Steep sustainability challenges in transboundary basins worldwide

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Water Resource Management
• International Relations

Background:

• Transboundary hydrological basins are vital for global water security, supporting nearly 40% of the world's population.
• Existing sustainability assessments often fail to capture the unique complexities of these shared international basins.
• Understanding sustainability in transboundary basins is crucial for resource management and geopolitical stability.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and apply a systematic framework for assessing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) progress in transboundary basins.
• To compare SDG achievement in transboundary basins with national averages.
• To identify patterns and drivers of sustainability within different types of transboundary basins.

Main Methods:

• A systematic framework was developed to assess progress across multiple SDGs.
• Data from 310 transboundary basins worldwide were analyzed.
• Statistical analysis was used to compare basin-level and national SDG scores and identify correlations.

Main Results:

• Transboundary basins exhibit significantly lower average SDG Index scores (42/100) than national averages (67/100).
• Four distinct types of transboundary basins were identified based on their SDG achievement and challenges.
• Progress in clean water (SDG 6), economic growth (SDG 8), and health (SDG 3) was linked to overall success in 38% of basins.

Conclusions:

• Basin-level analysis is essential for understanding sustainability patterns missed by national assessments.
• The developed framework can guide future research and policy in transboundary regions.
• Targeted interventions focusing on water, economy, and health can enhance overall sustainability in transboundary basins.