Climate-proofing transboundary water agreements
Heather Cooley & Peter H. Gleick Pacific Institute, Oakland, California, USA hcooley@pacinst.org This is a preprint of an article, “Climate-proofing Transboundary Water Agreements” by Heather Cooley and Peter Gleick, whose final and definitive form has been published in the journal Hydrological Sciences © 2011 [copyright Taylor & Francis]; the Hydrological Sciences Journal is available online at: www.tandfonline.com, and this article, specifically, at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02626667.2011.576651
Citation Cooley, H. & Gleick, P. H. (2011) Climate-proofing transboundary water agreements. Hydrol Sci. J. 56(4), 711-718.
Abstract
Global climate change will pose a wide range of challenges to freshwater resources, altering water quantity, quality, system operations, and imposing new governance complications. Among the many unresolved challenges is how to integrate information on future hydroclimatological conditions into the politically complex system of transboundary water agreements, including formal treaties, international agreements, and transnational management institutions. Yet, most treaties and international agreements lack important tools for dealing with current challenges, such as flood control and water quality, and they lack adequate mechanisms for addressing changing social, economic or climate conditions. There are a variety of approaches that can be incorporated into existing treaties to allow for flexibility in the face of climate change, including: (1) adjustable allocation strategies and water-quality standards; (2) response strategies for extreme events; (3) amendment and review procedures; and (4) joint management institutions. We offer some explicit examples where specific strategies have been successfully implemented in ways that both reduce the risks of political conflicts over shared waters and lessen vulnerabilities to climatic changes.
Key words water management; transboundary water resources; international agreements; climate change; water quality; extreme events
INTRODUCTION
Political borders and boundaries rarely coincide with borders of watersheds, ensuring that politics inevitably intrude on water policy. Indeed, over 260 river basins and nearly 270 groundwater aquifers are shared by two or more nations (Wolf et al., 1999; UNESCO, 2009). Just as oil creates disputes between states, water has long played a role in international politics and conflicts. Inequities in the distribution, allocation, and use of water have been a source of tension and dispute. In addition, water resources have long been used to achieve military and political goals, including the use of water systems and infrastructure, such as dams and supply canals, as military targets (Gleick, 1993).
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Climate-proofing transboundary water agreements
Heather Cooley & Peter H. Gleick Pacific Institute, Oakland, California, USA hcooley@pacinst.org This is a preprint of an article, “Climate-proofing Transboundary Water Agreements” by Heather Cooley and Peter Gleick, whose final and definitive form has been published in the journal Hydrological Sciences © 2011 [copyright Taylor & Francis]; the Hydrological Sciences Journal is available online at: www.tandfonline.com, and this article, specifically, at http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02626667.2011.576651
Citation Cooley, H. & Gleick, P. H. (2011) Climate-proofing transboundary water agreements. Hydrol Sci. J. 56(4), 711-718.
Abstract
Global climate change will pose a wide range of challenges to freshwater resources, altering water quantity, quality, system operations, and imposing new governance complications. Among the many unresolved challenges is how to integrate information on future hydroclimatological conditions into the politically complex system of transboundary water agreements, including formal treaties, international agreements, and transnational management institutions. Yet, most treaties and international agreements lack important tools for dealing with current challenges, such as flood control and water quality, and they lack adequate mechanisms for addressing changing social, economic or climate conditions. There are a variety of approaches that can be incorporated into existing treaties to allow for flexibility in the face of climate change, including: (1) adjustable allocation strategies and water-quality standards; (2) response strategies for extreme events; (3) amendment and review procedures; and (4) joint management institutions. We offer some explicit examples where specific strategies have been successfully implemented in ways that both reduce the risks of political conflicts over shared waters and lessen vulnerabilities to climatic changes.
Key words water management; transboundary water resources; international agreements; climate change; water quality; extreme events
INTRODUCTION
Political borders and boundaries rarely coincide with borders of watersheds, ensuring that politics inevitably intrude on water policy. Indeed, over 260 river basins and nearly 270 groundwater aquifers are shared by two or more nations (Wolf et al., 1999; UNESCO, 2009). Just as oil creates disputes between states, water has long played a role in international politics and conflicts. Inequities in the distribution, allocation, and use of water have been a source of tension and dispute. In addition, water resources have long been used to achieve military and political goals, including the use of water systems and infrastructure, such as dams and supply canals, as military targets (Gleick, 1993).
to read the full article please click on
/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/climate-proofing-transboundary.pdf
^
