Environmental / Energy Law

Cooperation in the Law of Transboundary Water Resources

By Christina Leb
Cambridge University Press July 2013

Specifications

ISBN-13
9781107035973
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Publication
July 2013
Format
Hardback , 363 pages
Jurisdiction
International ? Countri(es) for reference only

Details

Climate change, population growth and the increasing demand for water are all capable of leading to disputes over transboundary water systems. Dealing with these challenges will require the enhancing of adaptive capacity, the improving of the quality of water-resources management and a reduction in the risk of conflict between riparian states. Such changes can only be brought about through significant international cooperation. Christina Leb's analysis of the duty to cooperate and the related rights and obligations highlights the interlinkages between this duty and the principles of equitable and reasonable utilisation and the prevention of transboundary harm. In doing so, she considers the law applicable to both international watercourses and transboundary aquifers, and explores the complementarities and interaction between the rules of international water law and the related obligations of climate change and human rights law.

• Challenges the traditional conceptualisation of 'transboundary water resources' in international water law and extends the legal analysis to global hydrologic interdependence

• Analyses the existence of international cooperation obligations in human rights law, as well as the interactions between this area of law and international water law

• Analyzes complementarities and interactions between different areas of international law, thereby illustrating the interconnectedness of the different areas and underlining the importance of systemic analysis

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
x
Table of treaties
xii
Table of cases
xxi
List of abbreviations
xxiv
Introduction
1
Part I    Acknowledging interdependence
11
1         Cooperation between sovereign States
13
1.1       The nature of water
13
1.1.1     The water cycle
13
1.1.2     Human intervention and interdependence
16
1.1.3     Addressing hydrologic interdependence through cooperation
18
1.2       State motivation for cooperation
19
1.2.1     Elements intervening in the choice to cooperate
20
1.2.2     Factors contributing to the use of law in State cooperation
27
1.3       The nature of cooperation in international law
30
1.3.1     Good faith as an essential assumption
31
1.3.2     Evolution of cooperative coexistence of States
32
1.3.3     Changing paradigms
35
1.4       Conclusion
40
2         Development of international water law
42
2.1       Sovereignty over shared water resources
42
2.1.1     Absolute territorial theories
43
2.1.2     Limited territorial sovereignty over shared resources
50
2.1.3     A community of interest?
52
2.2       Expansion of normative reach
56
2.2.1     Expansion via navigation
56
2.2.2     Continued efforts in multilateral codification
59
2.2.3     Widening thematic scope
65
2.3       Conclusion
68
Part II   A general duty to cooperate: What does it mean?
71
3         The duty to cooperate and concurrence of principles
73
3.1       The general duty to cooperate
74
3.1.1     Crystallisation of an autonomous duty
74
3.1.2     Terms and objectives of the general duty to cooperate
81
3.2       Considering legitimate interests of others
86
3.2.1     The principle of equitable and reasonable utilisation
86
3.2.2     Implementation of the principle
89
3.2.3     Inter-generational equity
93
3.3       Minimising negative impact on others
96
3.3.1     Good neighbourliness
97
3.3.2     Implementation of the principle: Obligation not to cause significant harm
100
3.4       Conclusion: A triangle of principles?
104
4         Informing cooperation
107
4.1       Procedure void of substance?
107
4.1.1     Procedural and substantive law
107
4.1.2     The procedural and substantive content of specific cooperation obligations
110
4.1.3     Importance of comprehensive reading
112
4.2       Informing the process
114
4.2.1     Regular data and information exchange
115
4.2.2     Notification of emergencies
125
4.2.3     Notification of planned measures
129
4.3       Identifying mutual benefits and competing interests and rights
139
4.3.1     Consultation
139
4.3.2     Negotiation
143
4.3.3     Conclusion of treaties
150
4.4       Conclusion
151
5         Adoption of joint measures
153
5.1       Protection and development of shared waters
154
5.1.1     Coordination for water quality control
154
5.1.2     Ecosystem management and protection
162
5.1.3     Flow regulation and joint infrastructure
169
5.2       Institutional frameworks for cooperation
176
5.2.1     Platforms for dialogue, planning and operation
179
5.2.2     Enhancing and widening cooperation
184
5.2.3     Ensuring compliance
187
5.2.4     Preventing and settling disputes
193
5.3       Conclusion: Managing complexity through joint action
195
Part III  Dealing with evolving challenges
197
6         International protection of vital human water needs
199
6.1       Vital human water needs – an issue worthy of legal protection
200
6.2       Emerging protection under international water law
202
6.2.1     Protection through the obligation not to cause significant harm and the principle of equitable utilisation
203
6.2.2     Increasing attention in legal instruments
205
6.3       Enforcing satisfaction of vital human needs
210
6.3.1     Enforcement of the human right to water
210
6.3.2     Alternative enforcement avenues
214
6.3.3     International obligations under human rights law
215
6.4       Conclusion
219
7         Emerging international cooperation on global water challenges
221
7.1       Hydrologic effects of climate change
222
7.2       Appreciation of hydrologic variability in international water law
224
7.2.1     Flexibility in principle(s)
224
7.2.2     The role of treaties in facilitating flexibility to adjust for hydrologic variability
226
7.2.3     Norms and mechanisms facilitating adaptation
227
7.3       Appreciation of water (law) in climate change law
235
7.3.1     Lack of recognition?
235
7.3.2     The UNFCCC framework
236
7.3.3     Differentiation as a challenge to cooperation
245
7.4       Conclusion: Complementarity of systems and consideration of the hydrologic cycle as a whole
248
Conclusion
251
Annex: Consideration of cooperation in international water treaties
258
Bibliography
299
Index
321

About the Author

Christina Leb
Université de Genève

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