexicorelatingtotheUtilizationoftheWatersoftheColoradoandTijuanaRivers,andoftheRioGrande(RioBravo)fromFortQuitman,Texas,totheGolfofMexico…,[online](3February1944),availableat:http://www.ibwc.state.gov/Files/1944Treaty.pdf
TreatyforAmazonianCo-operation,[online]3July1978,Bolivia-Brazil-Colombia-Ecuador-Guyana-Peru-Suriname-Venezuela,availableat:http://www.otca.org.br/en/institucional/index.php?id=29.
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)-PCCP,Updating the International Water Events Database,[online]LuciaDeStaefano,LynettedeSilva,ParisEdwardsandAaronT.Wolf,ProgramforWaterConflictManagementandTransformation,OregonStateUniversity(2009),p.2,availableat:http://www.unesco.org/water/wwap/pccp/pubs/05may09-2.shtml
UnitedNationsGeneralAssembly,6thCommittee,63rdSession,NewYork,DraftResolution:The law of transboundary aquifers,UNDoc.A/C.6/63/L.21,(9Nov.2008).
United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification,[online]17June1994(inforce26Dec.1996)availableat:http://www.unccd.int/convention/text/convention.php.
United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity,[online]5June1992(inforce29Dec.1993),availableat:http://www.cbd.int/convention/convention.shtml.
United Nations Convention on the Law of Non-Navigational Uses of International Watercourses,UNDoc.A/51/869,21May1997,reprintedin36Int’lLegalMat’ls700.
UnitedNationsDepartmentofPublicInformation,Water without Borders,InternationalYearofFreshwater2003,DPI/2293,[online](February2003),availableat:http://www.un.org/events/water/WaterWithoutBorders.pdf.
UnitedNationsDevelopmentProgramme(UNDP),HumanDevelopmentReport—Beyond scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water crisis,[online](2006),p.2,availableat:http://hdr.undp.org/en/reports/global/hdr2006/.
Supporting Partners
UnitedNationsEnvironmentProgramme(UNEP),Challenges to International Waters: Regional Assessments in a Global Perspective(2006),p.35,[online],availableat:http://www.unep.org/dewa/giwa/publications/finalreport/
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,[online]9May1992(inforce21Mar.1994),availableat:http://unfccc.int/resource/docs/convkp/conveng.pdf
UnitedNationsSecretaryGeneral’sAdvisoryBoardonWaterandSanitation,Hashimoto Action Plan,[online]p.9(Mar.2006),availableat:http://www.unsgab.org/docs/HAP_en.pdf.
UnitedNationsSecretaryGeneral’sAdvisoryBoardonWaterandSanitation(UNSGAB), Hashimoto Action Plan II,[online](Jan.2010),availableat:http://www.unsgab.org/HAP-II/HAP-II_en.pdf.
UnitedNationsSecretary-General,Letter to Heads of States and Government[online](28March2008),availableat:http://treaties.un.org/doc/source/events/2008/SG/letter_english.pdf.
UnitedNationsSecretary-General,Letter to Heads of States and Government [online](9May2007),availableat:http://treaties.un.org/doc/source/events/2007/letter_english.pdf.
WaterforPeace,[online],StatementtoMinisterialConference,Kyoto,Japan,March2003,3rdWorldWaterForum,p.56,availableat:http://www.mlit.go.jp/tochimizushigen/mizsei/wwf3/MC_Final_Report_screen.pdf.
Wouters,P,1999.The Legal Response to International Water Scarcity and Water Conflicts: The UN Watercourses Convention and Beyond,[online]availableat:http://www.africanwater.org/pat_wouters1.htm
WWF,OrinocoRiver&FloodedForests:AGlobalEcoregion,[online]availableat:http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/ecoregions/orinoco_flooded_forests.cfm
WWF International
AvenueduMont-Blanc1196GlandSwitzerlandt:+41223649111f:+41223645358
July 2010
Acknowledgements:
ThecollaboratingorganisationswishtothankMr.ChristianBehrmann,Dr.BertrandCharrier,Mr.MartinGeiger,Mr.PhilipLeonard,Mr.LifengLi,LuminousDesign,Mr.PetrObrdlik,Mr.JamiePittock,Ms.MicaRuiz,Dr.DavidTickner,Mr.ChristopherWilliams,andothercolleagueswithinournetworksfortheirvaluablecontributiontothecontentanddesignofthisbooklet.
Formedin2007,theHSBCClimatePartnershipbringstogetherHSBC,TheClimateGroup,EarthwatchInstitute,SmithsonianTropicalResearchInstituteandWWFtotackletheurgentthreatofclimatechangeonpeople,water,forestsandcities.
Formoreinformationvisitwww.hsbc.com/climatepartnership
ThemissionofWWFistostopthedegradationoftheplanet’snaturalenvironmentandtobuildafutureinwhichhumansliveinharmonywithnature,by:·conservingtheworld’sbiologicaldiversity·ensuringthattheuseofrenewableresourcesissustainable·reducingpollutionandwastefulconsumption.
wwf.panda.org/what_we_do/how_we_work/policy/conventions/water_conventions/un_watercourses _convention
FSCinformationtobeinsertedbyprinterFSCinformationtobeinsertedbyprinterFSCinformationtobeinsertedbyprinterFSCinformationtobeinsertedbyprinter
PrintedonRevive100.
Designedbywww.luminous.co.uk
Art: HSBC_Climate_Pship_CMYK
WW
F-U
Kre
gist
ered
cha
rity
num
ber1
0812
47a
ndre
gist
ered
inS
cotla
ndn
umbe
rSC
0395
93.A
com
pany
lim
ited
byg
uara
ntee
num
ber4
0167
25
©1
986
Pan
das
ymbo
land
®“
WW
F”R
egis
tere
dTr
adem
ark
ofW
WF
–W
orld
Wid
eFu
ndF
orN
atur
e(F
orm
erly
Wor
ldW
ildlif
eFu
nd)
About WWF
Withaglobalnetworkcoveringmorethan100countriesandnearly50yearsofconservationworkbehindus,WWFisoneofthemostexperiencedenvironmentalorganisationsintheworld,activelycontributingtodeliveringfreshwaterprojectsandprogrammesaroundtheworld.
For further information contact:
UNESCO Centre for Water Law, Policy and Science [email protected]
Green Cross International [email protected]