Struggles over natural resources, in particular water, have long held to be among the most important causes for potential interstate conflicts. Yet, the transnational and trans-border character of many environmental challenges may also compel otherwise hostile neighbours to a minimum level of co-operation. This two-day conference focused on environmental problems that carry the potential to cause conflicts and mostly require co-operation for sustainable solutions. It seeked to shed light on the benefits of environmental co-operation between states in the MENA region and the necessity to improve and intensify this co-operation, parallel to showcasing the high costs of inadequate joint actions and of the absence of proper state handling of environmental malaise. The objective was to make visible the risks environmental degradation poses on MENA states but also the great potential it bears for finding a common ground.
Panel A: Water Revisited - From Disputes to Models of Co-operation
This first panel provided examples of co-operation and disputes over water in the MENA region (rivers, seas) and tackled state’s environmental rationale and argumentation. Bilateral as well as multilateral agreements and co-operation models were scrutinized and recommendations developed for enhancing joint water management.
Panel B: Multilateral Environmental Institutions and Agreements - Drawing a Balance
The legal dimension of shared water management and water conflict resolution were highlighted in addition to the role of international organisations in promoting co-operation. The panel shed light on the weaknesses and strengths of regional and international co-operation frameworks in the environmental sector and explored the degree of coordination of activities.
Panel C: Land Degradation - Ringing Alarm Bells
The panel depicted the issue of land degradation and showcased the linkage between the deterioration of fertile land and conflicts. Scenarios, consequences of inadequate action and recommendations to halt land degradation were offered.
Panel D: Eco-peace versus Eco-wars
The anatomy of resource wars, environmental peace making and Peace Parks are issues that were raised during the panel. It shed light on current debates challenging the idea of war over water and natural resources. The environment – conflict thesis was scrutinised and the question of whether it is theoretically rather than empirically driven was posed together with the question of whether environment can be a vehicle for trust-building between states that can spill over to other fields.
Panel E:Climate Change - Bringing the Nexus Home
This panel explored the consequences of climate change for a region already experiencing rapid environmental degradation and problems, and how this change in climate will add to the severity of present environmental challenges. The linkage between these and potential conflict surfaced together with the urgency to act together.
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