Water-IQ matters as water conflicts mount

Abstract

Water crises fuel conflicts that confound efforts to solve the underlying water crises. Water diplomacy is more effective at defusing such conflicts when the parties involved share at least a common understanding of the water involved. We argue that basic, but still up to date knowledge of where water is and how it moves is so important for finding common ground in water conflicts that this knowledge deserves a name of its own-the Water Intelligence Quotient or Water-IQ. Science has advanced, and what people learn about the water cycle needs to reflect that. Two keystones of Water-IQ are awareness of how profoundly people have influenced the water cycle and the atmospheric teleconnections that move water between geographic regions. Given the importance of evidence-based knowledge of the water cycle when trying to overcome water conflicts and seek a basis for water cooperation, Water-IQ knowledge needs to be spread widely. This article is categorized under: Human Water > Water Governance Water and Life > Conservation, Management, and Awareness Human Water > Water as Imagined and Represented

Keywords

climate change; teleconnections; water conflict; water diplomacy

Published in

WIREs Water
2024, volume: 15, number: 5, article number: e1743
Publisher: WILEY

SLU Authors

• Bishop, Kevin

  • Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Oceanography, Hydrology, Water Resources
Environmental Sciences

Publication identifier

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/wat2.1743

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/130811