April/ May 2024
Message from Director of the IWLA, Professor Patricia Wouters
Welcome to our double issue Substack Newsletter for April and May ‘News and Views’ which highlights the theme Connecting Communities across Transboundary Waters – the integral role of international water law.
In collaboration with the University of Edinburgh’s Centre for International & Global Law, the Academy will convene a two-day research event June 25-26, 2024, focusing on the international law topics of ‘Community’ and ‘Convergence’, and building on our work in these fields.
The positive impact the Academy has in enhancing transboundary water cooperation is made possible through our global community of scholars. In this issue we profile some of the meetings and key people in our global network that give life to our mission.
Quoting from my speech New Waves in International Water Law - Communities, Cooperation, and Integrated Water Law given in Wuhan on September 15, 2023, when the Academy was officially inaugurated:
“State practice on transboundary waters is vast, since water is connected to everything – and our study of law in this field must be broad-reaching – from peace and security, environmental protection and climate change to human rights and international investment. The global community has catalysed such a joined-up approach under the umbrella of the Sustainable Development Goals.
The notion that international water law can be implemented seamlessly by nation states is of course more a fantasy than reality. Nation states have sovereign interests, with competing national demands, which must be reconciled. This is especially true in our field of transboundary waters – where communities are connected, and sometimes divided, by the freshwaters that they share. Connecting the layers of law that apply to regulating the peaceful use of those shared waters is complex – involving international, transnational, and national water regimes. Efforts at integrating these layers of water law need to be done collectively, across the many political, natural, and legal boundaries that exist at present.”
Our Global Affiliates – an International Water Law Community in Action
Congratulations to founding affiliate of the IWLA, Dr. David J Devlaeminck, who has been elected as Co-chair of the American Society of International Law’s (ASIL) Asia-Pacific Interest Group (ASIL-APIG). ASIL, one of the oldest and most influential international law societies, contains many interest groups which focus on specific international legal topics or regions which its members can join. As part of his role in ASIL-APIG, David will work alongside his fellow Co-Chair, Yueming Yan of the Chinese University of Hong Kong, to serve the ASIL-APIG community through its newsletter, organizing webinars, organizing sessions and meetings at the ASIL Annual Meeting, and regional conferences. He will serve in this capacity for a period of three years, from 2024-2027.
Emerging Scholars Initiative
Dr. Devlaeminck also coordinates the Emerging Scholars Initiative (ESI) alongside Dr. Melissa McCracken, Ms Zaki Shubber, and Prof. Patricia Wouters. Recently, the ESI scholars participated in an online seminar with Dr. Michael Hantke Domas from Chile. Global affiliate Dr. Hantke Domas (at the upper left corner of the screenshot) is Associate Professor at the Faculty of Law and Government at San Sebastián University (Chile) and Vice Chair of the Water and Wetland Law Specialist Group at the IUCN World Commission on Environmental Law. At the seminar, Dr. Hantke Domas shared his vast experience as a judge, academic and consultant, and offered advice for career development.
A Conversation with Leading International Water Law Experts on The Latest in Transboundary Waters - China Water Risk Report
The IWLA was invited by China Water Risk to discuss current developments in the field of transboundary waters and reflections on the role international law in this domain. Read this discourse with IWLA's Founding Director Professor Wouters and Global IWLA affiliates – Prof. Lingjie Kong, Dr. David J Devlaeminck, Dr. Ana María Daza-Clark, and Dr. Yang Liu - 22 March 2024.
IWLA and Affiliate Meetings 2024
In 2024, IWLA will hold expert meetings in both China and the UK, with a central theme on convergence and community. Here is a selection of some of the meetings in 2024 where Academy affiliates are actively participating.
Centre for Water Law, Policy, and Science, under the auspices of UNESCO, Symposium, February 22, 2024, Dundee, UK
This UNESCO Category II Centre, hosted by the University of Dundee, recently held a wide-ranging research symposium, attended by water experts from this, and other, Category II UNESCO Centres. IWLA Affiliate Mr. Andrew Allan presented his recent work on both corporate disclosure and water, and on the rights of nature (with his University of Dundee colleague Prof. Chris Spray). The research symposium was attended by around 60 people across multiple disciplines.
Visit to the Academy at Wuhan University
Daniel Gilbert (Research Associate of the UNESCO Centre at Dundee University and part of the communications team of the Academy) visited the Academy at Wuhan University in late April 2024, meeting with Prof. Yu Minyou, Dean of the China Institute of Boundary and Ocean Studies. He also met with founding affiliate Prof. Lingjie Kong, and academics Dr. Fan Zhang and Dr. Yang Lui, and doctoral researcher Jean-Luc Cimanuka, pictured in the photo above. The Wuhan Academy home team extended a warm welcome to Daniel, who has been integral to the Academy’s international outreach.
Expert Consultation on Transboundary Water Cooperation and Climate Change in view of the preparation of the Third progress report on SDG indicator 6.5.2 UNECE and UNESCO, February 29, 2024, Geneva, Switzerland
As part of efforts to analyse national SDG 6.5.2 data and produce their 3rd progress report, UNECE and UNESCO hosted an expert consultation in Geneva on 29 February back-to-back with the Global Task Force Meeting on Water and Climate, and a Global Workshop on Droughts in Transboundary Basins organised by the UNECE with partner organisations. The consultation on SDG 6.5.2 explored linkages between operational arrangements for transboundary water cooperation and climate change. IWLA Affiliate, Prof. Alistair Rieu-Clarke works with UNECE and UNESCO to support the SDG 6.5.2 exercise and is lead author for the 6.5.2 progress reports. Prof. Rieu-Clarke is a founding IWLA affiliate of the Academy. He is Professor of Law at Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK and has held positions as expert and/or member in the International Water Resources Association, the IUCN Commission of Environmental Law and the University Partnership on Water Cooperation and Diplomacy. The third progress report will be published in September 2024.
