Impact of Climate Change on Transboundary Water Sharing

Abstract

The issue of climate change has surfaced as a potential impediment to effective long-range policies and management of water resources. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently published a report substantiating the argument that global warming is occurring. The IPCC reported that while sustainable water yields may or may not be reduced in the long-term average, they will almost certainly be less reliable in the short term. Climate change challenges existing water resources management practices by adding uncertainty. This will be an especially troubling issue for transboundary water sharing agreements. The risks imposed by climate change to transboundary water sharing agreements are discussed and the agreements most at risk are identified by the region in which they are located.