Population decline and infrastructure: The case of the German water supply system

The dynamic interaction between population and water is usually discussed in the context of development issues in Third World countries, but rarely analysed for northern, industrialised countries. Nevertheless, the improvement of a supply system’s ability to adapt to demographic changes poses challenges for industrialised countries as well, and generating knowledge for developing adequate solutions also implies new, intriguing tasks for demography. This article analyses the relationships between population decline and water infrastructure using Germany as a case study. After sketching the development of the debate on the correlation between population and problems of water supply, the most relevant demographic factors affecting the water infrastructure are described in general. The authors then identify the implications of demographic change for water demand and use on the one hand, and the resulting effects on technical networks and their economic basis on the other. Finally, approaches for solving the problems and possibilities for taking action are discussed.

Social-ecological analysis of climate induced changes in biodiversity – outline of a research concept

The interactions of changes in climate and biodiversity with societal actions, structures and processes are a priority topic within the international scientific debate – and thus, a relevant subject matter for BiKF’s work. This paper outlines a concept for transdisciplinary research within BiKF. It focuses on the analysis of social-ecological systems supporting society with biodiversity driven ecosystem services. Such research is considering different issues: defining sustainable societal adaptations to climate induced biodiversity changes; permitting adequate understanding of the social-ecological reproduction of ecosystem functions, including their conservation and restoration; analysing the societal values and socio-economic utilisation of ecosystem services. Gaining knowledge in these areas provides an improved basis for decision-making in biodiversity and resource management

Von der Bevölkerung als Versorgungsgemeinschaft : Bedürfnisse, Demografie und Versorgungssysteme

Die systematische Verknüpfung von Demografie und Versorgung ermöglicht eine neue Forschungsperspektive. Im Zentrum stehen so nicht die Chancen und Risiken demografischer Prozesse für Umwelt und Gesellschaft, sondern die Transformation, Adaptivität und Regulationsfähigkeit gesellschaftlicher Versorgungsstrukturen

Gentechnik gegen Hunger? : Biochemiker Klaus Hahlbrock sucht Lösungen für Probleme der Welternährung

Rezension zu: Klaus Hahlbrock : Kann unsere Erde die Menschen noch ernähren? Bevölkerungsexplosion – Umwelt – Gentechnik ; Fischer Taschenbuch Verlag, Frankfurt am Main 2007 ; ISBN 978-3-596-17272-6 ; 318 Seiten, 9,95 Euro

Virtueller Wasserhandel : eine Strategie zum Umgang mit Wasserarmut?

Die Idee klingt vielversprechend: Wasserknappe Länder schonen ihre Ressourcen, indem sie auf die Erzeugung wasserintensiver Agrarprodukte verzichten und diese aus wasserreichen Regionen importieren. Gleichwohl ist die praktische Umsetzung des Konzepts des virtuellen Wasserhandels sehr voraussetzungsreich

Book review: social ecology in the digital age: solving complex problems in a globalized world by Daniel Stokols

In Social Ecology in the Digital Age: Solving Complex Problems in a Globalized World, Daniel Stokols offers a comprehensive account of social ecology as a transdisciplinary field of research and shows how contemporary social-ecological dilemmas can be better comprehended and ameliorated. This is an engaging, motivating book, writes Diana Hummel, that is highly recommended to students, scholars and practitioners interested in sustainable transformations

Population decline and infrastructure: The case of the German water supply system

The dynamic interaction between population and water is usually discussed in the context of development issues in Third World countries, but rarely analysed for northern, industrialised countries. Nevertheless, the improvement of a supply system’s ability to adapt to demographic changes poses challenges for industrialised countries as well, and generating knowledge for developing adequate solutions also implies new, intriguing tasks for demography. This article analyses the relationships between population decline and water infrastructure using Germany as a case study. After sketching the development of the debate on the correlation between population and problems of water supply, the most relevant demographic factors affecting the water infrastructure are described in general. The authors then identify the implications of demographic change for water demand and use on the one hand, and the resulting effects on technical networks and their economic basis on the other. Finally, approaches for solving the problems and possibilities for taking action are discussed