Why the UN Should Promote Track Two Water Diplomacy
Dursun Yıldız
Director
Hydropolitics Academy -Türkiye
February 5, 2025
Water is a vital resource, and its management is a key element in achieving many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is the primary water-related goal, water intersects with many other SDGs, including climate action, agriculture, life below water, and land ecosystems.
Hydro diplomacy plays a crucial role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1, which aims to “ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.” 153 countries share rivers, lakes, and aquifers across borders. Hydro diplomacy helps these countries establish agreements for equitable water distribution and joint management. By resolving water-related disputes, hydro diplomacy ensures peaceful and cooperative relationships, reducing risks of conflicts that hinder access to clean water.
Through diplomatic platforms, countries can exchange best practices, technology, and expertise for improving water infrastructure and access. Climate change worsens water scarcity and quality issues, which directly impact SDG 6.1.
Hydro diplomacy fosters regional cooperation on climate adaptation strategies to ensure sustainable water resources, even in vulnerable regions.
In summary: Hydro diplomacy at both regional and international levels is crucial to achieving the SDGs. By promoting peace, ensuring access to clean water, fostering economic growth, addressing climate change, and supporting environmental sustainability, Hydro diplomacy refers to the process of negotiating and managing water-related issues between countries or regions, to ensure equitable, sustainable, and peaceful access to water resources as well as contribute to the achievement of the SDGs
UN organizations can support civil organizations and non-governmental actors for civil diplomacy and track two diplomacy for multi-stakeholder dialogues.
Civil diplomacy is the diplomatic activities carried out individually between the non-official representatives of the countries. Civil Diplomacy is carried out through ‘civil organizations.
Track One Diplomacy is a state diplomacy that focuses on the top leadership level of conflicting parties. Multi-track diplomacy recognizes that the transformation of deep-rooted conflicts cannot be left solely to governmental entities, but must be expanded to include non-governmental actors, civil society, and other informal channels. By expanding the approach to peacemaking and peace-building outside of Track One,
In this context Track Two Water Diplomacy refers to informal, non-official diplomacy efforts aimed at building trust, fostering dialogue, and addressing water-related conflicts or challenges outside of formal government negotiations. It involves non-state actors, such as academics, NGOs, community leaders, and policy experts, working alongside or in parallel with official (Track One) diplomacy to achieve shared water management goals.
Hydropolitics Association promotes Track Two Water Diplomacy on international platforms.
Hydro diplomacy can be integrated into the UN system to help achieve these goals, particularly in peace, economic development, health, and environmental sustainability. The UN, through its agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-Water, and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), can play an essential role in facilitating hydro diplomacy, coordinating international frameworks, and promoting collaboration on shared water challenges.
Additionally, The United Nations (UN) can play a significant role in supporting Track Two Water Diplomacy by providing resources, expertise, and platforms for informal dialogue and capacity building. UN organizations ( UN-Water, UNECE, UNDP) can provide a neutral and trusted space for multi-stakeholder dialogues.
The UN can offer training programs and technical assistance to local actors involved in Track Two diplomacy.
The UN should promote successful examples of Track Two water diplomacy as part of the SDG 6 framework to inspire further cooperation and can act as a bridge between Track Two and Track One diplomacy, ensuring informal dialogues influence formal negotiations.
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Why the UN Should Promote Track Two Water Diplomacy
Dursun Yıldız
Director
Hydropolitics Academy -Türkiye
February 5, 2025
Water is a vital resource, and its management is a key element in achieving many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
While SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) is the primary water-related goal, water intersects with many other SDGs, including climate action, agriculture, life below water, and land ecosystems.
Hydro diplomacy plays a crucial role in achieving Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6.1, which aims to “ensure universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all by 2030.” 153 countries share rivers, lakes, and aquifers across borders. Hydro diplomacy helps these countries establish agreements for equitable water distribution and joint management. By resolving water-related disputes, hydro diplomacy ensures peaceful and cooperative relationships, reducing risks of conflicts that hinder access to clean water.
Through diplomatic platforms, countries can exchange best practices, technology, and expertise for improving water infrastructure and access. Climate change worsens water scarcity and quality issues, which directly impact SDG 6.1.
Hydro diplomacy fosters regional cooperation on climate adaptation strategies to ensure sustainable water resources, even in vulnerable regions.
In summary: Hydro diplomacy at both regional and international levels is crucial to achieving the SDGs. By promoting peace, ensuring access to clean water, fostering economic growth, addressing climate change, and supporting environmental sustainability, Hydro diplomacy refers to the process of negotiating and managing water-related issues between countries or regions, to ensure equitable, sustainable, and peaceful access to water resources as well as contribute to the achievement of the SDGs
UN organizations can support civil organizations and non-governmental actors for civil diplomacy and track two diplomacy for multi-stakeholder dialogues.
Civil diplomacy is the diplomatic activities carried out individually between the non-official representatives of the countries. Civil Diplomacy is carried out through ‘civil organizations.
Track One Diplomacy is a state diplomacy that focuses on the top leadership level of conflicting parties. Multi-track diplomacy recognizes that the transformation of deep-rooted conflicts cannot be left solely to governmental entities, but must be expanded to include non-governmental actors, civil society, and other informal channels. By expanding the approach to peacemaking and peace-building outside of Track One,
In this context Track Two Water Diplomacy refers to informal, non-official diplomacy efforts aimed at building trust, fostering dialogue, and addressing water-related conflicts or challenges outside of formal government negotiations. It involves non-state actors, such as academics, NGOs, community leaders, and policy experts, working alongside or in parallel with official (Track One) diplomacy to achieve shared water management goals.
Hydropolitics Association promotes Track Two Water Diplomacy on international platforms.
Hydro diplomacy can be integrated into the UN system to help achieve these goals, particularly in peace, economic development, health, and environmental sustainability. The UN, through its agencies such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UN-Water, and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE), can play an essential role in facilitating hydro diplomacy, coordinating international frameworks, and promoting collaboration on shared water challenges.
Additionally, The United Nations (UN) can play a significant role in supporting Track Two Water Diplomacy by providing resources, expertise, and platforms for informal dialogue and capacity building. UN organizations ( UN-Water, UNECE, UNDP) can provide a neutral and trusted space for multi-stakeholder dialogues.
The UN can offer training programs and technical assistance to local actors involved in Track Two diplomacy.
The UN should promote successful examples of Track Two water diplomacy as part of the SDG 6 framework to inspire further cooperation and can act as a bridge between Track Two and Track One diplomacy, ensuring informal dialogues influence formal negotiations.
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