Press Release Launch of the Academy of International Water Law Centre for International Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS) Wuhan University, 15-16 September 2023

Press Release

Launch of the Academy of International Water Law

Centre for International Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS)

Wuhan University, 15-16 September 2023

Freshwater resources connect communities across the globe. Three billion people worldwide depend on transboundary waters which make up 60% of water resources. These precious transboundary waters are under threat from the adverse impacts of global climate change and increasing demands. How might the potential conflicts over these diminishing shared freshwaters be avoided so that communities across the globe can peacefully manage their transboundary waters?

The Academy of International Water Law was established in 2019 to support  opportunities for transboundary water cooperation, through its specialised expertise in international water law.

The Academy announces its inaugural launch event, an International Water Law Conference at the Centre for International Boundary and Ocean Studies (CIBOS), Wuhan University, on the special occasion of the 130-year anniversary celebrations of Wuhan University.  This special event will bring together world-renowned experts in water law to address some of the most pressing challenges in this field – Water and Peace; Water and Climate Change; Water and Sustainable Development.

With a growing global group of water-law expert Affiliates from across the globe, the Academy is well placed to  support improved transboundary water cooperation and to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Water Action Agenda established at the UN Water Conference in New York in March 2023.

Academy Affiliates were very active at the UN Conference and momentum is building to accelerate the implementation of the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the light of the challenges posed by climate change and a complex international environment. In this context Academy affiliates were very active in disseminating their research at the UN Conference. They continue to maintain the momentum on the role of international water law in transboundary water governance and sustainable development sharing their research on international water law at other key meetings this year. These include the 20^th IUCN AEL Colloquium in Joensuu Finland July 31-August 4 and the World Water Week in Stockholm 20-24 August. The Academy will also be hosting two Special Sessions  on International Water Law in Beijing at the Congress of the International Water Resources Association (11-15 September).

At the Academy Launch Professor YU Minyou, the Dean of CIBOS will attend along with Professor Kong Lingjie, who is a Founding Affiliate  of the Academy, and a Professor of International Law, and Associate Dean for Research and International Cooperation at CIBOS.

The Academy’s ‘Charting a Path Initiative’ (CAPI) – Looking to 2030 and Beyond

The Academy has set itself the challenge of Charting a Path to 2030 and beyond, with a view to supporting the Water Action Agenda.

Prof. Wouters, Founding Director of the Academy will give the inaugural lecture: New Waves in International Water Law - Communities, Cooperation and Integrated Water Law on Friday September 15.  On Saturday, September 16,  the conference will address various themes related to cooperation on transboundary waters such as the Academy’s commitment to the Water Action Agenda. The programme includes discussions on three cross-cutting themes – Water and Peace, Water and Climate, Water and Sustainable Development. Then a future-looking research agenda will be discussed and agree  for the Initiative Charting a Path Initiative, including peer-reviewed scholarship.