Nearly 40 per cent of the world’s population lives in river and lake basins shared by two or more countries. The world’s 263 transboundary groundwaters and lake and river basins include the territory of 145 countries and cover nearly half of the Earth’s land surface.

There is enough freshwater to meet everyone’s needs, but water is not evenly distributed. Many countries already face increasing water scarcity. In some areas, the availability of good quality freshwater has been reduced due to pollution from human waste, industry and agriculture.

With every country seeking to satisfy its water needs from limited water resources, some people foresee a future filled with conflict.

But history shows that cooperation, not conflict, is the most common response to transboundary water management issues.

Over the past 60 years there have been nearly 300 international water agreements and only 37 incidents of acute conflict over water. We need to continue to nurture and foster the opportunities for cooperation that transboundary water management can provide.

Through mutual respect, understanding and trust, and by sharing information, benefits and costs, countries can promote peace, security and economic growth. We all share the responsibility for managing the world’s transboundary waters for current and future generations.