The need for flexibility in freshwater treaty regimes

Authors

Stephen C. McCaffrey, University of the PacificFollow

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2003

Abstract

Shrinking freshwater supplies pose particular threats in international drainage basins, which serve some 40% of the global population and account for around 60% of the world's river flows. The use and management of these basins are increasingly governed by treaties between the riparian states. While the rules of international law, properly understood, are sufficiently flexible to permit adaptation to changing conditions such as development, population growth and climate change, treaties are essentially rigid instruments that are modifiable only under certain limited conditions. Countries should take this fact into account in designing the regimes to govern their shared freshwater resources, including joint management institutions.

Publication Title

Natural Resources Forum

ISSN

0165-0203

Volume

27

Issue

2

DOI

10.1111/1477-8947.00050

First Page

156

Last Page

162

Recommended Citation

Stephen C. McCaffrey, The need for flexibility in freshwater treaty regimes, 27 Natural Resources Forum 156 (2003).
Available at: https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/facultyarticles/385