Fresh Water Resources
Policymakers face a host of overlapping demographic, socioeconomic, and environmental challenges as they strive to fulfill the world's growing water needs. Global climate change threatens to exacerbate these strains, generating both chronic pressures on water availability, such as shifting precipitation patterns, and acute crises, such as floods and droughts. In 2012, we will continue to explore the potential for future conflict and the opportunities for greater cooperation to mitigate collective risks and manage shared water resources, focusing on South Asia, the Middle East, and North Africa.
News
On May 9, 2012, Stimson Center President Ellen Laipson participates in a roundtable discussion of the National Intelligence Council's 2012 Global Water Security report as part of the National Conversation series at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, DC. Click here to watch.
Stimson analysis led by Environmental Security Program Director David Michel has been contributed to the National Intelligence Council’s Global Water Security report, released in the spring of 2012. Click here to read.
David Michel contributes to a workshop preparing forthcoming National Research Council report on Himalayan Glaciers: Climate Change, Water Resources, and Water Security. Click here for a description of the NRC project, and click here for a summary of David Michel's contribution.
Publications
Coastal Zones and Climate Change
Coastal Zones and Climate Change examines the emerging environmental stresses on coastal areas of the Indian Ocean and the resulting challenges confronting coastal planners and decision makers in a warming world... Read More>>
On January 29, 2010, the Stimson Center, under the sponsorship of the National Intelligence Council and the US State Department, organized a workshop in Washington, DC, focused on the future of global fresh water resources and the politics of water resource management... Read More>>
Indian Climate Policy: Choices and Challenges
In order to negotiate effectively on an international regime for climate change, US policymakers must have an accurate understanding of the constraints and considerations that determine the negotiating positions of key countries. India plays a pivotal role in these efforts... Read More>>
Scientific, Intellectual, and Governance Cooperation on Emerging Environmental Challenges in the Muslim World provides an overview of the challenges posed by environmental change in several regions where significant Muslim populations are found: Southeast Asia, South and Central Asia, Southwest Asia/Persian Gulf, North Africa, and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa (the Sahel, coastal West Africa, and East Africa). It then discusses the major needs for improving scientific and technical research in these regions and reviews extant environmentally-focused scientific cooperation between the U.S. and the Muslim world... Read More>>
Troubled Waters: Climate Change, Hydropolitics, and Transboundary Resources
Troubled Waters: Climate Change, Hydropolitics, and Transboundary Resources examines the multiple challenges that global climate change raises for the management of shared freshwater resources... Read More>>
Analysis
"Negotiating
the Nile: The NBI Impasse and Possible Ways Forward" | January 10, 2011
By Corey Sobel
"Coping
with Scarcity: Saudi Arabia and Water"
|
December 9, 2010
By Adam Giansiracusa
"Water
and Strategy in Tibet"
| August 17, 2010
By Syed Iqbal Hasnain
"The
Deep Blue Sea: Coastal Zones and Climate Change" | May 6, 2010
By David Michel
"An
African Union? The Shortcomings of Africa's Strategy in Copenhagen" |
December 28, 2009
By Corey Sobel
"India
Goes to
Copenhagen" |
December 10, 2009
By David Michel
"The
Endless Drought: Water Conflict in The Era of Climate Change"
|
June 20, 2008
By Kendra Patterson
"Who Owns
Transnational Water?"
| March 5, 2008
By Kendra Patterson
Events
Water
Management and Conflict in Pakistan | July 23, 2010
Dr. Daanish Mustafa joined us for a discussion on the nexus of water management and conflict in Pakistan. Dr. Mustafa is the Senior Lecturer in Environment, Politics, and Development in the Department of Geography at King's College, London... Read More>>
Rising
Seas, Migrant Flows: Climate Change and Policy Choices in the World's
Coastal Regions | May 25, 2010
Coastal populations are on the front lines of climate change. Rising sea levels risk submerging lowlying areas and tainting the rivers and aquifers that furnish fresh water to coastal settlements... Read More>>
Water and Peace in Afghanistan and Pakistan | August 3, 2009
Water is a critical resource for sustaining livelihoods, promoting economic development, and ensuring envrionmental quality... Read More>>
Global
Warming at the Roof of the World: Climate Impacts, Water Resources and
the Himalayan Glaciers | February 27, 2009
Dr. Hasnain is currently a Senior Fellow at The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) in New Delhi. He previously served as Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calicut, Kerala... Read More>>
Cooperation
or Conflict? Water Resource Challenges in Bangladesh and South Asia
| September 24, 2008
Ambassador Rahman was Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as well as Special Envoy of the Prime Minister... Read More>>
Multimedia
Hayfaa Almudhaf Speaks About Water Challenges in the Middle East
Hayfaa Almudhaf, Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research, speaks about water challenges in the Middle East.
Ngyuen Viet Dung Discusses Pollution in the Mekong
Ngyuen Viet Dung, PanNature, Vietnam, discusses pollution in the Mekong and the role of governance in protecting watersheds.
Atiq Rahman on Climate Change, Coastal Disaster Response, Water, and Governance
Atiq Rahman, Bangladesh Centre for Advanced Studies, discusses climate change, coastal disaster response, water and governance.
Edward Kimani on Fisheries Management in East Africa
Edward Kimani, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, discusses fisheries management in East Africa and the southwest Indian Ocean.
Nirmalie Pallewatta on Environmental Change, Coastal Zones, and Livelihoods
Nirmalie Pallewatta, University of Colombo, Sri Lanka, takes a scientist's perspective on environmental change, coastal zones and livelihoods.
Dia El-Quosy on Water Needs in Egypt
Dia El-Quosy, Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, Egypt, discusses water needs in Egypt and transboundary water management in the Nile River Basin.
Ramaswamy R. Iyer on Transboundary Water Management in South Asia
Ramaswamy R. Iyer, Centre for Policy Research, India, discusses transboundary water management and governance in South Asia.