The Web of National Water Security:

why equitability matters

Mark Zeitoun Water Security Research Centre University of East Anglia, UK m.zeitoun@uea.ac.uk

Water and UK Foreign Policy UEA Water Security and ICID Seminar London, 11 February 2011

Equitability Matters

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Principles required for Long-term National Water Security

Principles, not ‘pragmatism’ (weathervanes) Policy must be joined-up across Whitehall Support International Water Law

Main message

Policy take-aways

Article14 – Water Security “…Nile Basin states therefore agree, in a spirit of cooperation: a)to work together to ensure that all states achieve and sustain water security; b) Not to significantly affect the water security of any other Nile Basin State. “

Nile-Com Draft Cooperative Framework Agreement (May 2010)

What does Water Security mean?

Hepworth, Nick, Julio C. Postigo and Bruno Güemes Delgado (2010). Drop by drop: A case study of Peruvian asparagus and the impacts of the UK's water footprint, Progressio, in association with Centro Peruano De Estudios Sociales, and Water Witness International.

Desert Bloom – Ica Valley, Peru

Water Security ?

Water Security ?

Mark Zeitoun

Web of Water Security

Natural ‘Security Resources’

Water Security ‘for who’?

Security through INDEPENDENCE or INTERDEPENDENCE? Security through

HOARDING or BALANCE?

Short-term national Water Security can be achieved by the powerful through ‘business as usual’

Imbalance between energy and food security can be maintained… Inequalities may be ignored…

Long-term national Water Security: Balance between natural ‘security resources’ Equitability amongst users (law, ethics)

Mark Zeitoun

DEFRA DECC

DFID FCO

DEFRA

DFID

FCO

1997 UN Watercourses Convention

DFID Nile Basin Initiative Was equitability invoked? Where was the FCO?

Ratification?

Equitable and balanced long-term water security, or

short-term water security for some?

What are we working towards?

General Join-up policy across Whitehall Seek a balance between dependence on natural ‘security resources’ Support principles of International Water Law Specific Incorporate FCO and diplomacy into river basin initiatives Ratify the 1997 UN Watercourses Convention Understand the implications of the 2008 Draft Aquifer Articles … +

Policy take-aways

Final Slide

Thank-you m.zeitoun@uea.ac.uk