A Call to Cities: Run Out of Water or Create Resilience and Abundance?

New management choices, with new approaches to urbanization and integrated water-energy-food management, are emerging as critical to combat water stress. Urban strategies and tactics are explored in this chapter with a focus on scaling effective solutions and approaches. This includes a focus on small, modular, and integrated water-energy-food hubs; off-grid and localized “circular economy” services that are affordable, accessible, and reliable; blended finance for new technologies, infrastructure and business models, strategic plans, and policies; and urban, behavioral, and decision sciences-informed decisions and new public-private-research-driven partnerships and processes. There are two key messages: first, business as usual could lead to “running out” of water where it’s needed most—in cities and for agricultural and industrial production. Second, “innovators” and “early adopters” of market-based and data-driven efforts can help scale solutions led by people and communities investing in new ways to integrate urban water, energy, and food systems. The chapter concludes with discussion on a new, proactive “maturity” model, enabling integrated urban infrastructure systems, governance, and cross-sector innovation. This includes market-based and data-driven responses that first focus on improving quality of life, sustainability, and resilience of communities, bringing valued services via water-energy-food nexus decisions

An analysis of the public reporting of organisational resilience found within the integrated reports of a large state-owned enterprise

This research explored whether there is any evidence of reporting of organisational resilience within the integrated reports of a large state-owned enterprise. The organisation chosen for the research was Eskom. The integrated annual reports of Eskom for 2016, 2017 and 2018 were examined. Direct and indirect evidence of organisational resilience was sought within the organisations integrated reports. The direct reporting of organisational resilience was located by using a PDF word search. A thematic content analysis was used to perform the search for indirect reporting of organisational resilience. Three main themes to represent organisational resilience that were identified beforehand were used to identify the indirect reporting of organisational resilience. Namely, transformability, adaptability and persistence. Sub themes of general and specified resilience were also identified during the research process. The literature review discusses the themes in detail, and also introduces communication and integrated reporting. Evidence of both direct and indirect organisational resilience was identified in all three years studied. Evidence of all the main themes and sub themes was found within the indirect reporting of organisational resilience. The main limitation of the study is that although evidence of reporting of organisational resilience was found, this evidence does not provide any indications of the level of organisational resilience within Eskom. A number of recommendations to Eskom management are made at the end of the research. What is interesting is that integrated reports are not designed to report on organisational resilience. However, the research showed clear evidence of reporting of organisational resilience within all three years researched. Potentially indicating that the integrated annual reports are a useful method of sharing information regarding organisational resilience with stakeholders. An additional benefit is that communication with stakeholders is simultaneously contributing to the enhancement of the organisations resilience

Supply chain risk management : harnessing organisational culture to optimise the management of risks along the supply chain

Disruptions to supply chains, whether they are natural, accidental or intentional, are increasingly distorting supply chain performance. Given that such disruptions are unlikely to decrease in the short term, supply chain risk mitigating solutions will play an increasingly significant role in the management of supply chains.The research acknowledges the existence of a wide range of approaches to mitigate risks across supply chains, yet argues that most approaches are not sustainable or effective if they are not supported by the culture of an organisation.Whilst the areas of supply chain risk, risk mitigating strategies and organisational culture as topics, have been researched in great levels of depth, it has been identified that the relationship between all three areas and particularly the relationship between organisational culture and supply chain risk management has been largely ignored.The research argues that the culture of an organisation can be harnessed strategically to enhance the effectiveness of risk management along the supply chain. As part of such approach, businesses need to create an environment in which supply chain risk management is a core facet of business activities and thus the mitigation of risks is more likely to develop naturally.The thesis investigates the relationship between different organisational culture types and supply chain risk management, developing theoretical assertions, which outline how different organisational cultures can be harnessed to effectuate a change in supply chain risk management efficiency.In pursuit of meeting the requirements of the research questions, four leading international organisations with different organisational cultures were researched. Data was collected by way of conducting semi-structured interviews, researcher observation, as well as additional documentation in various forms was collected. Interviews were transcribed and evaluated in conjunction with additional data that was collected during site visits and triangulated by means of researcher observation.The thesis clearly identifies strong relationships between different organisational cultures and organisational approaches to risk management in the supply chain. Moreover, the research uncovers that some types of organisational cultures are more conducive to managing risks in the supply chain than others. Based on this, the study provides a detailed overview of how traits from different organisational cultures can be harnessed to effectuate a change in an organisation’s approach to risk and risk management in the supply chain

