FIIA REPORT 2010 25 FIIA REPORT 2010 25 Managing Managing Blue Gold Blue Gold New Perspectives on Water Security in the Levantine Middle East New Perspectives on Water Security in the Levantine Middle East Mari Luomi (editor) Water security, namely the ability of governments to secure a sustainable Mari Luomi (editor) water supply for their populations, is becoming increasingly questionable in the Levantine countries of the Middle East. Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Turkey, the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel not only share a history of conflict but also a challenging, mostly arid climate, and scarce water resources in comparison to the levels of consumption. This report is a multidisciplinary endeavour to understand the present dynamics and shed light on the future challenges of water security in this part of the Middle East. Through five case studies and three thematic chapters, the report illustrates the complexity and multi-dimensionality of the region’s water issue. A central outcome of the articles contained in the report is that the region is in dire need of sound water management policies and practices that are based on multi-stakeholder engagement and transboundary cooperation. Internal and external pressures such as growing populations, modernization, economic liberalization, Islam, and climate change will also have to be taken into account and managed. Without a proactive approach that breaks with the current wasteful consumption patterns, the countries of the Levant will not achieve water sustainability, with potentially disastrous ramifications in the near future. ISBN 978-951-769-282-3 ISSN 1458-994X www.upi-fiia.fi Managing Blue Gold New Perspectives on Water Security in the Levantine Middle East Mari Luomi (editor) www.upi-fiia.fi Managing Blue Gold New Perspectives on Water Security in the Levantine Middle East FIIA REPORT 2010 25 Reports can be ordered from the Finnish Institute of International Affairs +358 20 6111 707 [email protected] All FIIA reports and other publications are also available on our website at www.upi-fiia.fi Language editing: Lynn Nikkanen Graphic design: Nordenswan & Siirilä Oy Layout: Mari Pakarinen / Juvenes Print Printed by: Tampereen Yliopistopaino Oy – Juvenes Print, Tampere 2010 The Finnish Institute of International Affairs Ulkopoliittinen instituutti PL 400 00161 Helsinki Finland www.upi-fiia.fi [email protected] ISBN 978-951-769-282-3 ISSN 1458-994X Contents Introduction – Mari Luomi 11 I. Case studies 1. The Internal dimensions of water security: the drought crisis in Northeastern Syria – Hannu Juusola 21 2. The Marginalization of water in Turkish-Syrian relations – Zeki Kütük 36 3. Conflicts, urbanization and bad governance: explaining Lebanon’s water problems – Marja Kaitaniemi 46 4. Is more enough? The sustainability of additional water projects in Jordan – Taru Savolainen 60 5. The management of water resources in Syria and Lebanon: shortcomings and challenges – Kirsti Krogerus 73 II. Emerging issues 6. Water governance under reform pressure: are the Arab societies ready for change? – Olli Varis 86 7. Islam and water: Islamic guiding principles on water management – Laura Wickström 98 8. Mobilizing funding in the water sector: the potential for private sector participation and desalination in the Levant region – Piia Moilanen and Ulla-Maija Mroueh 109 Conclusions – Multiple challenges ahead – Mari Luomi 126 Annex 1: A situational assessment of water in Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey and Israel – Piia Moilanen, Ulla-Maija Mroueh and Mari Luomi 134 Annex 2: Training course on Water, Security and Climate Change in the Levant, spring 2010 – Mari Luomi 138 List of tables and maps 141 FIIA REPORT 25/2010 3 4 FIIA REPORT 25/2010 Acknowledgements This report is based on an expert training course that was jointly arranged by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs and the Finnish Institute in the Middle East in Helsinki, Damascus and Beirut during the spring of 2010. In addition to acknowledging the contributors to this report for their enthusiasm and commitment, the editor would like to thank the organizers of the training course, without whom our trip to Syria and Lebanon in May 2010 would not have been possible: Dr Hannu Juusola, Manal Chatila and Laura Parviainen at the Finnish Institute in Damascus for scientific support and practical arrangements in Syria; Anu Leinonen and Eeva Talvitie at the Foundation of the Finnish Institute in the Middle East for logistical support, and the Foundation for financial support; and Wael Hmaidan and Nadine Ajami of IndyACT for lending us their vast network of local stakeholders and for their impeccable arrangement of meetings and visits in Lebanon. The editor would also like to thank all the Syrian and