Progress on Transboundary Water Cooperation

Cooperation over transboundary rivers, lakes and aquifers is critical to ensuring that water resources are managed in an equitably and sustainably, in line with the achievement of SDG6 ('clean water and sanitation'). Transboundary waters also create social, economic, environmental and political inter-dependencies that make cooperation a precondition to sustainable development, peace and security. As the only target in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development that makes explicit reference to transboundary cooperation, target 6.5 can play a catalytic role across multiple SDGs to the benefit of human health protection, renewable energy provision, sustainable agriculture, climate adaptation, ecosystem protection, and peace and security. This publication thus presents the results of the second reporting exercise on indicator 6.5.2 carried out in 2020-2021, offering valuable insights into the progress achieved in establishing operational arrangements for transboundary waters and the gaps that remain. It further highlights that an acceleration in strengthening transboundary water cooperation is urgently needed to face growing water challenges and prevent conflicts on water use.