Local Voices, Local Choices? Vulnerability to Climate Change and Community-Based Adaptation in Rural Vanuatu

This thesis focuses on community-based adaptation to climate change (CBA) in a rural, Pacific islands context. It is informed by a case study of Mota Lava, a small island in northern Vanuatu. Climate change poses particular challenges for Pacific island communities, who, in general, are largely natural resource dependent, coastal dwelling and experience high climate variability and extremes. This thesis responds to the lack of critical attention paid to dominant understandings of how to implement adaptation to climate change in a way that best serves the needs of local people. The research addresses the dearth of Pacific local voices in mainstream international adaptation knowledge, therefore contributing to more effective CBA projects and programmes in the region. The features that distinguish effective CBA are that it: reduces vulnerability; is participatory; is based on local knowledge, needs and priorities, and; empowers communities to help themselves in adapting to climate change. Situated in critical human geography, the study examines mainstream international discourses of vulnerability and adaptation, and the implications of these for effective CBA implementation in a Pacific island community context. Qualitative research drawing from participatory and postcolonial theories provides a platform for community voices in Vanuatu. A combination of semi-structured interviews, unstructured interviews, participatory techniques and participant observation were used to investigate the ways in which people construct their vulnerability and adaptation needs in the community of Mota Lava. The research revealed tensions between local and mainstream constructions of vulnerability and therefore, adaptation needs. Local people construct vulnerability to climate change as caused by predominantly social factors and processes. Mechanisms for minimising the negative implications of a range of climate stresses and uncertainties are integrated into livelihoods, society and culture. However, this (considerable) adaptive capacity is threatened by aspects of social change stemming from non-local processes of (under)development. Effective CBA requires community-led development initiatives, targeting social processes at the core of increasing community vulnerability. However, in mainstream international discourse, vulnerability to climate change is constructed as being caused by specific climate stimuli, their biophysical impacts and the ability to directly respond to these. As a result, CBA implementation in the region is characterized by technical measures that reactively respond to particular climate impacts rather than proactively reducing vulnerability. The mainstream adaptation discourse limits the effectiveness of CBA for communities like Mota Lava, where the causes of vulnerability are primarily social

Resilience to capitalism, resilience through capitalism: indigenous communities, industrialization, and radical resilience in Arctic Alaska

