scholarly journals Addressing Water Security: An Overview

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 13702
Author(s):  
Juliana Marcal ◽  
Blanca Antizar-Ladislao ◽  
Jan Hofman
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Security Levels ◽  
To Come ◽  
Science Policies

For the last two decades, water security has been in the spotlight as a key concept for sustainable development. However, due to its wide interpretation range, the understanding of what water security is and what it encompasses can change considerably with different perspectives. By means of a review of both academic and grey literature, this paper presents an in-depth global overview of what water security means and how assessment is being carried out. These aspects are put together in the present work with the aim to facilitate access to this complex concept for academics but also policymakers and other stakeholders involved in water management and governance. Aiming to provide a groundwork for water security understanding, we examine definitions, scales of application, frequent approaches and methodologies used to study water security. We also present indicators and aspects being included in water security frameworks. A summary of important actions towards water security improvement is also presented. As a dynamic and multi-faceted concept, water security requires an equally multi-dimensional and flexible interpretation. Understanding and measuring are key to improving water security levels. Bringing attention to how climate change, environmental needs, demographics, economics and governance are linked to water security can boost impact by prompting science, policies and innovation to come together.

scholarly journals Water Security in a Changing Climate

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 218-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.H. Glantz
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
United Nations ◽  
World View ◽  
Sustainable Use ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Secretary General ◽  
Energy Costs ◽  
The World ◽  
Or Organization

The notion of «the water world we want» is a spin-off of the United Nations campaign The World We Want. It is open to subjective interpretation, as people have different perceptions of a desired future. Each person or organization is likely to identify their own set of key concerns: food, clean (uncontaminated) water, sustained agricultural productivity, sustainable use of land and ocean resources, healthy lives and secure livelihoods. But whatever utopian world view one creates, it cannot be achieved without adequate sustained water supplies.In 2009, the then United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon noted: It is well known that water is life; what this Report shows is that water also means livelihoods. It is the route out of poverty for individuals and communities. Managing water is essential if the world is to achieve sustainable development.This challenge is even more pressing as the world confronts the triple threats of climate change, rising food and energy costs, and the global economic crisis. All three are exacerbating poverty, inequality and underdevelopment.It is apparent that climate, water and weather-related concerns are mounting. Societies are becoming increasingly aware that impacts of extreme hydrometeorological events expected to occur in, say, the 2050s are starting to appear decades earlier. These extreme events — related to climate change — are likely to increase in frequency, intensity and severity. 

scholarly journals Analysis of public policies and programmes towards water security in post-apartheid South Africa

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Kwame Adom ◽  
Mulala Danny Simatele
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Private Equity ◽  
Water Governance ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Governance Capacity ◽  
Water Provision ◽  
The Government

Abstract Many countries in the world, including South Africa, are water-stressed with increasing pressure on their water resources due to population growth, climate change, and inadequate funding. Post independence in 1994, many policies and programmes were introduced by the government with the aim of promoting water management. While these policies and strategies achieved much in terms of water provision to communities and households, they failed to establish a water-conscious country with sufficient knowledge and expertise in water management. In addition, these policies and programmes are outdated, compartmentalised, complex, and lack robust water governance with resilient stakeholder partnerships that advance the more explicit second phase of the NDP to achieve water security under the threat of climate change. Using data collection tools inspired by the traditional method of participatory research, this paper analyses the structural and systematic factors hindering the implementation of comprehensive policies to achieve water security in South Africa. There is, therefore, an urgent need for South Africa to establish an independent water regulator to ensure coordination between different government departments, including the National Treasury, to strengthen weak governance capacity and to make it independent to attract private equity into the sector and to recover fiscal deficits in the water sector.

scholarly journals Communicating About Water Security Under a Changing Climate

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Hurlimann ◽  
Sarah Bell
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Cultural Change ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Political Debate ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Changing Climate ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Communication Campaigns ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

Some of the most significant impacts of climate change are likely to be felt in water resources management, but climate change is not the only uncertainty facing water managers and policymakers. The concept of water security has emerged to address social, economic, political, and environmental factors, as well as the physical determinants of water availability. There are significant challenges for communicating about water security under a changing climate. Water security shares many of the characteristics of climate change with regards to communication. It is a complex concept involving interactions between dynamic human and natural systems, requiring public deliberation and engagement to inform political debate and to facilitate behavioral and cultural change. Knowledge and values about water and climate change are communicated through material experiences as well as through language. Communication about water security and climate change takes many forms, which can be characterized as five key modes—policy, communication campaigns, media, cultures, and environments. More effective communication about climate change and water is needed across these different modes to support meaningful participation and deliberation in policy decisions by a wide range of stakeholders. Integrating climate change into communication campaigns about water security provides opportunities to challenge and reframe traditional formulations of the role of water in society and culture and how to manage water in human settlements, the economy, and the environment. The central challenge for communicating the impacts of climate change on water scarcity lies in the complex interactions between society, policy, technology, infrastructure, the economy, and the environment in modern water systems. Different modes of communication are useful to enable public and stakeholder engagement in understanding the issues and making decisions about how to ensure water security in a changing society and environment.

scholarly journals Climate change and its impacts on hydro-politics in transboundary basins: a case study of the Orange-Senqu River basin

2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-165
Author(s):  
S. K. Mgquba ◽  
S. Majozi
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Water Management ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Water Security ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Climate Projections ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Water Courses

Abstract In any basin or basin country, water security is of critical importance. The increase in populations and water demand are placing stress on the available water resources. This is likely to become more complicated within shared water-courses. Issues of equitable water allocation and distribution are important for all countries involved. Fostering cooperation and managing conflict hence become fundamental in transboundary water management. Climate change is likely to add new challenges to pre-existing dynamics in transboundary systems. According to the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Climate Change Strategy and the SADC Shared Watercourses Protocol, there is a need to integrate climate change impacts and associated adaptation measures into water management plans to ensure water security for all countries involved in the future. The Orange-Senqu basin, which spans over Lesotho, South Africa, Namibia and Botswana, will be used as a case study to closely examine and reflect on some hydro-political challenges that may be brought about by climate change-associated impacts within the basin states. Although uncertain, climate projections largely indicate decline in rainfall and increase in temperature, especially within the South Africa part of the basin. This inherently is bound to affect water quantity and, therefore, availability within the riparian states below South Africa.

From Climate Change to Sustainability: An Essay on Sustainable Development, Legal and Ethical Choices

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 112-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Voigt
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Coherent System ◽  
Human Environment ◽  
Complex Concept ◽  
Legal Context ◽  
Ethical Choices ◽  
Innovative Thinking

AbstractThis paper discusses some fundamental impediments to implementing the complex concept of sustainable development within the international legal framework in general, and the climate change regime in particular. It argues that sustainable development should primarily be seen as a normative concept, closely linked to an idea of environmental justice that incorporates the interests not only of present humans but also of future generations and the non-human environment. The paper explores the relationship between sustainability as a moral idea and sustainability as located in a legal context. It argues for the evolution of a coherent system of ethics and law of sustainability, with particular relevance to decreasing greenhouse gas emissions on a global scale. The importance of multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary research is emphasised. It is suggested that the fundamental challenges posed by a globally changing climate might function as an important impulse to "cross-faculty" research and innovative thinking. The results of such thinking might in turn inform international action in tackling climate change. Although the investigation cannot be exhaustive, this paper aims to serve as an impetus for multidisciplinary research and further discourse on the reconciliation of society and the environment, law and ethics.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document