Water Security in the Context of Sustainable Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the Caspian Region
https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2023-5-92-77-104
Abstract
The paper examines water security in the Caspian region and the management of transboundary rivers for sustainable development. It analyzes the potential impacts of building dams on upper river courses on the region's water resources, particularly addressing concerns about environmental implications due to pollution from sources like sewage and agricultural fertilizers.
It further investigates planned dam projects and their potential climate and ecological effects on the Caspian Sea and surrounding regions. The paper discusses the idea of desalination as a means to tackle water shortages but underscores its limitations in the closed hydrological system of the Caspian Sea.
The primary focus lies in establishing effective management strategies for shared water resources. It introduces a novel perspective by considering these rivers and the Caspian Sea as an integrated water system, emphasizing the far-reaching consequences that excessive dam construction could pose to the overall hydrological balance. Collaboration and international agreements are crucial to navigate this challenge.
The paper's significance lies in its innovative approach to water management, addressing the complex interplay between water, energy, food, and the environment in the region.
About the Author
R. A. Aliev
MGIMO University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Ruslan A. Aliev – Trade Representative of the Republic of Azerbaijan in the Russian Federation, Ph.D. in Economics, Head of the Commission for Sustainable Development of the UN Association of Russia, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Envoy of the 2nd class.
125009, Russian Federation, Moscow, Tverskaya street, 16, 701 Б.
References
1. Abdolvand B., Mez L., Winter K., Misraeedi-Gloẞner Sh., Schütt B., Rost K.T. Bar J. 2015. The Dimension of Water in Central Asia: Security Concerns and the Long Road of Capacity Building. Environmental Earth Sciences. Vol. 73. P. 897–912. DOI: 10.1007/s12665-014-3579-9
2. Akhmadiyeva Z., Abdullaev I. 2019. Water Management Paradigm Shifts in the Caspian Sea Region: Review and Outlook. Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 568. P: 997–1006. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.11.009
3. Albrecht T.R., Gerlak A.K. 2022. Beyond the Basin: Water Security in Transboundary Environments. Water Security. Vol. 17. DOI: 10.1016/j.wasec.2022.100124
4. Albrecht T.R., Varady R.G., Zuniga-Teran A.A., Gerlak A.K., De Grenade R.R., Lutz-Ley A., Martin F., Megdal Sh.B., Meza F., Melgar D.O., Pineda N., Rojas F., Taboada R., Willems B. 2018. Unraveling Transboundary Water Security in the Arid Americas. Water International. 43(8). P. 1075–1113. DOI: 10.1080/02508060.2018.1541583
5. Anik A.H., Sultan M.B., Alam M., Parvin F., Ali M.M., Tareq Sh.M. 2023. The Impact of Climate Change on Water Resources and Associated Health Risks in Bangladesh: A review. Water Security. Vol. 18. DOI: 10.1016/j.wasec.2023.100133
6. Crowley-Vigneau A. 2022. The national implementation of international norms: transnational networks and local content policy. Springer Nature.
7. Azzam A., Samy Gh., Hagras M., El Kholy R. 2023. Geographic Information Systems-Based Framework for Water–Energy–Food Nexus Assessments. Ain Shams Engineering Journal. Article in Press. DOI: 10.1016/j.asej.2023.102224
8. Comair G.F., McKinney D.C., Scoullos M.J., Flinker R.H., Espinoza G.E. 2013. Transboundary Cooperation in International Basins: Clarification and Experiences from the Orontes River Basin Agreement: Part 1. Environmental Science & Policy. Vol. 31. P. 133–140. DOI: 10.1016/j. envsci.2013.01.006
9. Cook C., Bakker K. 2012. Water Security: Debating an Emerging Paradigm. Global Environmental Change. 22(1). P. 94–102. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.10.011
10. Cullet Ph., Lovleen Bhullar L., Koonan S. 2021. Water Security and International Law. Annual Review of Law and Social Science. Vol. 17. P. 261–276. DOI: 10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-010421-014915
11. Gökçekuş H., Bolouri F. 2023. Transboundary Waters and Their Status in Today’s Water-Scarce World. Sustainability. 15(5). DOI: 10.3390/su15054234
12. Haemmerli H., Brethaut Ch., Ezbakhe F. 2023. Exploring Friendship in Hydropolitics: The Case of the Friendship Dam on the Asi/Orontes river. Environmental Policy & Governance. Vol. 33. P. 1–15. DOI: 10.1002/eet.2058
13. Katz D. 2021. Desalination and Hydrodiplomacy: Refreshening Transboundary Water Negotiations or Adding Salt to the Wounds? Environmental Science & Policy. Vol. 116. P. 171–180. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.11.012
14. Keskinen M., Salminen E., Haapala J. 2021. Water Diplomacy Paths – an Approach to Recognise Water Diplomacy Actions in Shared Waters. Journal of Hydrology. Vol. 602. DOI: 10.1016/j. jhydrol.2021.126737.
