Water is 'catalyst' for cooperation, not conflict: UN chief

The Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived three wars, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said, highlighting that water has proven to be a "catalyst for cooperation" even among nations not on the best of terms.
The UN chief stressed the importance of diplomacy to prevent and resolve trans-boundary disputes over water resources.
"Water, peace and security are inextricably linked," said Guterres during a meeting here yesterday on preventive diplomacy and trans-boundary waters, which was chaired by Evo Morales, President of Bolivia, which holds the Security Council's presidency for the month.
He stressed that "water has proven to be a catalyst for cooperation among nations, even those that are not on the best of terms."

He noted that in the second half of the 20th century alone, some 287 international water agreements were signed, citing the example of Lake Titicaca, the largest freshwater lake on the continent, that has long been a source of cooperation between Bolivia and Peru.
"The 1960 Indus Water Treaty between India and Pakistan has survived three wars between the two countries," Guterres said.

The Albufeira Convention, agreed when Guterres was Prime Minister of Portugal, continues to promote good relations on water management between his country and Spain.
He underscored that water is and should remain a reason for cooperation not conflict. With climate change having a growing impact, water scarcity is a growing concern, he pointed out, noting that by 2050 at least one in four people will live in a country where the lack of fresh water is chronic or recurrent.

Three-quarters of UN Member States share rivers or lake basins with their neighbours. There are more than 270 internationally shared river basins, which serve as the primary source of fresh water for approximately 40 per cent of the world's population, including the Nile, the Indus, the Ganges, the Euphrates-Tigris, and the Mekong.
"That is why it is essential that nations cooperate to ensure water is shared equitably and used sustainably," he said.
The Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes became open for all UN Member States as of March last year, offering the opportunity to create a global framework for preventive diplomacy for dealing with transboundary water issues.

"Let us commit to investing in water security to ensure durable peace and security for all communities and nations," Guterres said.