Though one might reasonably expect that transboundary harm caused to the riparian interests of watercourse States should quite easily give rise to findings of legal responsibility on the part of the State causing such harm, this has rarely been the case. One reason commonly advanced is that the primary rules of international water law, breach of which would give rise to State responsibility, are vague and uncertain as regards their precise normative implications. However, recent developments regarding the requirement to protect riverine ecosystems and to maintain related ecosystem services provide an important degree of clarity as regards the standard of conduct expected of watercourse States, and the types of harm which may be compensable. This is welcome considering the important role that State responsibility might be presumed to play in giving effect to the values and commitments enshrined in the rules and principles of international water law.

中文翻译：

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国家对跨界水相关损害的国际法责任：新的基于生态系统的范式的出现？

尽管可以合理地预期，对水道国的沿岸利益造成的越境损害应很容易引起造成这种损害的国家一方的法律责任的认定，但事实并非如此。普遍提出的一个理由是，违反国际水法的主要规则会引起国家责任，就其确切的规范含义而言，它是含糊不清和不确定的。但是，关于保护河流生态系统和维持相关生态系统服务的要求的最新发展，在水道国的预期行为标准以及可予赔偿的损害类型方面提供了重要的明确程度。