1.3.1. La pluralité des utilisations des ressources en eau douces transfrontières

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En provenance du cours de University of Geneva

Droit International de l'Eau Douce

16 notes

University of Geneva

Droit International de l'Eau Douce

16 notes

Au cours des dernières décennies, le droit international a connu des développements majeurs afin de tenir compte des multiples facettes que revêt la gestion et la protection des eaux douces. L’adoption d’instruments universels, régionaux et de bassins souligne l’importance d’étudier l’évolution de la réglementation internationale relative à l’eau et d’identifier les grands principes en ce domaine. Aussi, ce cours vise à offrir les bases nécessaires pour appréhender et examiner la régulation qui s’applique eaux douces transfrontières notamment aux fleuves, aux lacs et aux aquifères. Il présente les principes et les normes juridiques qui régissent l’utilisation, le partage, la gestion et la protection de ces ressources. Le MOOC est composé de 5 modules pouvant être visualisés dans un ordre quelconque, car abordant chacun un thème différent. Cependant, l’ordre des modules suit une certaine logique pédagogique et facilite la compréhension du MOOC pour des personnes ne connaissant pas le sujet. Chaque module s’accompagne d’un questionnaire d’évaluation/quiz. Le MOOC suivra un parcours unique donnant droit à un certificat pour les apprenants ayant obtenu une moyenne supérieure à 80% aux quiz. A la fin du cours, l’apprenant sera à même entre autres : 1) de décrire les enjeux liés à la régulation des eaux douces transfrontières ; 2) d’expliquer l’évolution de la réglementation internationale relative aux eaux douces transfrontières ; 3) de rappeler et d’interpréter les principes et les règles qui régissent la régulation des ressources en eau ; 4) de comprendre le rôle des mécanismes de règlement des différends liés aux eaux douces transfrontières dans le développement du droit international de l’eau douce (ou de comprendre le rôle des cours et tribunaux internationaux dans la résolution des conflits sur l’eau douce) Ce MOOC a été développé par la Plateforme pour le droit international de l’eau douce qui fait partie du Pôle Eau de Genève. Il a été accompagné par la Cellule MOOC de l’Université de Genève. A côté des chercheurs et des enseignants de la Plateforme, plusieurs experts internationaux ont également participé. Ce MOOC fait partie des trois cours soutenu par le Pôle Eau Genève et l’Université de Genève en compagnie des MOOCs en « Gestion et politique de l’eau » (www.coursera.org/learn/gestioneau) et en « Services écosystémiques : une méthode pour le développement durable » (www.coursera.org/learn/ecosystem-services). Ce cours est financé par le Programme Global Eau de la Direction du développement et de la coopération suisse (DDC).

À partir de la leçon

Module 1: Introduction au droit international de l'eau douce

Avec environ deux soixante-seize (276) cours d'eau et lacs, et un grand nombre d’eaux souterraines partagées par deux ou plusieurs États, l’intérêt et l’importance du droit international en ce domaine deviennent de plus en plus cruciaux. Ce module introductif vise à souligner en quoi la règlementation internationale constitue un outil fondamental pour assurer une gestion harmonieuse et pacifique de ces ressources indispensables à la vie humaine. Il présente les différents enjeux et défis liés à la gestion et la protection des ressources en eau. L’accent est mis sur les facteurs pouvant favoriser les conflits mais il est également démontré comment l’eau peut constituer un instrument de paix et de coopération entre les États. Nous nous intéressons dans cette perspective aux bénéfices que les États peuvent tirer de la coopération sur les eaux douces transfrontières.Des séquences sont aussi consacrées à l’analyse des différentes utilisations liées à la ressource en eau et des rapports qui existent entre elles. Un quiz clôturera ce module et équivaudra à 15% de la note finale. Pour le réussir, vous devez avoir au moins 80% de réponses correctes.

1.3.1. La pluralité des utilisations des ressources en eau douces transfrontières7:56

1.3.2. Les caractéristiques des conflits d’utilisation10:18

1.3.3. Cas pratique : conflit d’utilisation sur le fleuve Uruguay (Argentine/Uruguay)11:24

Rencontrer les enseignants

Laurence Boisson de Chazournes
Professor
Department of Public International Law and International Organization, Faculty of Law
Makane Moïse Mbengue
Professor
Faculty of Law and Institute of Environmental Sciences
Mara Tignino
Reader
Department of Public International Law and International Organization, Faculty of Law
Komlan Sangbana
Associate Researcher
Faculty of Law and Institute of Environmental Sciences

[MUSIC] [MUSIC]

[MUSIC] Ladies and gentlemen. Hello.

