A new World Bank report is calling for greater international cooperation on the 80% of the world’s rivers that cross national boundaries against a backdrop of increased volatility in international food prices and energy supply, due in part to water availability.
Overcoming barriers to international cooperation on river basins is critical for future food, energy and water security says the new report released this week at World Water Week in Stockholm.
The report says that with water scarcity increasing in many parts of the world, governments must find ways to maximize the use of water for multiple, often competing uses, including:
- growing populations requiring food security
- rapid urbanization increasing domestic and industrial demand
- the ever-increasing need for clean electricity
- tourism and recreation
- environmental management
“Within a nation, any two of these multiple interests can be at odds,” said World Bank Vice President for Middle East and North Africa Inger Andersen. “Add international boundaries and the complexity grows substantially. The key challenge – and opportunity – for riparian nations is to manage perceptions of risk, and benefit from lessons of experience where cooperation has worked demonstrably, benefiting countries and supporting their efforts to reduce poverty and protect the environment.”
The new report, Reaching Across the Waters: Facing the Risks of Cooperation in International Waters reviews the experience of cooperation in five international river basins.
40% of the world's population lives in international basins which account for 80% of global river flow. Despite this and the proven benefits of cooperation, such as reduced chances of conflict, improved river sustainability, and access to external markets, 166 of the world’s 276 international basins have no treaty provisions covering them.
The Bank said that by 2025 it is estimated that nearly two-thirds of countries will be water-stressed and that if the world does not start managing its water resources better it will soon face even greater fluctuations in food and energy availability.