Lecture 2 - 2.0

Question 1

Gupta: Why is the global water system under pressure?

Answer 1

The global water system is under pressure due to a combination of factors such as increasing demand for water due to population growth and economic development, pollution and contamination of water sources, unsustainable use of water resources, and the impacts of climate change on water availability and quality. These pressures are leading to challenges in managing and governing water resources effectively at both local and global levels.

Question 2

Gupta: Which different actors prioritize different aspects of water?

Answer 2

Different actors prioritize different aspects of freshwater based on their interests and needs. For example, farmers may prioritize water for irrigation to grow crops, while industries may prioritize water for their production processes. Similarly, urban areas may prioritize water for drinking and sanitation, while environmentalists may prioritize water for maintaining healthy ecosystems. These differing priorities can lead to conflicts and debates about how water should be managed.

Question 3

Gupta: The paper identifies four important ecosystem services of water, which influence human well-being, which are these?

Answer 3

The four important ecosystem services of water identified in the paper are:

1. Supporting: This includes the role of water in nutrient cycling and other ecological processes that support life.
2. Provisioning: This includes the use of water for productive, consumptive, and non-consumptive purposes such as agriculture, industry, and recreation.
3. Regulating: This includes the role of water in regulating natural processes such as water purification, flood control, and erosion prevention.
4. Cultural: This includes the non-material benefits that people derive from water, such as aesthetic and spiritual values.

Question 4

Gupta: What are the five key direct drivers affecting water use, which are influenced by four indirect drivers?

Answer 4

The five key drivers affecting water use are agriculture, infrastructure, land use, overuse and pollution. These are influenced by 4 indirect drivers: security, quality of life, health, and social relations.

Question 5

Gupta: The paper identifies two opposing trends in water governance: the subsidiarity principle, and the universal nature of the problem, what are these?

Answer 5

• Subsidiarity principle:
• The subsidiarity principle in governance suggests that decision-making and responsibility should be delegated to the smallest or lowest level of authority capable of addressing the issue effectively.
• In the context of water governance, applying subsidiarity might mean devolving decision-making power to local communities, municipalities, or regional bodies. This approach recognizes the unique characteristics and needs of specific areas, allowing for tailored solutions
• Universal nature of the problem
• Water-related challenges often have universal aspects that transcend local or regional boundaries. Issues such as water pollution, resource scarcity, and climate change impacts can affect multiple jurisdictions and require coordinated efforts.
• The universal nature of water problems may demand a higher level of governance, possibly at the national or even international level. This is because certain issues, such as transboundary water management or global water quality standards, cannot be adequately addressed through purely local initiatives.

Question 6

Gupta: Which 3 main challenges are there related to water governance?

Answer 6

1. Politics of scale
2. The complexity of water problems
3. Lack of a coherent and holistic approach

Question 7

Gupta: What does politics of scale influence water governance?

Answer 7

The scale at which decisions are made significantly affects the outcome. There are different levels, from local to regional to national and international. The politics of scale acknowledges that different actors, such as local communities, municipalities and national governments may have varying interests priorities and power dynamics in water management.

Question 8

Gupta: What is meant by the complexity of water problems?

Answer 8

There are 3 main problems concerning the complexity of water problems:

1. High-politics and low-politics:
   - High politics: Water is a big topic concerning international relations and security, it is a big issue managing water, and a top-level political issue.
   - Low-politics: on the other side: people often take water for granted, not giving it much attention as other pressing political matters.
2. Economic, social and political good: Water is an economic good due to its role in various economic activities, a social good as it is essential for human well-being and development, and a political good because its management and allocation often involve political decision-making and power dynamics.
3. Challenges – fragmentation, pluralism and administrative shift:
   - Fragmentation and pluralism: managing water is tough because different groups have different views, interests and priorities.
   - Shift to administrative law and public-private mergers: the way we govern water is changing. Now, there is more involvement from non-government groups and companies, this can make decisions more complicated and uncertain.

Question 9

Gupta: What are 5 factors that make the governance of water a complex issue?

Answer 9

1. Multifaceted nature of Water: Water is a multifaceted resource that serves various purposes, including agriculture, industry, and domestic use. It is also an ecological entity that provides indirect ecosystem services such as water purification, flood regulation, and habitat provision. The diverse dimensions of water make it challenging to manage effectively.
2. Interconnectedness of Water: Water is interconnected to all sectors in society, making it challenging to manage in isolation. Water management decisions can have significant impacts on other sectors, such as energy, food, and health, and vice versa.
3. Diverse Stakeholders and Interests: Water governance involves diverse stakeholders with different interests, priorities, and perspectives. These stakeholders include governments, private sector actors, civil society organizations, and local communities. The diverse interests and perspectives of these stakeholders can lead to conflicts and challenges in decision-making processes.
4. Transboundary Nature of Water: Water resources often cross national boundaries, making it challenging to manage effectively. Transboundary water management requires cooperation and coordination among different countries, which can be challenging due to political, economic, and social factors.
5. Global Environmental Change: Global environmental change, such as climate change, is affecting water resources and exacerbating existing water-related challenges. The impacts of global environmental change on water resources are complex and uncertain, making it challenging to develop effective water governance mechanisms.

