How to Implement the Community-of-Communities?

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 looks at how to implement the community-of-communities, featuring presentations from James Fry (Hong Kong University) on community interests in ICJ adjudication concerning transboundary water resources, Alistair Rieu-Clarke (Northumbria University) on the value of implementation committees and Heping Dang (Chinese University of Hong Kong - Shenzhen) on the right to water. This is part two of a three part webinar series.

The second session on 21 April 2026 from 09.00 -10.00 pm Beijing Time features:

James D Fry, University of Hong Kong
The centrality of riparian community interests in ICJ adjudication of bilateral water disputes

Alistair Rieu-Clarke, Northumbria University
Collaborative versus adversarial approaches to addressing transboundary water disputes – what do implementation committees have to offer?

Heping Dang, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen
States’ extraterritorial duty towards the right to water: balancing sovereignty and community at the transboundary water basin level

Moderator: David J Devlaeminck, International Water Law Academy & UNU-CRIS

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