News
New SFG report "Water Cooperation for a Secure World" was presented at Palais des Nations, headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva on September 23 at an international workshop hosted by the Secretariat of Parties to the Helsinki Water Convention and attended by over 100 diplomats and experts from around the world.
The report concludes that any two nations engaged in active water cooperation do not go to war for any reason whatsoever. It has reached this conclusion after carefully examining trans-boundary water relations in over 200 shared river basins in 148 countries.
The report “Water Cooperation for a Secure World – Focus on the Middle East” is now available for download on our website. The report demonstrates that water cooperation between countries sharing trans-boundary water resources is directly correlated with security of nations involved in such cooperation and peace in the continent or subcontinent they belong to. Conversely, absence of active water cooperation is directly correlated with risk of war between countries sharing trans-boundary water resources.
Out of 148 countries sharing water resources, 37 do not engage in active water cooperation. These 37 countries face the risk of war and are home to more people on the earth than others. Together they account for more than 50 per cent of the world's population.
This report presents a detailed analysis of ten successful regional water cooperation arrangements, including details of their treaties, structures, processes and operational realities. Drawing on experiences from around the world, the report presents the possibility for the construction of a river basin organisation or other forms of regional water cooperation arrangements.
The Middle East is the primary theatre of war and faces the risk of war in the future. Countries in the Middle East have avoided regional cooperation for too long and there is no active political commitment to cooperation. If countries in the Middle East want to construct a suitable model for regional water cooperation the report has several examples.
This report provides evidence of a problem that has been neglected for too long. It also provides detailed options for solutions. A must for political leaders and researchers alike, this report is an essential tool for peace and cooperation.
For highlights of the report see:
http://www.strategicforesight.com/publication_pdf/20795water-cooperation-concise.pdf
The full report can be downloaded here:
http://www.strategicforesight.com/publication_pdf/20795water-cooperature-sm.pdf