15. Lazaro L., Bellezoni R.A., Puppim de Oliveira J.A., Jacobi P.R., Giatti L.L. 2022. Ten Years of Research on the Water-Energy-Food Nexus: an Analysis of Topics Evolution. Frontiers in Water. Vol. 4. DOI: 10.3389/frwa.2022.859891
16. Mirumachi N. 2020. Informal Water Diplomacy and Power: A Case of Seeking Water Security in the Mekong River Basin. Environmental Science & Policy. Vol. 114. P. 86–95. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.07.021
17. Mohapatra N.K. 2023. Geopolitics of Water Securitisation in Central Asia. GeoJournal. Vol. 88. P. 897–916. DOI: 10.1007/s10708-022-10661-0
18. Muhirwa F., Shen L., Elshkaki A., Velempini K., Hirwa H. 2022. Tracing Attribute and Scope of Research and Applied Projects in Africa's Water Energy Food Nexus Implementation: A review. Environmental Science & Policy. Vol. 136. P. 33–45. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2022.05.012
19. Saklani U., Shrestha P.P., Mukherji A., Scott Ch.A. 2020. Hydro-Energy Cooperation in South Asia: Prospects for Transboundary Energy and Water Security. Environmental Science & Policy. Vol. 114. P. 22–34. DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2020.07.013
20. Varis O., Keskinen M., Kummu M. 2017. Four Dimensions of Water Security with a Case of the Indirect Role of Water in Global Food Security. Water Security. Vol. 1. P. 36–45. DOI: 10.1016/j. wasec.2017.06.002
21. Wang X., Yaning Ch., Li Zh., Fang G., Wang Y. 2020. Development and Utilization of Water Resources and Assessment of Water Security in Central Asia. Agricultural Water Management. Vol. 240. DOI:10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106297
22. Zeitoun M., Lankford B., Krueger T., Forsyth T., Carter R., Hoekstra A.Y., Taylor R., Varis O., Cleaver F., Boelens R., Swatuk L., Tickner D., Scott Ch.A., Mirumachi N., Matthews N. 2016. Reductionist and Integrative Research Approaches to Complex Water Security Policy Challenges.
23. Global Environmental Change. Vol. 39. P. 143–154. DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.010
24. Ahmad T.M. 2021. Ekologicheskie aspekty orograficheskogo rayonirovaniya raznykh territoriy Afganistana [Ecological Aspects of Orographic Zoning of Different Territories of Afghanistan]. T.M. Ahmad, V.P. Zvolinsky, B.I. Kochurov, M.Z. Tanaival, D.O. Kapralova. Monitoring, science and technology. 1(47). Р. 19–30. DOI: 10.25714/MNT.2021.47.003. (In Russian)
25. Aliyev D.F. 2022. Energeticheskiy perekhod. Chast' 1. Bazovaya beskarbonovaya generatsiya [Energy Transition. Part 1. Basic Carbon-Free Generation]. D.F. Aliev, R.A. Aliev. Moscow: Prometheus. 526 p. (In Russian)
26. Aliyev R.A. 2022. Energoperekhod kak faktor razvitiya ustoichivoy energetiki stran Kaspiyskogo regiona: Monografiya [Energy Transition as a Factor in the Development of Sustainable Energy in the Countries of the Caspian Region: Monograph]. R.A. Aliev, I.A. Guliyev. Moscow: Publishing house "Aspect Press". 272 p. (In Russian)
27. Demin A.P. 2017. Vodnye resursy i prodovol'stvennaya bezopasnost': partnerstvo Rossii i stran Azii [Water Resources and Food Security: Partnership between Russia and Asian Countries].
28. Water Industry in Russia: Problems, Technologies, Management. №3. Р. 40–54. (In Russian)
29. Gavardashvili G., Iordanishvili I. 2015. Sovremennye problemy melioratsii v usloviyakh ispol'zovaniya vodnykh resursov transgranichnoy reki Kury [Modern Problems of Land Reclamation in the Conditions of Using Water Resources of the Transboundary River Kura]. M. Vartanov, Z. Shuber. Reclamation. №2. Р. 25–33. (In Russian)
30. Rybkina I.D. 2019. Vodnyye resursy rossiysko-kazakhstanskogo transgranichnogo regiona i ikh ispol'zovaniye [Water Resources of the Russian-Kazakhstan Transboundary Region and Their Use]. I.D. Rybkina, Zh.T. Sivokhip. South of Russia: ecology, development. № 2. Р. 70–86. DOI: 10.18470/1992-1098-2019-2-70-86 (In Russian)
Review
For citations:
Aliev R.A. Water Security in the Context of Sustainable Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the Caspian Region. MGIMO Review of International Relations. 2023;16(5):77-104. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24833/2071-8160-2023-5-92-77-104
Views:
718
Email this article 