Question 10

Gupta: What is the main take-away from this paper?

Answer 10

The paper recognizes the evolving nature of water governance from state-centric, top-down systems to a more diffuse governance system, emphasizing the need to navigate the complexities arising from the involvement of diverse actors and interests at different levels of governance.

The paper highlighting the need to identify which water problems should be dealt with at which administrative level, involving which actors, for which reasons, and the kinds of policies that could flow from this. It argues for seeking a balance between governance at different administrative levels and recognizes the influence of both direct and indirect drivers on water services, which can be addressed at various levels of governance.

Question 11

Woodhouse/Muller: What is a water governance reform?

Answer 11

Water governance reform means making intentional and organized changes in how decisions about water resources are made and carried out. These changes can involve different aspects like the rules and laws governing water, the organizations in charge, involving people in decision-making, and using economic tools to manage water.

Question 12

Woodhouse/Muller: What is the main goal of a water governance reform?

Answer 12

The main goal of water governance reform is usually to make water management more effective, efficient, fair, and sustainable. It considers the various needs and interests of different groups involved and adapts to the changing challenges related to water, such as its availability, quality, and how it’s used

Question 13

Woodhouse/Muller: How do different countries implement water governance reforms?

Answer 13

EU:

The European Union (EU) made changes to how it manages water through the Water Framework Directive (WFD). This directive follows the “Dublin agenda” principles, emphasizing participatory decision-making, organizing water management around river basins, using economic tools, and prioritizing environmental quality. However, the challenge is that the WFD applies to diverse landscapes and countries with different water management traditions and institutions. Despite these differences, the EU aims to implement a unified approach to address water issues across its member states.

China, India, USA and Turkey:

These countries experienced an evolution of business as usual in water governance, without major systemic reforms

Question 14

Woodhouse/Muller: What are the Dublin principles and how have they influenced global water governance?

Answer 14

The Dublin Principles, established at the 1992 International Conference on Water and the Environment (ICWE) in Dublin, have had a significant impact on global water governance. These principles were developed to address the challenges of water governance and sustainability and have influenced the discourse and practice of water management in several ways:

Principle 1: Freshwater is a Finite Resource and a Vital Ecosystem:
This principle underscores the finite nature of freshwater resources. It highlights the need to recognize water as a limited and essential component of ecosystems. The emphasis is on understanding the interconnectedness of water with the environment and the necessity to manage it sustainably.

Principle 2: Water Development and Management Should be Based on a Participatory Approach:
The second principle emphasizes the importance of involving all stakeholders, including local communities, in the decision-making processes related to water development and management. Recognizing diverse perspectives helps ensure that policies and practices consider the needs and concerns of various groups.

Principle 3: Women Play a Central Part in the Provision, Management, and Safeguarding of Water:
This principle recognizes the crucial role that women play in water-related activities. It stresses the need to acknowledge and empower women in the planning, management, and protection of water resources. It addresses gender equality concerns and promotes the inclusion of women in water governance.

Principle 4: Water Has an Economic Value in All Its Competing Uses and Should Be Recognized as an Economic Good:
The fourth principle acknowledges that water has value in economic activities such as agriculture, industry, and domestic use. It advocates for recognizing water as an economic good while also considering social and environmental aspects. This principle encourages efficient water use and allocation, promoting the idea that pricing mechanisms can contribute to sustainable water management.

Question 15

Woodhouse/Muller: Explain the concept of polycentric approaches to water governance and how they differ from traditional approaches.

Answer 15

Polycentric approaches to water governance are based on the idea that water management should be organized around multiple centers of decision-making and authority, rather than relying on a single, centralized authority. This approach recognizes that water resources are complex and multifaceted, and that effective governance requires the involvement of diverse stakeholders and institutions at different levels and scales. Polycentric approaches differ from traditional approaches to water governance in several ways:

1. Decentralization: Polycentric approaches emphasize the importance of decentralizing decision-making and authority, allowing for greater local control and participation in water management. This can involve the creation of local water user associations, the delegation of decision-making power to regional or municipal authorities, or the involvement of civil society organizations in water governance.
2. Flexibility: Polycentric approaches recognize that water management is context-specific and that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to water governance challenges. This requires a flexible and adaptive approach that can respond to changing social, economic, and environmental conditions.
3. Coordination: While polycentric approaches emphasize decentralization, they also recognize the need for coordination and collaboration among different centers of decision-making and authority. This can involve the creation of networks or partnerships among different stakeholders, the establishment of common goals and objectives, and the development of shared decision-making processes.
4. Polycentric governance: Polycentric approaches recognize that governance is not limited to formal institutions or actors, but can also involve informal norms, practices, and social networks. This requires a more holistic and inclusive approach to water governance that takes into account the diverse perspectives and interests of different stakeholders. Overall, polycentric approaches to water governance represent a shift away from traditional top-down, centralized approaches and towards a more flexible, adaptive, and collaborative approach that recognizes the complexity and diversity of water management challenges.

