Table of contents
Executive Summary
Executive Summary
Introduction
Governmental Institutions and Parliaments
- Countries and respective administrations that have signed on to multilateral environmental conventions like Ramsar, Espoo, CBD, or have entered into regional agreements with other basin countries in transboundary river basins, or are responsible for implementing the WFD, should honor their commitments with regard to these conventions or legal frameworks, implement them, and periodically report on their implementation. In the spirit of existing customary law, countries and respective administrations should respect and honor equitable and reasonable utilization, protection of ecosystems, notification and consultation on planned measures, exchange of data and information, third party fact-finding and other dispute settlement mechanisms.
- Countries that are planning to establish infrastructure or installations in a transboundary river basin or aquifer which potentially impact neighbor states should inform them on these plans and their expected impacts well in advance so as to allow them to voice their views and opinions. This should include a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to allow neighboring countries to see how alternative options have been explored and valued.
- Mega-cities and in general large-scale cities1 should assess potential risk and conflict areas related to water supply and sanitation. The impact of virtual water flows between cities and surrounding rural areas should be further highlighted and risks identified. Ideally, water allocation plans and conflict risk mitigation strategies should be developed and implemented between the peri-urban and urban areas to avoid conflicts. Water must be an integral element in any future city planning, thus avoiding conflicts between sectors and providing the basis for cost-effective synergies.
- Countries that have not yet signed the UN Watercourses Convention should ratify the Convention as soon as possible, in particular those within transboundary basins or aquifers (e.g. European member and candidate states like Austria, Italy, Croatia, Turkey, Serbia; Parana River countries like Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay; or Nile River countries like Egypt, Sudan). Until the Convention enters into force, countries should also sign the Espoo Convention, which governs major infrastructure development in a transboundary context beyond watercourses.
- As required by national laws, Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) should be conducted wherever appropriate not only as a management and planning tool, but also to highlight potential conflict and risk areas, develop mitigation measures or alternatives, and come up with planning and implementation options.
- Countries should continue to invest in access to safe drinking water and sanitation, build up the necessary institutional capacity, and establish and strengthen water management systems and utilities ensuring that the rural and urban poor are favored.
