France and Switzerland finalize their water treaty arrangements
France and Switzerland Sign Agreements to Manage Cross-border Waters Amid Climate Change
In a significant step towards addressing the challenges posed by climate change, France and Switzerland have recently signed two agreements to regulate their cross-border waters, focusing on Lake Geneva and the Rhône River. The signing ceremony took place in Geneva on Thursday.
The agreements aim to establish "French-Swiss crisis management units" to address climate change impacts on Lake Geneva and the Rhône. These units will be activated when the water level in the Rhône reaches certain thresholds, a response to the increasing dependence of the Rhône on rainfall as glaciers gradually disappear. This increased dependence will lead to greater uncertainty in the Rhône's flow, potentially increasing the risk of flooding and low water levels.
The Swiss canton of Geneva regulates the lake's inflow into Lake Geneva through a dam on the Rhône. The cooperation on cross-border waters agreed upon will be coordinated by a bilateral commission. However, the name of the chairperson of the commission is not explicitly stated in the available search results. The chairmanship of the commission will alternately be held by Geneva and Paris.
The Rhône River originates from a Swiss alpine glacier and flows into Lake Geneva, leaves it at its western end, and eventually empties into France. Lake Geneva, being the largest natural lake in Western Europe, is vital for fishing, agriculture, drinking water, tourism, and cooling French nuclear reactors.
The agreements come more than a decade after Switzerland agreed to negotiate, following a severe drought in 2012 that prompted France to urge Switzerland to develop a framework agreement for integrated water management between the two countries.
The crisis management units, established by the agreements, will work to address water management issues between France and Switzerland. The cooperation is expected to bring stability and resilience to the water resources of both countries, especially in the face of the ongoing climate change impacts on Lake Geneva and the Rhône.
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