Question 16

Woodhouse/Muller: What are the key normative narratives shaping the global discourse on water governance and sustainability?

Answer 16

The paper identifies two key normative narratives that have shaped the global discourse on water governance and sustainability:

1. The narrative of scarcity: This narrative posits that water is a scarce resource that needs to be managed efficiently and sustainably to meet the growing demands of human populations and economic activities. It emphasizes the need for market-based mechanisms, such as water pricing and trading, to allocate water resources and incentivize conservation and efficiency. This narrative has been criticized for overlooking the social and environmental dimensions of water governance and for promoting a narrow economic perspective that may exacerbate inequalities and conflicts.
2. The narrative of environmental sustainability: This narrative emphasizes the need to protect and restore aquatic ecosystems and to ensure that water resources are managed in a way that supports the long-term health and resilience of natural systems. It advocates for the use of integrated water resource management (IWRM) approaches that take into account the multiple uses and users of water and that prioritize environmental quality as a key objective. This narrative has been criticized for being overly prescriptive and for neglecting the social and economic dimensions of water governance.

Question 17

Woodhouse/Muller: In what ways does the narrative of water scarcity impact water governance practices and principles?

Answer 17

The narrative of scarcity has a significant impact on water governance practices and policies in several ways:

1. Demand management: The scarcity narrative often leads to a focus on demand management, rather than increasing water supply. This can involve measures such as water conservation, water pricing, and water allocation policies that aim to reduce water use and promote efficiency.
2. Economic valuation: The scarcity narrative also promotes the economic valuation of water, treating it as a finite and valuable resource that should be allocated based on market principles. This can involve the use of economic instruments such as water markets, water pricing, and cost-benefit analysis to allocate water resources among competing uses.
3. Environmental conservation: The scarcity narrative also emphasizes the importance of environmental conservation, particularly in the context of water scarcity. This can involve measures such as protecting aquatic ecosystems, restoring degraded water resources, and promoting sustainable water use practices.
4. Technocratic governance: The scarcity narrative often leads to a technocratic approach to water governance, where decisions are made based on technical criteria and expertise, rather than political or social considerations. This can result in a lack of participation and engagement from stakeholders, particularly those who are marginalized or excluded from decision-making processes.
5. Universal norms: The scarcity narrative can also lead to the promotion of universal norms and best practices in water governance, which may not be applicable or effective in all contexts. This can result in a lack of attention to local and context-specific factors that may be critical to effective water management. Overall, the scarcity narrative has a significant impact on water governance practices and policies, promoting demand management, economic valuation, environmental conservation, technocratic governance, and universal norms.

While these approaches may be effective in some contexts, they can also have limitations and drawbacks, particularly in contexts where social, political, and environmental factors are complex and diverse.

Question 18

Woodhouse/Muller: What is an institutional framework?

Answer 18

The institutional arrangements, including laws, regulations, and organizations, that define the roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in water management.

Question 19

Woodhouse/Muller: What is integrated management?

Answer 19

Integrated management: The coordination and integration of water management across different sectors, such as agriculture, industry, and environment, to address the interconnected nature of water resources and their uses.

Question 20

Zwarteveen: Why is equity considered a central concern in water governance?

Answer 20

• Not everyone has the same access to water resources or services. Water-related decisions often benefit some groups more than others.
• When there’s less water available, decisions have to be made about who gets it. These decisions tend to favor certain uses or groups over others, creating issues of fairness.
• Different Effects of Floods and Droughts:
  Floods and droughts don’t affect everyone the same way. Some groups are hit harder than others, creating disparities in how people deal with these water-related challenges.
• The costs, incomes, and risks tied to water are influenced by how society is structured. Factors like social class, religion, gender, and ethnicity play a big role in shaping who bears the burdens and who benefits.

Question 21

What is the solution to the equity problem according to Zwarteveen?

Answer 21

The authors suggest that we need a new way of talking about these issues. They want a conceptual language that helps us question or challenge the connections between fairness (equity), keeping things going (sustainability), and doing things efficiently in water management.

Question 22

What is Zwarteveen’s opinion about water governance?

Answer 22

Water governance is an extremely political process that is not equal managed.