Problem
Lack of international accord on water use
Other Names:
Hydropolitics Nature:
Internationally, when more than one country controls portions of a river basin, respective rights to water supplies need to regulated by negotiations and treaties; hydrology points to collaborative efforts as the key to optimum utilization of scarce water resources. Frequently, however, the politics of water resource allocation become enmeshed with other quarrelsome issues, aggravating international tension between neighbouring countries. Hydropolitics can be the first step in promoting collaborative relations across borders, but can also lead to sharpened international tension. Indeed, water resources represent a great potential for conflict because of competing demands on limited supplies or because of deterioration in quality through use. Conflicts exist both within national boundaries and between adjacent countries.
Broader Problems:
Conflicts arising from depletion of renewable resources Aggravates:
Maldistribution of waterConflicting uses of water resourcesLong-term shortage of waterWater-related hazards and dangersInadequate water system infrastructureUncoordinated international river basin developmentWater wars Subject(s):
Economics → Resource utilizationGovernment → Politics
Hydrology → Water
Law → Agreements
Societal Problems → Scarcity
Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
Problem Type:
F: Fuzzy exceptional problems Date of last update
04.10.2020 – 22:48 CEST