Chair
Kleber Zanchim
Water Law Committee
Welcome to the Water Law Committee online. The Water Law Committee focuses on legal issues associated with water as a critical resource and as a basic need and building block throughout the world. The Committee seeks to promote the active exchange of information and views on the use of water as a limited resource and an infrastructure opportunity, the controversies on water and the governance and business of water. The Water Law Committee is part of the IBA Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law
Why you should join the IBA
Forthcoming conferences and webinars View All Conferences
Pumped storage hydropower plants: opportunities, trends and legal challenges
02 Oct 2025 1200 - 1300 BST
Webinar
IBA Annual Conference Toronto 2025
02 Nov - 07 Nov 2025
Toronto , Canada
IBA Annual Conference Copenhagen 2026
04 Oct - 09 Oct 2026
Copenhagen , Denmark
Scholarships
SEERIL scholarships for energy and natural resources law studiesThe IBA Section on Energy, Environment, Natural Resources and Infrastructure Law (SEERIL), together with its Academic Advisory Group (AAG), are delighted to announce that they are again accepting applications from students requiring funding for advanced studies or research in the fields of energy and natural resources law.
The scholarships and research grants, up to a total of £18,000 a year, and is open to students at any institution where at least one member of the faculty is an IBA/SEERIL member.
Publications
Water laws in Pakistan: a corporate perspective
Water is vital for agriculture, industry and economic growth. Since Pakistan relies heavily on the Indus River system, it has established strong laws to manage water use, ensure fair distribution and protect its rights over this key resource. This article examines Pakistan's water regulations, highlighting the country's aggressive efforts to protect and manage its water resources
Released on Aug 31, 2025
Chile’s desalination challenge: unlocking seawater in a water-scarce nation
Amid a twelve-year mega-drought and mounting water stress, Chile is investing heavily in seawater desalination, particularly in its mining-intensive northern regions. This column examines the legal and regulatory landscape shaping desalination projects in Chile, including environmental assessments, maritime concessions and land use challenges. It also highlights recent legislative and policy developments aimed at facilitating this crucial water strategy.
Released on Aug 31, 2025
The silent resource: water and the global green rush
While climate agendas increasingly focus on energy transition, carbon markets and biodiversity, water remains critically underacknowledged. This article explores how major technological and environmental initiatives – such as green hydrogen production and AI infrastructure – rely heavily on water, often exacerbating existing inequalities and environmental risks in resource-rich countries like Brazil. It argues that water must be repositioned as a strategic asset, demanding stronger governance, transparency and sovereignty to ensure a truly just and sustainable ecological transition.
Released on Aug 31, 2025
Brazil’s basic sanitation regulatory framework
Almost half of Brazil’s population does not have access to basic sanitation, a critical situation which has been further emphasised by the Covid-19 pandemic. In June 2020, the federal government issued Law No 14,026/2020 which aims to change this state of affairs and is expected to increase the much needed investment in this area.
Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law
Published quarterly, the Journal of Energy & Natural Resources Law (JERL) is the journal of the SEERIL. Featuring contributions written by some of the finest academic minds and most successful practitioners in this area of study, JERL is a highly respected journal committed to reflecting contemporary issues that face the energy and natural resources sectors.
Subcommittees and other groups
The Water Law Committee also coordinates the activities of the following subcommittees/working groups.
- Water Law Committee Advisory Board
Projects and Resolutions
Water Law Committee and United Nations Environment Program
The Committee, pursuant to a Memorandum of Understanding, works with the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) to support UNEP’s efforts around the world to help governments cope with emerging issues in the areas of water and sustainable development. These issues include transboundary freshwater governance and the capacity of governments to comply with international agreements.
Join us on LinkedIn
If you are a member of the Water Law Committee, for additional networking opportunities, programs, interviews with fellow members and tips all exclusive to members, join our LinkedIn page at: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/14316181/.