The role of international law in addressing the global freshwater ecosystem crisis -- Conceptualising the UNECE water and environmental regime -- establishing the basis for coherent interpretation and institutional interaction -- Contemporary status of international law on transboundary freshwater ecosystems -- The common normative framework of the UNECE environmental regime and its contribution to international water law -- An ecosystem approach in international law concerning transboundary freshwater ecosystems -- Public participation -- its contribution to procedural justice and intra-generational equity in a water scarce future -- River basin organisations, basin agreements and European environmental aw in the UNECE regime -- Transboundary freshwater ecosystems in international law : the role, impact and future of the UNECE environmental regime.
Summary:
"With the dawning of this new decade, came a dramatic warning to humanity of a rapidly escalating global freshwater ecosystem crisis and an urgent call for concerted action to bend the curve of ecosystem degradation. A fair and resilient legal architecture to protect the world's freshwater resources is one of the most pressing cross-cutting challenges of our time. According to the UN, by 2050, at least one in four people is likely to live in a country affected by chronic or recurring shortages of fresh water. The inspiration for this book grew from a decade of observing how, despite collectively having the tools at our disposal to address the global water crisis, water inequity between and within States is not disappearing but growing, with wealthy nations increasing their consumption of water resources including by importing water-intensive goods produced in poorer, often water-scarce, nations. Poor and marginalised communities are increasingly pushed to the brink of survival by the continued destruction of freshwater ecosystems and their life-supporting ecosystem services. These societies are also the most affected by the rising frequency of extreme drought and flooding events. Almost half of the global population lives within the shared transboundary river basins stretching across the political boundaries of 153 countries. Shared transboundary freshwater ecosystems are under increasing stress from the competing demands for water to produce food, energy and other industrial purposes. This book proposes a novel framework for the reorientation of the existing international framework towards a stronger ecosystem approach to the use and protection of shared freshwater resources. In doing so it recognises the fundamental role of healthy ecosystems and ecosystem services to reversing the global water crisis and addresses the growing inequities in access to a safe and sustainable water supply both within and between states"-- Provided by publisher.
This resource is supported by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act as administered by State Library of Iowa.