Thesis (Ph.D.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016A large and expanding body of scientific evidence shows that the Arctic is experiencing rapid social-ecological changes. Arctic stewardship is a framework for governance that is based on the principles of resilience thinking and is gaining prominence in both academic and political settings. However, critical scholars have indicted resilience thinking for failing to adequately comprehend the social dimensions of social-ecological systems. Resilience, therefore, remains a problematic theoretical foundation on which to base governance. The aim of this dissertation is to improve resilience thinking so that it can overcome its demonstrated shortcomings and thereby contribute to improved Arctic governance. I propose a novel theoretical framework called radical resilience, which integrates conventional resilience thinking with key insights from the political economic theories of certain Marxists and post-Marxists – namely that the capitalist mode of production and consumption is a key driver of ecological degradation and social inequity. Focusing on populations who maintain high degrees of non-capitalist modes of economic activity, I use radical resilience to answer the research question: How is the global capitalist system affecting the social-ecological resilience of Indigenous communities in northern Alaska as the Arctic continues to industrialize? Empirical case studies revolving around the three sectors of industrial activity increasing the fastest in the Arctic – tourism, natural resource extraction, and shipping – show that the relationship between capitalism and the resilience of Indigenous communities is complex and conflicted. While engaging in capitalism challenges traditional values, it is also a key strategy for maintaining adaptive capacity. Rather than calling for local places to ‘weather the storm’ of change – as resilience has been critiqued for doing –governance should enable local influence over global processes through enhanced bottom-up democracy, or what the resilience literature calls revolt.Chapter 1: Introduction -- 1.1 Introduction -- 1.2 Dissertation Methodology -- 1.3 Arctic Change -- 1.3.1 Defining the Arctic -- 1.3.2 Environmental Changes -- 1.3.3 Social Changes -- 1.3.4 Changes in Coupled Social-Ecological Systems -- 1.4 Arctic Stewardship and Resilience -- 1.4.1 Ecosystem Stewardship Applied to the Arctic -- 1.4.2 Resilience Theory and its Application -- 1.5 Critiques of Resilience Thinking -- 1.5.1 Overview -- 1.5.2 Radical Political Economy Critiques -- 1.5.2.1 Background -- 1.5.2.2 The Critique -- 1.5.3 Capitalism with a Lower Case ‘c’ -- 1.5.4 Resilience and Capitalism: Reconsidering the Relationship -- 1.6 Radical Resilience: A New Framework for Steering Arctic Change -- 1.7 References -- Chapter 2: Integrating indigenous values with capitalism through tourism: Alaskan experiences and outstanding issues -- 2.1 Introduction -- 2.1.1 Overview of Barrow, Alaska -- 2.2 Theoretical Framework -- 2.2.1 Sustainable Tourism -- 2.2.2 Indigenous Tourism -- 2.2.3 Radical Political Economy of Tourism -- 2.2.4 A Framework for Critical Indigenous Sustainable Tourism -- 2.3 Barrow Case Study -- 2.3.1 Methods -- 2.3.2 Findings and Discussion -- 2.3.2.1 Iñupiaq Values -- 2.3.2.2 Tourism in Barrow -- 2.3.2.3 Spaces of Confluence and Divergence -- 2.3.2.4 Future Considerations -- 2.4 Conclusion -- 2.5 References -- Chapter 3: Mapping industrial infrastructure in the US Arctic to support community wellbeing -- 3.1 Introduction -- 3.1.1 The Social-Ecological Context of Industrial Infrastructure -- 3.1.2 Linkages between Industrial Infrastructure and Community Wellbeing -- 3.2 Methods -- 3.2.1 Definition of Key Terms -- 3.3 Industrial Infrastructure in the US Arctic’s Sub-Regions -- 3.3.1 Central North Slope and State Waters -- 3.3.2 National Petroleum Reserve–Alaska -- 3.3.3. Chukchi Sea Outer Continental Shelf -- 3.3.4 Beaufort Sea Outer Continental Shelf -- 3.3.5 Arctic National Wildlife Refuge -- 3.3.6 Northwest Coastal and Interior Alaska -- 3.3.7 Regional Overview and Data Synthesis -- 3.3.8 Summary of Findings -- 3.4 Discussion and Conclusion -- 3.5 References -- Chapter 4: Relevance of a particularly sensitive sea area to the Bering Strait region: a policy analysis using resilience-based governance principles -- 4.1 Introduction -- 4.1.2 Background -- 4.3 A Bering Strait Particularly Sensitive Sea Area (PSSA) -- 4.3.1 Key Bering Strait Ecological and Cultural Resources -- 4.3.2 Particularly Sensitive Sea Areas (PSSAs) -- 4.3.3 Risk Factors in the Bering Strait Resulting from Maritime Traffic -- 4.3.4 Implementing a PSSA in the Bering Strait -- 4.4 Resilience-Based Governance Principles -- 4.4.1 Principle 1: Institutions must be Ecosystem-Based -- 4.4.2 Principle 2: Institutions must be Cross-Scale -- 4.4.3 Principle 3: Institutions must be Adaptive -- 4.4.4 Principle 4: Institutions must be Legitimate -- 4.4.5 Principle 5: Institutions must be Implementable -- 4.5 Analysis and Discussion -- 4.5.1 Political Issues -- 4.5.1.1 Does a PSSA Function Effectively Across Scales? -- 4.5.1.2 Is a PSSA Implementable? -- 4.5.2 Likely Results -- 4.5.2.1 Is the Institution Ecosystem-Based? -- 4.5.2.2 Are the Institutions Adaptive? -- 4.5.2.3 Are the Institutions Perceived as Legitimate? -- 4.6 Conclusion -- 4.7 References -- Chapter 5: Conclusion -- 5.1 Introduction -- 5.2 Case 1: Tourism -- 5.2.1 What are the Key Social-Ecological Dynamics of the Given System? -- 5.2.2 Who Benefits from the Arrangement, at What Scale, and How Much? -- 5.2.3 Who Suffers from the Arrangement, at What Scale, and How Much? -- 5.2.4 Is Power Equitably Distributed in this Arrangement? -- 5.2.5 In this Context, what should be made Resilient to What and for Whom? -- 5.3 Case 2: Natural Resource Extraction -- 5.3.1 What are the Key Social-Ecological Dynamics of the Given System? -- 5.3.2 Who Benefits from the Arrangement, at What Scale, and How Much? -- 5.3.3 Who Suffers from the Arrangement, at What Scale, and How Much? -- 5.3.4 Is Power Equitably Distributed in this Arrangement? -- 5.3.5 In this Context, what should be made Resilient to What and for Whom? -- 5.4 Case 3: Shipping -- 5.4.1 What are the Key Social-Ecological Dynamics of the Given System? -- 5.4.2 Who Benefits from the Arrangement, at What Scale, and How Much? -- 5.4.3 Who Suffers from the Arrangement, at What Scale, and How Much? -- 5.4.4 Is Power Equitably Distributed in this Arrangement? -- 5.4.5 In this Context, what should be made Resilient to What and for Whom? -- 5.5 Global Capitalism’s Effects on Indigenous Communities: Northern Alaska and Beyond -- 5.5.1 Overview -- 5.5.2 Northern Alaska and the wider Arctic -- 5.6 Recommendation for Arctic Governance -- 5.6.1 Territorial Sovereignty -- 5.6.2 Effective Representation at the Regional Scale -- 5.6.3 Effective Representation at the Global Scale -- 5.7 Conclusion -- 5.8 References -- Appendix

