Canada has a reputation as a peacekeeping nation and as a water country, one of the most richly endowed in the world.
These two elements are connected and put our nation in a strong position to offer leadership to avoid future global conflicts. If we are going to claim that “Canada is back,” we must draw upon our strengths and make a concerted effort to support the international community.
Canadian leadership in peacekeeping dates back to the Sinai Crisis in 1956. It was Lester B. Pearson’s proposal, as Canada’s minister of external affairs, that led to the first peacekeeping mission in United Nations’ history. During the Cold War, Canada maintained notable peacekeeping involvement in South Asia, Middle East, and Sub-Saharan Africa. This role has declined considerably since, where Canada has slid from the No. 1 contributor to peacekeeping missions in 1990 to ranking 67th in the world in 2016.
The world around us and the nature of peacekeeping have also changed considerably, reflecting the evolving nature of threats. Climate change is now a leading threat that exacerbates existing social and societal weaknesses; it is affecting the global water cycle greatly – too much water, too little water, extreme weather events, melting of ice, sea level rise – making water security crucial to economic and political stability.
A 2012 assessment of global water security by the U.S. intelligence community argued that insufficient water management puts water availability and food production at risk, creating potential for societal chaos. Syria is the unfortunate poster-child of this syndrome.
The United Nations Security Council is acutely aware of the water-security challenge, and has held targeted sessions on this topic. UN Secretary General António Guterres has urged world leaders at the security council to invest in water security as a response to increasing demands for water resources and heightened impacts of climate change. In recognition of this heightened interest, the United Nations General Assembly declared 2018-2028 a new international decade for action on “Water for Sustainable Development.”
We have an unmatched, century-long history of peacefully managing shared water resources with the United States. In recent years, we have developed landmark water-sharing agreements, engaging Indigenous communities as important stakeholders. Canadian companies have developed advanced technologies for water treatment and monitoring.
Canadian research leadership in management of Arctic resources, aquatic ecosystems, and climate change adaptation is well established.
A new coalition of 20 Canadian organizations, called the International Water Decade Alliance, aims to engage Canada in the new water decade. This alliance is Canada’s brain trust on water security issues, and represents research centres, universities, civil society organizations, private sector leaders and environmental groups.
A successful water decade, that helps countries achieve Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, including provision of safe, clean water to everyone, will be a success for Canada.
An emphasis on enabling women and girls as powerful agents of change will help transform their households and societies. This approach is consistent with Canada’s new feminist international assistance policy.
A recent gathering of water experts in Ottawa, chaired by former prime minister Jean Chrétien, identified the strong correlation between water security and peace. These experts also agreed that Canada carries sufficient intellectual leadership, technological capacity and international credibility to play the role of water-based peacekeeper.
The new water decade offers Canada a unique opportunity to regain its mantle as a peacekeeper in line with the 21st-century’s challenges.
As Canada vies for a seat at the UN Security Council, we must step forward to embrace this leadership role, while also addressing water challenges at home.
Zafar Adeel is the executive director of the Pacific Water Research Centre at the Simon Fraser University. He is the convener of the International 