Lebanese water professionals and other stakeholders who showed us true Middle Eastern hospitality during our stay by sharing not only their time, but also their insights into the often problematic and sometimes sensitive issue that water in this region has become. The editor is also grateful to Anna Korppoo at the Finnish Institute of International Affairs for her support and guidance throughout the editing process. FIIA REPORT 25/2010 5 6 FIIA REPORT 25/2010 Contributors Hannu Juusola: Director, Finnish Institute in the Middle East. Dr Juusola was one of the organizers of the training course for Finnish professionals, of which this report is a continuation. Dr Juusola is currently on leave from the University of Helsinki, where he is a University Lecturer in the Department of World Cultures. He has published extensively on the history and politics of the Levant area. Dr. Juusola’s main current research interest is identity politics in Lebanon, Syria and Israel/Palestine. Marja Kaitaniemi: Policy Advisor, European Parliament. Ms Kaitaniemi assists Green League Finnish MEP, Satu Hassi, in her work in the Environment Committee of the European Parliament. Her work mainly focuses on EU climate policy and the UNFCCC negotiations. She takes a personal interest in the interconnections between climate change and human rights, development and security. Ms Kaitaniemi has previously worked as a climate and energy policy officer at WWF. She holds BSc and MSc degrees in environmental studies. Kirsti Krogerus: Senior Researcher, Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) Freshwater Centre. Ms Krogerus has extensive administrational and management experience in the leadership of the environmental and nature conservation departments and units in the Pirkanmaa and Häme Regional Environment Centres. She is currently completing a doctoral thesis on the importance of particulate matter on phosphorus flow and lake eutrophication for the University of Jyväskylä. She also specializes in the application of different water quality models and the development work of the models. Zeki Kütük: Adjunct Professor, Researcher, Tampere Peace Research Institute, University of Tampere. Dr Kütük’s primary research area is Turkey and its relations with the European Union, Greece and Cyprus. He is currently interested in Turkey’s new foreign policy, particularly the country’s relations with its neighbours in the Middle East and the Balkans. He also lists migration, integration, and border surveillance in Finland and Turkey as additional areas of interest. FIIA REPORT 25/2010 7 Mari Luomi: Researcher, International Politics of Natural Resources and the Environment research programme, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. Ms Luomi was one of the organizers of the training course for professionals on water issues in the Levant, which served as the impetus for this report. She is completing a doctoral thesis on the energy security and responses to climate change of small Gulf monarchies at the Institute for Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies of Durham University. She also specializes in climate policy and security in the Middle East and the politics of sustainability and regime survival in the Gulf. Piia Moilanen: Senior Technology Advisor, Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation (Tekes). Ms Moilanen is managing Tekes’ Water Programme for the period 2008-2012. The objective of the five-year programme is to contribute to technology transfer, new applications development, business competence development, and the overall competitiveness of the Finnish water sector in the international market. Ms Moilanen has completed her Licentiate thesis in environmental technology at the Tampere University of Technology and holds a Master of Business Administration degree from the Helsinki School of Economics. Ulla-Maija Mroueh: Senior Research Scientist, VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland. Mrs Mroueh is research coordinator in the research field of water and waste technologies at VTT. She holds a Master of Science degree from Helsinki University of Technology, coupled with over 25 years of professional experience in environmental research and research management. Her main competencies include environmental aspects of water technologies, waste recycling concepts, and life cycle environmental aspects of recycling processes and concepts. She has published numerous articles and reports on environmental technologies. Taru Savolainen: Project Coordinator, Think tank e2. Ms Savolainen is currently working as an intern at the Finnish Embassy in Damascus. She has studied Development Studies at the University of Helsinki and is writing her Master’s thesis on the social ideals of Islamist movements. At Think tank e2 she has worked mainly with projects