New Article Highlights Transboundary Water Cooperation
WRRC Director Sharon B. Megdal and Rosario Sánchez co-authored an editorial introducing the completed Water Special Issue in August 2026, “Working Across Borders to Address Water Scarcity: Science, Governance, and Cooperation in a Fragmented World.”
The article provides an overview of the research featured in the Special Issue, which brings together studies examining water scarcity and cooperation across diverse regions, including the Colorado River Basin, the US–Mexico border, the Nile and Indus River Basins, and Lake Baikal. While the studies address different geographic and political contexts, they share a common focus on the challenges of managing water resources that cross political boundaries.
The introductory editorial highlights several themes that emerge throughout the collection, including the importance of shared science and data, collaborative governance, and attention to equity and sovereignty. The authors also emphasize how cooperation through local partnerships and international agreements can help address increasingly complex water challenges.
Megdal and Sánchez conclude by reflecting on the contributions to the Special Issue and the importance of continued scientific and diplomatic collaboration in addressing water scarcity.