Politics of Knowledge

The compendium The Politics of Knowledge: Understanding the Evidence for Agroecology, Regenerative Approaches, and Indigenous Foodways (English | Español | Français) tackles the dominant questions about evidence that are holding back food systems transformation. Authors unpack the narratives and legacies behind these questions and explore the many ways funders, researchers, and policymakers can take transformative action

The Politics of Knowledge: Understanding the Evidence for Agroecology, Regenerative Approaches, and Indigenous Foodways

The compendium The Politics of Knowledge: Understanding the Evidence for Agroecology, Regenerative Approaches, and Indigenous Foodways tackles the dominant questions about evidence that are holding back food systems transformation. Authors unpack the narratives and legacies behind these questions and explore the many ways funders, researchers, and policymakers can take transformative action.Working with 17 contributing teams representing geographic, institutional, sectoral, gender, and racial diversity, the compendium explores the power and politics that shape and infuse our understanding of evidence, what counts as evidence, and the broad range of ways evidence is documented.Alongside recommendations for action, authors focus on unpacking five dominant questions:Can these approaches feed the world?Can these approaches be scaled?Can these approaches provide meaningful livelihoods?Can these approaches solve the climate, biodiversity, and soils crises?Can these approaches accelerate transformation

Innovation Education

Education reform presents an opportunity to improve innovation education and, in turn, advance innovation capacity. I synthesize the framing and strategy of resources from provincial, national, international, and theoretical perspectives on innovation in order to develop a holistic model of innovation and a curricula for innovation education. Then, I use systemic design to model Newfoundland and Labrador’s current education system and to suggest strategies for reform to enable improvement in Newfoundland and Labrador’s innovation education. Finally, I explore how systemic reform in Newfoundland and Labrador may serve as a systems laboratory for reform efforts in other jurisdictions

A Petri net model-based resilience analysis of nuclear power plants under the threat of natural hazards

Due to global climate change, nuclear power plants are increasingly exposed to the threats of extreme natural disasters. In this paper, a resilience engineering approach is applied to tackle all aspects of nuclear safety, spanning from design, operation, and maintenance to accident response and recovery, in the case of high-impact low-probability events. Petri net models are developed to simulate the losses caused by extreme events, the health states of relevant systems, mitigation processes, and the recovery and maintenance processes. The method developed is applied to assess the resilience of a single-unit pressurised heavy water reactor under the threat of three possible external events. Possible loss of coolant accidents and station blackout accidents caused by the events are considered. With the aid of the models developed, both the influence of stochastic deterioration and the impact of external events on the resilience of the reactor can be assessed quantitatively. The simulation results show that the method can comprehensively describe the resilience of nuclear power plants against various disruptive events. It is also found that the stochastic deterioration that does not directly affect the operation of nuclear reactors is critical to the resilience of reactors