Though essential to human existence, water has become increasingly unavailable due to pollution, failure to develop conservation programs, and the mismanagement of water resources. During the near future, water shortages could lead to conflict in many parts of the world. Water-related problems are global in scope, and although international bodies actively support initiatives to conserve and fairly allocate water, not enough is being done to address this critical topic.
The Center believes that water diplomacy can help international actors reach publics around the world in influential ways and ultimately save lives. The CPD Water Diplomacy Initiative and conference, Water Diplomacy: A Foreign Policy Imperative, will contribute to the following three objectives:
1) achieving a greater understanding of the impact of water diplomacy on the recipients of extant or future programs; 2) assessing the best practices in the field; and 3) developing technological and policy recommendations for water diplomacy.
Launched during the 2011-2012 year, the Water Diplomacy Initiative is part of the Center's ongoing Science Diplomacy research program. This impact of the Water Diplomacy Initiative will be measured in several forms of media. These include a number of academic publications on water diplomacy, several CPD Conversations in public diplomacy roundtables, a major conference on the topic in the spring of 2012, a briefing on the topic in Washington, D.C., and continuing research activity addressing a range of water diplomacy issues.
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