Kathmandu: A panel of experts in diplomacy, hydro engineering, environment, and politics have highlighted the necessity for effective hydro diplomacy to ensure robust water governance.

They stressed that hydro governance demands attention and engagement from multiple sectors, advocating for broader consensus among stakeholders with credible information and relevant expertise to shape effective hydro policies and laws beneficial to nations.

These insights were shared during a webinar titled 'Hydro diplomacy: Pathways to enhance water cooperation,' organized jointly by the Nepal Water Conservation Foundation (NWCF), Global Water Partnership South Asia, and Women for Water Partnership. The experts, including former Chairman of NWCF and hydro expert Dipak Gyawali, emphasized that water is a trans-border issue requiring comprehensive discussions from all sides.

Gyawali presented on the 'cultural theory of hydro diplomacy' during the webinar, expressing concern over the absence of water issues in bilateral visits and meetings. He highlighted the varying impacts of climate change on different types of water, categorizing them into seven colors, and urged the water community to understand these distinctions.

Former foreign secretary and permanent representative of Nepal to the UN, Madhu Raman Acharya, underlined the role of diplomacy in dispelling fears of security and geopolitics related to water issues. He emphasized that water problems are complex, entangled with climate change, culture, trade, and security, requiring cooperation from all sides.

Climate change specialist Ali Tauqeer Sheikh from Pakistan and Ambika Vishwanath, Director of Kubernein Initiative in India, stressed the importance of cross-border information flow for disaster management. They suggested mechanisms for sharing disaster information to save lives, especially at borders.

Environmental specialist Bushra Nishat from Bangladesh highlighted the significance of information and data sharing in water management and governance. She emphasized that misinformation creates distrust and suggested student exchange programs to enhance understanding of water problems and disasters among countries.

Moderator John Dore, a climate resilience and water security specialist from Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), emphasized the importance of cooperation among water experts in the region to address problems effectively.

Mariet Verhoef-Cohen, President of Women for Water Partnership (WfWP), stressed the need to highlight women's role in water management. Kusum Athukorala, regional Chairperson of Global Water Partnership, South Asia, pointed out the importance of identifying people and communities affected by water crises, linking them to security issues.

Chairman of NWCF and meteorologist Dr. Ngamindra Dahal echoed Gyawali's sentiments, emphasizing that effective water diplomacy is crucial for reaping water benefits. Dahal urged for multi-sectoral debates on water governance to raise awareness among law and policy makers, preventing haphazard decisions that could lead to economic and environmental setbacks. The Foundation committed to continuing such discussions to enhance knowledge and awareness on various aspects of hydro governance.