Global Water Governance

It is now well recognized that to tackle the challenges and potential conflicts over scarce water resources, sound international governance is essential. This book focuses on global water governance (GWG), rather than at a more local level, examining why it is, with water so important and the world entering a global water crisis, that there is not a more formal GWG regime. More specifically, why is it that there is not a UN convention related to water or a UN agency that has water as its focus?

The author draws on original qualitative research, based on 137 interviews with international water policy experts from international organizations, civil society, national governments, think tanks, academia, the private sector and regional organizations. These range from the head of an NGO in Kenya to the Secretary-General of the OECD and other prominent figures - the interview list is a veritable Who’s Who in the international water policy community. The book analyses whether we need GWG or not, and provides a short history of GWG, including perceptions from interviewees of events that had the most influence on the subject. It explores critically the influence of key organizations and issues on GWG, and the reasons, according to the interviewees, why there is a lack of a more formal GWG regime. It concludes with findings and recommendations of how to move forward, including in relation to Sustainable Development Goals.