In this sequence I will talk about the different ways in which

international watercourses are used.

I will speak in terms of plurality since the uses are many

and varied.

So why, in the context of international law, are we interested in the

plurality of uses?

This is because we want to demonstrate that international law

provides the principles that govern the relationship between these uses.

So how does international law address the

plurality of these uses?

In order to explain this to you,

to present the principles in force,

I am going to show you how international law has gradually

come to understand the uses of international watercourses.

The first use addressed by international law was

navigation.

The political situation prevailing in the

19th century meant that European countries considered navigation, transport,

communication as a means of economic development.

And consequently, free movement, the free navigation

of international watercourse became a very important principle.

At the time of colonisation,

this principle played a very important role when acquiring new territories

So, this use was the first to be truly

regulated by international law with the principle

of the freedom of navigation, which, during the 20th century,

will take on shapes and forms that vary from one region to another.

Another use is fishing.

Rivers are habitats that are important for many species.

And as a result, by the end of the 19th century,

States are seen to incorporate provisions to

better protect the resource into their treaties because, for economic purposes

they must be protected, habitats must be protected

breeding seasons must be respected and

so we see how regulation in this field began.

And next, the 20th century. This is a period

which sees international law

address additional uses and in doing so, makes its mark.

So why am I talking about the 20th century?

As you know,

population growth was very important in this period.

The number of people living on earth increased

and they all needed access to water.

There are also demands for economic development,

and what follows is the prolongation of the industrial revolution,

and with it, new ways to consume energy,

and electricity which needed to be widely available etc..

And as a result, there was a lot of pressure.

I haven't mentioned irrigation,

but irrigation is extremely important in order to feed

the people that live in the different regions of the world.

And so, we see the multiplication of uses and

the States of the second half of the 20th century acknowledge

the necessity to regulate the relationship between these uses.

In the 1997 Convention negotiated by the

International Law Commission, there is a very important principle,

the principle that no one use has primacy over another.

If there is no primacy of use, there is no

hierarchy.

And what does that mean?

This means that all uses can

be considered, but States have to exchange,

have to cooperate in order to manage the resource.

And so the definition of the relationship between these uses

is established according to the principles that are often referred to in this MOOC,

the principles of equitable and reasonable use

and the obligation to prevent any significant damage.

So, I have said that there is no hierarchy of

use but the International Law Commission has stated and this has been affirmed in

general international law, that if there is a conflict between uses

then primacy must be given to essential human needs.

And as I have often said, the imperative

gaining more and more importance is

that one use is not more important than another but

this rule enshrined in Article 10 of the 1997 Convention

if all uses can not be met, that basic human needs have priority.

And therefore, in all circumstances,

domestic needs have to be assured,

sanitation needs have to be assured

before water can be used for other uses.

So this principle of non-hierarchy, you see,

takes into account the situation on the ground, takes into account

that there might be differences depending on the region and depending on the international watercourse

and it is a principle that demands dialogue between the parties concerned.

I have often spoken about States and about this dialogue which is so important

as they make agreements concerning international watercourses,

but we also see that in the decision-making process

communities dependent on the watercourses, communities living alongside

these watercourses must also be taken into account,

along with their views.

This is known as public participation in the management of

of international watercourses.

Before concluding this sequence, I would also like to address

the issue of the environment which we haven't yet discussed.

The environment, per se, is not an actual use

however, water comes from nature.

And so, the uses can be divided,

since the 1970s, States, with the help of legal instruments,

have accepted that

use must be in compliance with international environmental law.

For example, the Ramsar Convention which protects wetlands of international

importance or other protected water resources because

they are significant habitats, ecosystems etc.

This aspect is also marked by

the question of uses.

The last point I would like to highlight is the issue of borders.

As you know, many land borders are defined by

characteristics of the land and sometimes these are international watercourses.

Strictly speaking this is not a use however

nature doesn't care much about these borders.

And again,

States need to cooperate to ensure that water resources

can be used, in the best possible way, while at the same time

respecting the political borders that have been agreed.

Thanks for your attention.

[MUSIC]

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