UNEP International Waters has had a lot of success in assisting with global transboundary water challenges. It has a history of developing and testing policy tools and has been at the forefront of innovation for sustainable management solutions for environmental concerns. International waters, on the other hand, provide issues related with competition for shared systems as well as multi-state cooperation and management techniques as transboundary resources.
Water is essential for the survival of humans and ecosystems, as well as numerous economic activities and the attainment of many of the Sustainable Development Goals. In many parts of the world, the scarcity of safe drinking water is posing a threat to human health and economic development.
Transboundary governance entails more than just diplomatic facilitation between countries; it also entails a recognition of the need for varied approaches tailored to the demands of many stakeholders. Separate conservation agreements for Ecuador, Madagascar, Kenya, Mozambique, and the United Arab Emirates were included in the Blue Forests Project, reflecting the diverse demands of each country on a local, national, and international scale.
Water binds all of these parties together, and conflicting usage of water resources in transboundary surface or groundwater areas sometimes result in environmental or economic harm. Downstream states suffer, and political tensions rise, but UNEP International Waters-supported actions can help to promote regional integration and reduce tensions among states by supporting joint management, as well as legislative, legal, and institutional reforms. UNEP can also help mainstream water issues in the international development agenda by promoting effective and integrated water resource management in the Sustainable Development Goals.
