WATER POLICY: GLOBAL TRENDS, SITUATION IN UKRAINE

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of the multifaceted concept of “water policy” and the main trends in the manifestation of water policy in the world, formally touching on issues related to Ukraine. Water policy in the world is given a lot of attention. Special periodicals, monographs and encyclopedias are saturated with consideration of water policy issues (water resources policy). The following directions are distinguished: hydropolitics, which considers the issue of transboundary water resources, and hydropsychology, which considers the issue of water at the local level. At the heart of water policy are the mechanisms of application of international conventions and treaties, as countries are concerned about their water security, especially in transboundary water basins. Issues of water resources within the country are resolved at the national legislative level, in Europe – with the application of the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive. After the Dublin Conference on Water Resources and Sustainable Development (1992), the world water community is directed towards integrated water resources management (IWRM). IWRM is a management system based on the accounting of all types of water resources (surface, underground and return water) within hydrographic boundaries, which binds the interests of various industries and levels of the water use hierarchy, involves all interested parties in decision-making, promotes the effective use of water resources , land and other natural resources for the benefit of sustainable provision of water requirements of nature and society. In Ukraine, as a whole, the water sphere of the state moves in line with the world trends of water policy and IWRM by joining the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes, the Protocol on Water and Health to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes 1992, implementation of the provisions of the EU Water Framework Directive into the legal framework and practice of water relations, cooperation on transboundary waters at the current level, adoption of the Water Strategy until 2050.