Key Points

• Article 27 of the UN Watercourses Convention provides that states are under an obligation to individually and, where appropriate, jointly take measures to prevent or mitigate harmful conditions that may be a result of both natural causes, such as floods and droughts, or human conduct.
• In focusing on the prevention and mitigation of harmful conditions, Article 27 provides an important bridge to strategies concerning the adaptation to climate change.
• While Article 27 focuses on the prevention and mitigation of harmful conditions, Article 28 deals with the situation where harmful conditions nevertheless occur.
• Pursuant to Article 28 states must notify potentially affected states and competent international organisations of emergency situations; and states should cooperate in order to prevent, mitigate and eliminate the effects of such emergency situations.
• Article 28 also requires states and international organisations, where necessary, to jointly develop contingency plans to respond to emergencies.