Energizing Peace: Legal Frameworks for the Water–Energy Nexus in Conflict Zones

Gijo George; Jarbom Gamlin Government Law College (India)
Ragul OV, Madras High Court (India)

Abstract. Conflict-affected regions face humanitarian crises that erode livelihoods, institutional trust, and peace. While access to clean water and energy is a fundamental human right (UNGA Res. 64/292), legal and policy frameworks often address them separately, overlooking vital synergies. This paper examines how integrated legal and governance frameworks can link water and energy provision to promote sustainable peacebuilding. Using doctrinal analysis, we explore international and domestic law—water law (e.g., UN Watercourses Convention 1997), energy law, human rights law, and international humanitarian law. We analyze transboundary treaties (e.g., Indus Waters Treaty), and the role of decentralized renewable energy (DRE) in disrupting war economies and empowering communities. Our findings show that existing laws operate in silos, weakening peace outcomes. We advocate for nexus-based legal reforms, such as joint water–energy councils, integrated planning mandates, and community-centered regulatory models. A unified legal approach can strengthen peace dividends and align with SDGs 6, 7, and 16, transforming services into tools for environmental peacebuilding. -Dr. Gijo George Professor of Law & Principal Jarbom Gamlin Government Law College Affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University, Jote, Papumpare District, Arunachal Pradesh, India -Mr. Ragul OV  Researcher in Law Madras High Court Chennai Campus, Tamil Nadu, India