Hydrodiplomacy and the Food, Water and Energy Nexus: A Holistic Approach for Transboundary Cooperation & Peace
Publisher: Hellenic Foundation for European & Foreign Policy
Author(s): Fadi G. Comair
Date: 2023
Topics: Climate Change, Conflict Causes, Conflict Prevention, Cooperation, Governance, Renewable Resources
The rapid social and economic development in the world is leading to increased levels of water stress that point to potential water crises. As the most vital and strategic of natural resources, water can serve as an instrument of domination or of cooperation. Given the presence of key geopolitical concerns in the Near East, regional hydro-diplomatic cooperation is necessary to ensure fair sharing of the resource and to avoid additional tensions and conflict. Nine of the seventeen EMME countries are below the absolute water scarcity threshold of 500 m3/year per capita, including all six countries in the Gulf region, Jordan and Palestine. Those countries that share major transboundary basins in the EMME region such as the Nile, Jordan and Tigris-Euphrates basins are subject to multiple challenges which include unilateral water resources management, water scarcity, and environmental degradation leading to food insecurity.