The Helsinki Water Convention: Implementation and Compliance in Asia

Abstract

In 2013 the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and Lakes (‘the Helsinki Convention’) became a global treaty, and is now open to all states, including in Asia. This article reviews the application of the Helsinki Convention in Asia, with a particular focus on implementation and compliance. This focus follows an outline of the main institutions and procedural provisions, and experience derived from the first and second assessments of transboundary waters. The development of a regime within the Helsinki Convention is needed because of the absence of formal reporting and compliance mechanisms, which are considered to be essential to modern multilateral environmental agreements