- There are 263 transboundary river and lake basins and around 300 transboundary aquifers worldwide. (UN-Water: Transboundary Waters: Sharing Benefits, Sharing Responsibilities, 2008)
- Transboundary lake and river basins account for an estimated 60 per cent of global freshwater flow and is home to 40 per cent of the world’s population. (UN-Water: Transboundary Waters: Sharing Benefits, Sharing Responsibilities, 2008)
- An estimated 148 states have international basins within their territory, and 21 countries lie entirely within them. (4th UN World Water Development Report, 2012)
- Around 60 per cent of the world’s international river basins lack any type of cooperative management framework. (4th UN World Water Development Report, 2012)
- In the 20th century, only seven minor skirmishes took place between nations over shared water resources, while over 300 treaties were signed during the same period of time. (UN-Water: Transboundary Waters: Sharing Benefits, Sharing Responsibilities, 2008)
- There are numerous examples where transboundary waters have proved to be a source of cooperation rather than conflict. (4th UN World Water Development Report, 2012). However, failure to engage the basin hegemon constructively will hamper effective cooperation on transboundary waters. (SIWI: Addressing Power Asymmetry: How Transboundary Water Management May Serve to Reduce Poverty, 2011)
- There are several ways that improved transboundary water management arrangements may bring about benefits for poor people living within shared basins. More equitable and efficient water sharing amongst farmers across borders, for example, can lead to more sustainable water use and more secure yields. (SIWI: Addressing Power Asymmetry: How Transboundary Water Management May Serve to Reduce Poverty, 2011)
- By jointly managing a river, riparians can generate ‘public goods’ such as flood and drought protection, increased biodiversity and improved conservation, enhanced water quality, and even greater possibilities for peace and regional stability. [20]
