Background

Readily available freshwater is confined to a mere fraction of the world’s 2.5% freshwater supply; additionally, this unevenly distributed global resource is facing intense pressure though overextraction and unsustainable practices. Water conflicts can arise through inequitable sharing and has been witnessed at various geographical scales – local & sub-basin/-national, national, regional / transboundary, and global. The characteristics that make water likely to be a source of strategic rivalry are: (1) the degree of scarcity, (2) the extent to which the water supply is shared by more than one region or state, (3) the relative power of the basin states, and (4) the ease of access to alternative fresh water sources [Gleick, 1993]. However, history has demonstrated that cooperation is the predominant response towards resolving and/or avoiding water conflicts.

 

This report is intended to provide a background on freshwater conflicts –> do they really exist and/or will they become reality as the world’s growing population of 7 billion people places increasing demands on this stressed resource? The availability and consumption of freshwater resources is reviewed before exploring the types and sources of water conflict. Challenges, solutions, and WWF case studies are presented at the global, regional/transboundary, national, and local scale, before concluding with possible future scenarios and recommendations to avoid freshwater conflicts.