12 research outputs found
Governing a shared hidden resource: A review of governance mechanisms for transboundary groundwater security
© 2017 Elsevier B.V. Globally, groundwater is by far the largest store of liquid freshwater, making it a key component of a secure water supply. However, over the past few decades the amount of usable groundwater available around the world has rapidly decreased. This depletion is caused primarily by mismanagement (e.g., overpumping, contamination, and under-regulation), but also by reduced natural recharge due to climate change and urbanization. Management of groundwater resources is particularly challenging for the nearly 600 aquifers that are transboundary, meaning that they extend across international political borders. To understand how governance mechanisms can reduce water insecurity in transboundary groundwater contexts, we review key literature from what we view as the most relevant fields: groundwater management, water security, international water law and international water governance. We then formulate a set of recommendations for improved groundwater governance that can address the specific physical nature of groundwater systems, enhance water security, and apply to transboundary groundwater settings. We argue that groundwater governance in transboundary contexts requires processes that (1) enhance context-specific and flexible international mechanisms; (2) address the perpetual need for groundwater data and information; (3) prioritize the precautionary principle and pollution prevention, in particular; (4) where appropriate, integrate governance of surface and subsurface water and land; and (5) expand institutional capacity, especially of binational or multinational actors
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The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A systematic review of methods for nexus assessment
The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is rapidly expanding in scholarly literature and policy settings as
a novel way to address complex resource and development challenges. The nexus approach aims to
identify tradeoffs and synergies of water, energy, and food systems, internalize social and
environmental impacts, and guide development of cross-sectoral policies. However, while the WEF
nexus offers a promising conceptual approach, the use of WEF nexus methods to systematically
evaluate water, energy, and food interlinkages or support development of socially and
politically-relevant resource policies has been limited.
This paper reviews WEF nexus methods to provide a knowledge base of existing approaches and
promote further development of analytical methods that align with nexus thinking. The systematic
review of 245 journal articles and book chapters reveals that (a) use of specific and reproducible
methods for nexus assessment is uncommon (less than one-third); (b) nexus methods frequently fall
short of capturing interactions among water, energy, and foodâthe very linkages they conceptually
purport to address; (c) assessments strongly favor quantitative approaches (nearly three-quarters); (d)
use of social science methods is limited (approximately one-quarter); and (e) many nexus methods
are confined to disciplinary silosâonly about one-quarter combine methods from diverse disciplines
and less than one-fifth utilize both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
To help overcome these limitations, we derive four key features of nexus analytical tools and
methodsâinnovation, context, collaboration, and implementationâfrom the literature that reflect
WEF nexus thinking. By evaluating existing nexus analytical approaches based on these features, we
highlight 18 studies that demonstrate promising advances to guide future research. This paper finds
that to address complex resource and development challenges, mixed-methods and transdisciplinary
approaches are needed that incorporate social and political dimensions of water, energy, and food;
utilize multiple and interdisciplinary approaches; and engage stakeholders and decision-makers.Open Access Article.
UA Open Access Publishing Fund.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Global Water Initiatives Redux: A Fresh Look at the World of Water
The complex and globally influential mosaic of institutional frameworks, organizations, events, declarations, professional societies, organizations, and networks that focus on water-resources governance collectively known as “global water initiatives” (GWIs) remains starkly understudied. We address this knowledge gap by means of a robust examination of key actors and institutions involved in global water governance and thereby affirm the dynamic and organic nature of the GWI landscape. Our investigation of the changing landscape of GWIs taps historical and current data and employs both text analysis and bibliometric review. We find that: (1) GWIs have diversified, expanded their constituencies, and gradually extended their influence over how water is perceived, governed, and managed; (2) the institutional landscape within which GWIs exist and operate is continuously shifting to accommodate and lubricate the spread of new ideas, ways of thinking, and available science and tools; (3) networks, megaconferences and their declarations, and water-themed journals likely will continue to be at the leading edge of global water governance and policy; and (4) the advent of the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals has enhanced the relevance of UN-Water, the network of water-related United Nations (UN) agencies. Our findings indicate that as the number of GWIs grows, such proliferation has not necessarily led to duplication, but more likely to diversity and interconnectedness. On balance, GWI activity tends to increase awareness-raising, information-sharing, network-building, agenda-setting, and on-the-ground action. GWI behavior both mirrors and influences prevailing worldviews on water governance and management and taken together, GWI efforts continue to shape international water discourse
Global Water Initiatives Redux: A Fresh Look at the World of Water
The complex and globally influential mosaic of institutional frameworks, organizations, events, declarations, professional societies, organizations, and networks that focus on water-resources governance collectively known as âglobal water initiativesâ (GWIs) remains starkly understudied. We address this knowledge gap by means of a robust examination of key actors and institutions involved in global water governance and thereby affirm the dynamic and organic nature of the GWI landscape. Our investigation of the changing landscape of GWIs taps historical and current data and employs both text analysis and bibliometric review. We find that: (1) GWIs have diversified, expanded their constituencies, and gradually extended their influence over how water is perceived, governed, and managed; (2) the institutional landscape within which GWIs exist and operate is continuously shifting to accommodate and lubricate the spread of new ideas, ways of thinking, and available science and tools; (3) networks, megaconferences and their declarations, and water-themed journals likely will continue to be at the leading edge of global water governance and policy; and (4) the advent of the Millennium Development Goals and Sustainable Development Goals has enhanced the relevance of UN-Water, the network of water-related United Nations (UN) agencies. Our findings indicate that as the number of GWIs grows, such proliferation has not necessarily led to duplication, but more likely to diversity and interconnectedness. On balance, GWI activity tends to increase awareness-raising, information-sharing, network-building, agenda-setting, and on-the-ground action. GWI behavior both mirrors and influences prevailing worldviews on water governance and management and taken together, GWI efforts continue to shape international water discourse
Transboundary Water Governance Scholarship: A Critical Review
Governing and managing the allocation and use of freshwater has always been a complex and fraught undertaking. The challenges to effective and equitable management have been exacerbated by rising pressures on supplies caused by such drivers as population growth, urbanization and climate change. Moreover, vast quantities of water straddle international and other boundariesâfour-fifths of the worldâs largest river basins and hundreds of aquifers span such borders. This further complicates management and governance, which is subject to disparate legal, political, administrative, financial, cultural and diplomatic conditions. Recognition in the literature and in practice of âtransboundarinessâ dates to the 1970s and has grown since. The authors trace the evolution of transboundary water scholarship and identify five framings used in transboundary water governance and management: conflict and cooperation; hydropolitics; hydrodiplomacy; scale; and disciplinary approaches. Transboundary water management initiatives can be viewed through three broad strands: interventions, advancements in governance strategies and democratization of data and information for strengthening scienceâpolicy interaction. The authors close with a discussion of future directions for transboundary water governance and management, emphasizing the need for additional research on how to deal with climate-related and other mounting challenges
Dams, Chinese investments, and EIAs: A race to the bottom in South America?
