A high level, cross-faculty conference on international water co-operation was hosted by Strathclyde University, with representatives from the Department of Accounting and Finance, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, and the Law School co-organising the event along with CIFAL Scotland.
The International Roundtable Conference on International Water Cooperation and Transboundary Aquifers (15-16 October, at Glasgow City Chambers), provided a unique opportunity to discuss transboundary aquifer management from a multi-disciplinary perspective focusing on its scientific-hydrogeological, socio-economic, financial and legal-institutional dimensions.
CIFAL states that, "About 97% of the world’s available freshwater is found in aquifers and the latest figures from the International Groundwater Research Resources Assessment Centre (IGRAC) show more than 400 transboundary aquifers worldwide. However, the paucity of specific legal and institutional arrangements to manage these aquifers in addition to the need to further deepen the understanding of the science policy interaction and the emergence of the payment concept for ecosystem services, linked to groundwater resources, calls for further debate. The Southern African Development Community region, where 20 transboundary aquifers have been identified amongst 13 countries, presents a specific example."
The conference team at Strathclyde University was drawn from three faculties: from the Business School, Andrea Coulson; Robert Kalin from Engineering, and Francesco Sindico from Humanities and Social Science.
Dr Coulson said, "Not only did we bring together the world experts from the science, law, policy, accountancy and banking sectors to develop consensus and ideas, but we also gave students at the University the opportunity to experience and learn first-hand about international policy development: about 50 postgraduate students were engaged with the Conference."
"The outcomes of the conference will be used in partnership by University of Strathclyde and UNITAR (UN Institute for Training and Research) to develop on-line learning for people around the world, and as credit towards Masters programmes in Civil (MSc Hydrogeology) and Law (LLM) through the Global Water Policy module."
Dr Coulson added, "All of the major delegates from 26 countries commented specifically and positively on the university and its vision. The International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH) has recommended that the university team plays a key role in the forthcoming international commission on trans-boundary aquifer, and a statement is planned for release at the final meeting of the UN International Year of Water Cooperation to be held in Mexico later this year."
Professor Robert Kalin from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering noted, "Strathclyde University and the Scottish Government were applauded [in a motion in the Scottish Parliament] for hosting this meeting as it is the only meeting across the globe that addressed this issue in 2013 - the UN International Year of Co-operation - and as such has placed Strathclyde in the unique position of having set up this very important event."
Dr Sindico from the Law School and Director of the Strathclyde Centre for Environmental Law and Governance clarified, “Only by bringing together different disciplines can a complex area such as trans-boundary aquifer management be properly addressed. The lawyers need to understand what an aquifer is and how groundwater flows therein; hydrogeologists need to grasp the nuances of how international legal instruments are developed and implemented; and both lawyers and hydrogeologists need to discuss with accountants the value of groundwater. The conference allowed this to happen and provided our students with a unique first-hand experience of multi-disciplinarity.”
Dr Sindico also commented on the legacy of the conference: “By bringing together key global players in this field, Strathclyde University now has a unique possibility to drive policy-relevant research in the field of international water cooperation. An international commission on trans-boundary aquifers, convened by the IAH, is already being planned and the University has asked to be part of such a Commission. Collaborating with this Commission, continuing to work closely with UNESCO-IHP and developing the above-mentioned UNITAR on-line learning course, will all be examples of how research at the University of Strathclyde can have an international impact.”
Fellow conference organisers were CIFAL Scotland, while partners (sponsors) included:
Speakers included: