Geopolitics of water agreements: cooperation, conflict, justice, and peace

This chapter offers insight into the geopolitics of water agreements by discussing the contributions to peace. Upholding equitable and reasonable sharing of water is imperative for enhancing access to water as well as ensuring its peaceful management. Existing arrangements for shared water management are threatened by climate change and the increased mining activities which exacerbate the risk of water conflicts. The chapter provides an overview of water interactions and agreements and highlights the impact of water agreements on regional cooperation, sub-national water conflicts, and justice for the marginalized and weaker parties. The chapter also underscores the increasing pressure on water resources from climate change and climate action, particularly the demand for critical minerals for climate mitigation. We conclude that geopolitics complicate water interactions, while the potential of water agreements to overcome geopolitical limits to water cooperation requires further examination.