The Volta Convention: an Effective Tool for Transboundary Water Resource Management in an Era of Impending Climate Change and Devastating Natural Disasters?

摘要

The Volta Basin is a West African watercourse encompassing six riparian states, some of the most impoverished nations in the world. The basin region has recently been plagued with devastating parasitic diseases, floods, droughts, and water shortages. As the global temperature begins to shift, the rainy seasons in the basin have become more sporadic and intense, leading to both flooding and droughts. Recent deluges have spurred conflicts between states, springing from accusations of dam letting without prior notification. The inundations left thousands homeless and destroyed thousands of hectares of farmland. These extreme weather events are projected to increase in occurrence and severity due to climate change, which will also cause sea level rises, elevated regional temperatures, and decreased annual rainfall. The cumulative effect of these imminent environmental stressors will likely cause extreme water stress, food shortages, economic duress, and, ultimately, transboundary conflict between the riparian states relating to shared water resources. In the face of impending climate change disasters and water shortages, the basin states must take swift and immediate action to avoid their continued status as perpetual victims.