The Role of International Water Law in Central Asia’s Water and Food Security

Abstract

In Central Asia, water scarcity has become a major issue due to a combination of factors, including climate change, population growth, and unsustainable agricultural practices. The region is home to two of the world's largest rivers, the Amu Darya and the Syr Darya, which are shared by several countries. These rivers are critical sources of water for irrigation, drinking water, and hydropower generation, but they are also under increasing pressure due to overuse and pollution. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan are the only three countries in the region that have ratified the Water Convention. Yet the UN Watercourses Convention was signed only by Uzbekistan. By using evaluation research, and monitoring case study method we argue that the low level of international water law acceptance can be explained by the absence of clarity and weak mechanisms of implementation. As Central Asia countries tend to prioritize their interests over common ones, there is still much work to be done to overcome collective action problems to implement principles of international water law and foster good governance which will promote water and food security.