The Community-of-Communities at the State to State Level

IWLA Webinar Series - Exploring the ‘Community-of-Communities’ Within and Beyond Transboundary Waters Through a Normative Lens: International Water Law in Times of Polycrisis

The international legal system faces a crisis. From rising nationalism, increased emphasis on sovereignty and a growing climate catastrophe, it faces pressure on all sides. The same is true of international water law, with traditionally well-functioning agreements faltering. In 2024 the International Water Law Academy (IWLA) hosted a conference at the University of Edinburgh, Revisiting the Concept of “Community” in International Water Law, resulting in a special issue in the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law (Issue 43(4)). This special issue explores the concept of the “community-of-communities” in international water law and both its horizontal and vertical reach across different actors and issue areas. This webinar introduces the special issue and looks at the community-of-communities at the State-State level featuring presentations from David Devlaeminck (Chongqing University) on erga omnes, Agnes Chong (Chinese University of Hong Kong) on substantive and procedural fairness and Owen McIntyre (University College Cork) on solidarity. This is part one of a three part webinar series.

The first session on 13 March 2026 from 09.00 - 10.30 pm Beijing Time features:

Ana Maria Daza Clark, University of Edinburgh
Exploring the ‘community-of-communities’ within and beyond transboundary waters through a normative lens – international water law in times of polycrisis

David J Devlaeminck, Chongqing University; UNU-CRIS
Looking beyond the ‘watercourse’: reconceptualizing key norms of the law of international watercourses as obligations erga omnes

Agnes Chong, Chinese University Hong Kong
‘Community-of-communities’ as substantive and procedural fairness in international water law

Owen McIntyre, University College Cork
Solidarity and community interests in international environmental and natural resources law

Moderator: Patricia Wouters, International Water Law Academy

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