Regional Focus on Central Asia and UNFCCC COP 29 – Baku Water Week
Baku Water Week Conference: Climate Change and Water Resource Management Challenges, March 13-14, 2024
The international conference Baku Water Week was organised by the Azerbaijan State Water Resources Agency. The Conference was devoted to the challenges related to global and regional water scarcity and climate change impacts. During the meeting, current challenges and opportunities were discussed including how to attract new investments, but also how to secure good water governance and sufficient water for everyone. Efficient use of water resources in Azerbaijan and the Caspian Region, as well as technological innovations in the water sector were also discussed at the Conference. The Panel identified key priorities, which included: efficient use of water for agriculture, environment, and society, as well as the importance of engagement with business and the development of innovation.
The two main themes of the Conference discussions were the need for good water governance and water and climate change, an important theme since the next Conference of the Parties (COP) of the UN Climate Change Convention will take place in Baku November 11-22, 2024. According to the discussions of the Baku Water Week, the COP priorities of Azerbaijan will focus on water shortages, pollution, and the use of renewable energy. Wider goals covering climate change impact on infrastructure and technology transfer between developed and developing countries are also expected to be COP priorities. Additionally, food security and ecosystem protection, especially biodiversity will be a priority for the forthcoming Azerbaijan COP presidency.
International and local experts representing government, business and academia attended the Baku Water Week. It provided a platform for in-depth exchange of information and an opportunity to network with other professionals in other sectors related to water management. The Baku Water Week was an important step towards preparation of the COP Agenda for water and climate change. Dr. Barbara Janusz-Pawletta a global affiliate of the Academy attended the Baku Water Week.
Dr. Barbara Janusz-Pawletta is vice-rector on International Cooperation at the Kazakh-German University (DKU). Other positions she holds include among others, Member of the Technical Committee of the Global Water Partnership, Legal Research Fellow of the Centre for International Sustainable Development Law (CISDL) and UNESCO Chairholder for water management in Central Asia. She is also the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the the Central Asian Journal of Water Research (CAJWR)
Launch of the 2024 UN World Water Development Report: Water for Prosperity and Peace, released on World Water Day, 22 March, at the UNESCO Headquarters in Paris. Global Affiliate Dr. Susanne Schmeier attended the World Water Day event in Paris. Dr. Schmeier is the Head of the Water Governance Department and an Associate Professor of Water Law and Diplomacy at IHE Delft Institute for Water Education (IHE Delft), where she focuses on water resources governance and the role of agreements and basin organizations, as well as sustainable management of ecosystems linked to water resources.
Workshop on Transboundary Water Allocation, WEFE Nexus and Development of Agreements and other Arrangements: Supporting exchanges of lessons learned, good practices & practical tools’
April 15-16, Livingstone Zambia
Seeking cooperative solutions to the pressing challenges facing transboundary water governance, the Water Convention convened a regional workshop with its partners designed to support states, river basin and lake organizations, and other institutions in sharing challenges, problem-solving, and exchanging good practices on water allocation agreements and other transboundary arrangements. Three experts from the Academy attended this meeting – Prof. Rieu-Clark, Prof. Owen McIntyre and Dr. Dinara Ziganshina. Prof Rieu-Clarke also supported a bilateral training session for government officials from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Zambia. Additionally, he helped facilitate bilateral negotiations between DRC and Zambia on the development of an Agreement establishing the Luapula River Authority. An article about the meeting will be published in the Northumbria Law School e-newsletter.
10th World Water Forum, World Water Council, Bali, Indonesia,
May 18 - 24, 2024
IWLA meeting – Convergence and Community, University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, UK, June 25-26, 2024
This first European-based meeting of the IWLA is led by Prof. Patricia Wouters and hosted and convened by Dr. Ana Maria Daza-Clark (below right) with Prof. Owen McIntyre (below left) leading the Convergence Research workshop and project.
International Water Association (IWA) World Water Congress and Exhibition 2024 Toronto, Canada, August 11 - 15, 2024
World Water Week 2024, Bridging Borders: Water for a Peaceful and Sustainable Future, Stockholm, Sweden, August 25 - 29, 2024
Research Workshop on Transboundary Water Governance
Time to be announced, Venue: TB555, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen Campus, in collaboration with IWLA. It shall focus on the link between water resources and global peace and stability under 3 themes:
Sovereignty, extraterritoriality, and international cooperation;
Hydro-social territories and the ‘Community of Communities’; and
Roundtable Discussion – concluding remarks and research outcomes. Review of European, Comparative & International Environmental Law (RECIEL), 1 February 2024, Dr. Yang Liu.
Upcoming Research
Special Issue of the Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law
The Academy will produce a special issue of the Journal of Energy and Natural Resources Law (Taylor and Francis). Prof. Don Smith is the Managing Editor for the journal, welcoming the Director of the Academy Prof. Patricia Wouters, as well as Academy affiliates Dr. David J Devlaeminck and Dr. Ana-Maria Daza Clark alongside as guest editors for this Special Issue. This collection of scholarship gathers research on international water law with a closer examination of the concept of ‘community’ as it relates to transboundary water through the lens of international water law. Reaching to our networks outside of the Academy, there will also be some experts contributing who are not affiliates of IWLA.
Communications Team: Dale Campbell, Daniel Gilbert, Yang Liu & Tian Yunhe. Affiliates – share your news with us for future issues of the IWLA newsletter, News & Views, email us at: Dale.IWLA@proton.me or Daniel.IWLA@proton.me