GLOBAL WATER CRISIS AND CROSS-BORDER CONFLICTS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL LEGAL PERSPECTIVE
Abstract
The global water crisis has become one of the most serious challenges in 21st-century international relations. Population growth, climate change, urbanization, environmental pollution, and unsustainable exploitation of water resources have increased pressure on clean water availability in various regions of the world. This condition triggers the potential for cross-border conflicts, especially in rivers, lakes, and aquifers shared by two or more countries. This study aims to analyze the global water crisis and its implications for cross-border conflicts from an international legal perspective. The method used is normative legal research with an approach of international legislation, international legal principles, and relevant literature studies. The results show that international law has provided various instruments to regulate the use of transboundary water resources, including the principle of equitable and reasonable utilization, the obligation to not cause significant harm, and the obligation of cooperation between countries. However, the implementation of these principles still faces various obstacles, such as differences in national interests, imbalances in political power, and weak international law enforcement mechanisms. Therefore, it is necessary to strengthen international cooperation, enhance water diplomacy, and develop effective dispute resolution mechanisms to ensure sustainable, equitable water resource management and prevent future conflicts.
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