Keeping it Legal: Transboundary Challenges Facing Brazil & the Guarani

Water International, Vol. 36, No. 5, p. 661, September 2011

11 Pages Posted: 3 Sep 2011

See all articles by David N. Cassuto

David N. Cassuto

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University

Romulo S. R. Sampaio

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) School of Law; PACE Law School

Date Written: September 2, 2011

Abstract

This paper examines the legal and ecological problems facing the Guarani Aquifer System. Because the majority of the Guarani Aquifer System underlies Brazil, the Brazilian legal regime forms the paper’s principal focus. The importance of the region makes the need for accurate information crucial. Yet relying on such information to manage a complex resource presents risks. Too often, the role of uncertainty in regulating is underplayed. Increasing knowledge over the resource demands categorizing “hard” and “soft” uncertainties, especially those presented by climate change. In addition, regulators must acknowledge the unitary nature of the aquifer while remaining sensitive to differing national priorities.

Keywords: Guarani Aquifer, hard uncertainty, soft uncertainty, climate change, Guarani Accord, Brazil, transboundary groundwater, groundwater, Brazil, environmental law, international law, water law, international water law,Guarani Aquifer System

JEL Classification: K32, K33, K11, K39, Q24, Q25, Q28, Z00, L50, N50, N56

Suggested Citation

Cassuto, David N. and Sampaio, Romulo S. R., Keeping it Legal: Transboundary Challenges Facing Brazil & the Guarani (September 2, 2011). Water International, Vol. 36, No. 5, p. 661, September 2011, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1921449

David N. Cassuto (Contact Author)

Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University ( email )

78 North Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
United States

Romulo S. R. Sampaio

Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV) School of Law ( email )

Praia de Botafogo, 190
13o andar
Rio de Janeiro 22250-900
Brazil

HOME PAGE: http://www.direitorio.fgv.br

PACE Law School ( email )

78 North Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www.law.pace.edu

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