Congenial relations between the United States and Canada have long been a source of pride for both countries. We characteristically speak about being each other's largest trading partners, and about the degree to which we have a shared, peaceful border. Over the years, the two countries have created a number of mechanisms for dealing with cross-boundary environmental matters relating to air, water and migratory wildlife.
One of the great accomplishments of the bilateral relationship between Canada and the United States in the past century has been the cooperative management of the many lakes and rivers that flow along and across our common boundary. The International Joint Commission (IJC) has provided a mechanism for joint management of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the Great Lakes, and other boundary and transboundary waters. Two binational agreements, The Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement and the Boundary Waters Treaty of 1909 have provided a framework for IJC undertakings.
But signs of disharmony in trade and environmental relations between the two countries have recently surfaced. Ongoing and potential conflict over water, or trade that is dependent on water, has become a political reality in Canada. Water scarcity has already affected many areas of the United States, and a few parts of Canada. The reasons for these shortages include increasing population, industrial development, climate warming, poor agricultural practices, poor prevention of water pollution, and watershed modification.
POWI has conducted research in a number of key areas relating to transboundary water. These include:
Legal instruments to protect Canada's waters from out of basin transfers
No comments:
Post a Comment