The UN General Assembly Resolution A/RES/63/124

The UN General Assembly adopted recently Resolution A/RES/63/124 on the law of transboundary aquifers. The Resolution acknowledges that the subject of the law of transboundary aquifers is of major importance in the relations of States, and “encourages the States concerned to make appropriate bilateral or regional arrangements for the proper management of their transboundary aquifers”, taking into account the provisions of the draft articles prepared by the UN International Law Commission, with the scientific support of UNESCO-IHP. The draft articles are annexed to the Resolution. The draft articles include inter alia provisions on the cooperation among aquifer States including the regular exchange of data, monitoring (jointly or not), and joint management.