Water Security and Geopolitical Tensions in the Indo-Pacific

Manhas, Neeraj Singh, Telle, Aline and Balarabe, Kasim ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4681-2824 (2026) Water Security and Geopolitical Tensions in the Indo-Pacific. In: Green Power Politics and Climate Change: The Future of Environmental Politics in the Indo-Pacific. Routledge, London, pp. 83-108. ISBN 9781003766094

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Abstract

Water security has become a rapidly growing concern in shaping the internal dynamics of the Indo-Pacific region and influencing regional stability, economic cooperation, and geopolitical orientation. In 2017, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon warned that by 2030 the ‘world may face a 40% shortfall in water’. The World Bank also claimed that by 2050, about 1.8 billion people will face acute water shortages. However, climate change, industrialization, and a population boom have exacerbated this issue, resulting in a catastrophic transformation in the region. Water security does not receive as much consideration as other areas of security, particularly for those countries that do not currently deal with water stress or scarcity. Multiple international organizations have identified that water shortages across the globe are not just possible but inevitable. As a result, water security has had a significant impact on interstate relations, and it frequently serves as a catalyst for conflict or, conversely, peace-making. This chapter will delve into the significance of water security for the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing the need for effective cooperation to foster resilience, eliminate threats, and guarantee the sustainable utilization of water resources. Lastly, it will underscore the importance of solving water security through multiple, integrated approaches and cooperation, thereby establishing water security as a cornerstone of stability and development in the Indo-Pacific region.

Item Type: Book Section
Uncontrolled Keywords: Cooperation mechanism | Economic Co-operation | Industrialisation | Internal dynamics | Regional stability | United Nations | Water security | Water shortages | Water stress | World bank
Subjects: Physical, Life and Health Sciences > Environmental Science, Policy and Law
Depositing User: Mr. Syed Anas Ali
Date Deposited: 16 Jun 2026 06:41
Last Modified: 16 Jun 2026 06:41
Official URL: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003766094-6
URI: https://pure.jgu.edu.in/id/eprint/11696

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