7 January 2026 – 11:00 a.m.
Auditorium 1
This session will present the guidelines for an ongoing investigation that seeks to structure the basis and foundations for an international comparative analysis of sustainable water management models. The study stems from the need for solutions to the water stress observed in the Piracicaba, Capivari and Jundiaí River Basins (PCJ Basins – Brazil), using a benchmarking approach with the experiences of Lisbon (Portugal) and, strategically, Bogotá (Colombia). For the International Relations student, the case of Bogotá transcends local management, illustrating the potential of South-South Cooperation and resource governance in countries that share the complex reality of the Amazon Basin.
The analysis positions water management not only as a technical challenge, but also as a geopolitical vector for regional integration. Of particular note is the Brazil-Colombia border (1,644 km), where the management of transboundary basins — such as those of the Içá (Putumayo), Japurá (Caquetá) and Negro rivers — requires robust diplomatic mechanisms to ensure sustainability and avoid conflicts, in line with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT). In the future, the study should expand the debate to other countries in the Amazon region (such as Peru, Venezuela and Bolivia), where water interdependence demands multilateral governance that harmonises urban population growth and environmental preservation.
The methodology includes literature review and technical visits, focusing on how Colombian participatory management practices and Portuguese reuse technologies can be adapted through international technical cooperation. The aim is to demonstrate how knowledge transfer and good practices (SDG 6 and SDG 17) strengthen water security and climate resilience. It is strongly suggested that the efficient management of the PCJ Basins, inspired by these international models, reflects the importance of ‘paradiplomacy’ and the role of subnational actors in building a sustainable water future in South America.
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