The political economy of dam development in South America is changing as a result of a resurgence in water infrastructure investments. The arrival of Chinese-funded projects in the region has altered a context traditionally dominated by multilateral development banks. Tensions are escalating around new dam projects and the environmental impact assessment process is increasingly the site of politicization around water in the region. In this perspective, we examine the most recent surge in dam development in South America, the resulting environmental and social impacts, and the mobilization of civil society and environmental groups that have developed in response to these projects. In the absence of regionally shared standards for environmental assessment and regional mechanisms to mitigate the emerging conflictsâprimarily occurring between companies, states, and civil societyâwe argue there is a risk of a race to the bottom to finance infrastructure projects with laxer environmental and social standards. © 2019, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
Science and Binational Cooperation: Bidirectionality in the Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Program in the Arizona-Sonora Border Region
Unraveling transboundary water security in the arid Americas
Transboundary waters are characterized by diverse and complex socio-politico-economic obstacles to effective water management. We examine five distinct cases in the arid Americasâin locations from the USâMexico border to the Andes mountainsâemploying water security as a conceptual prism to unravel the multiple and varied attributes of transboundary water challenges. We describe how borders complicate water security in arid regions and explore how institutional arrangements and practicesâwithin and across jurisdictionsârespond to these challenges. We find that institutional capacity is needed on multiple levels for effective water management, and institutions must be responsive and flexible to change.Fil: Albrecht, Tamee R.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Varady, Robert G.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Zuniga Teran, Adriana A.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Gerlak, Andrea K.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Routson De Grenade, Rafael. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Lutz Ley, AmĂ©rica. El Colegio de Sonora; MĂ©xicoFil: Martin, Facundo Damian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto de Ciencias Humanas, Sociales y Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Megdal, Sharon B.. University of Arizona; Estados UnidosFil: Meza, Francisco. Pontificia Universidad CatĂłlica de Chile; ChileFil: Ocampo Melgar, Diego. Pontificia Universidad CatĂłlica de Chile; ChileFil: Pineda, NicolĂĄs. Colegio de Sonora; MĂ©xicoFil: Rojas, Juan Facundo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de NivologĂa, GlaciologĂa y Ciencias Ambientales. Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de NivologĂa, GlaciologĂa y Ciencias Ambientales. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de NivologĂa, GlaciologĂa y Ciencias Ambientales; ArgentinaFil: Taboada Hermoza, Rossi. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; PerĂșFil: Willems, Bram. Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos; Per
The Water-Energy-Food Nexus: A systematic review of methods for nexus assessment
The water-energy-food (WEF) nexus is rapidly expanding in scholarly literature and policy settings as
a novel way to address complex resource and development challenges. The nexus approach aims to
identify tradeoffs and synergies of water, energy, and food systems, internalize social and
environmental impacts, and guide development of cross-sectoral policies. However, while the WEF
nexus offers a promising conceptual approach, the use of WEF nexus methods to systematically
evaluate water, energy, and food interlinkages or support development of socially and
politically-relevant resource policies has been limited.
This paper reviews WEF nexus methods to provide a knowledge base of existing approaches and
promote further development of analytical methods that align with nexus thinking. The systematic
review of 245 journal articles and book chapters reveals that (a) use of specific and reproducible
methods for nexus assessment is uncommon (less than one-third); (b) nexus methods frequently fall
short of capturing interactions among water, energy, and foodâthe very linkages they conceptually
purport to address; (c) assessments strongly favor quantitative approaches (nearly three-quarters); (d)
use of social science methods is limited (approximately one-quarter); and (e) many nexus methods
are confined to disciplinary silosâonly about one-quarter combine methods from diverse disciplines
and less than one-fifth utilize both quantitative and qualitative approaches.
To help overcome these limitations, we derive four key features of nexus analytical tools and
methodsâinnovation, context, collaboration, and implementationâfrom the literature that reflect
WEF nexus thinking. By evaluating existing nexus analytical approaches based on these features, we
highlight 18 studies that demonstrate promising advances to guide future research. This paper finds
that to address complex resource and development challenges, mixed-methods and transdisciplinary
approaches are needed that incorporate social and political dimensions of water, energy, and food;
utilize multiple and interdisciplinary approaches; and engage stakeholders and decision-makers.Open Access Article.
UA Open Access Publishing Fund.This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]