The Water Framework Directive and Agricultural Diffuse Pollution: Fighting a Running Battle?

In order to provide a common ground for the Special Issue ‘Water quality and agricultural diffuse pollution in light of the EU Water Framework Directive,’ this review sets out to provide a concise overview of the academic literature on two topics. First, we review the issues in the governance literature on the ‘wicked problem’ of diffuse agricultural sources focussing on three principles: (1) fragmentation and the distribution of power to address diffuse sources, (2) the problem of source-oriented and effect-oriented measures, and (3) contested knowledge for policies for diffuse sources. Second, we briefly sketch the literature on policy instruments and confront that with the scholarly understanding of addressing diffuse agricultural sources under the Water Framework Directive (WFD).

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Agricultural Diffuse Pollution and the EU Water Framework Directive: Problems and Progress in Governance

Water ◽

10.3390/w12092590 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (9) ◽

pp. 2590

Author(s):

Daan Boezeman ◽

Mark Wiering ◽

Ann Crabbé

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Water Framework Directive ◽

Diffuse Pollution ◽

Eu Water Framework Directive ◽

Policy Integration ◽

Special Issue ◽

Persistent Problem ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Governance Arrangements ◽

The Eu

Progress has been made on improving Europe’s water quality. Nevertheless, there is much scepticism as to whether the goals of the European Water Framework Directive will be realised by 2027. Addressing diffuse agricultural sources of pollution remains a persistent problem. The Special Issue “Water Quality and Agricultural Diffuse Pollution in Light of the EU Water Framework Directive” aims to advance the understanding of the different governance arrangements European Member States developed to address this problem. The contributions in this Special Issue focus on governance arrangements in Denmark, England, Flanders/Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Poland, The Netherlands, Norway and Scotland. The contributions address three themes. First, the contributions signal serious concerns with policy integration across policy domains. Second, it appears to be tough to prioritise source-based measures over effect-based measures of all sorts despite the principles embedded in the Directive. Third, scientific knowledge is an important ally for water interests, yet politicisation in power struggles looms. The contributions in the Special Issue offer reflections on the open, participatory, experimentalist governance that the WFD exemplifies. While most authors agree that this path is attractive and appropriate in some respects, questions can be raised as to whether it also avoids confrontations and hampers the effectiveness of policies.

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The Wicked Problem the Water Framework Directive Cannot Solve. The Governance Approach in Dealing with Pollution of Nutrients in Surface Water in the Netherlands, Flanders, Lower Saxony, Denmark and Ireland

Water ◽

10.3390/w12051240 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1240 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Mark Wiering ◽

Duncan Liefferink ◽

Daan Boezeman ◽

Maria Kaufmann ◽

Ann Crabbé ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

The Netherlands ◽

Water Framework Directive ◽

Policy Instruments ◽

Wicked Problem ◽

Agricultural Policies ◽

Lower Saxony ◽

The One ◽

The Relationship ◽

Difficult Situations

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) is typically a framework directive that tries to encourage integration of policies for water quality and agriculture. Nutrients (nitrates, phosphates) from agricultural sources remain a ‘wicked problem’ in realizing the aims of the WFD, partly because the directive has to rely on other, neighboring policies to tackle to problem pressure of nutrients; it seems to lack instruments and measures to directly intervene in relevant agricultural policies. This contribution describes the different governance approaches of five member states and regions (The Netherlands, Flanders in Belgium, Lower Saxony- in Germany, Denmark and Ireland) to the nutrients problem and specifically focuses on the relationship between the nature of governance and the nature of measures taken. On the one hand, countries can vary in terms of a more consensual or antagonistic approach to dealing with water quality and diffuse pollution by agriculture, and emphasize more integration or separation in organization and programs. On the other hand, they can vary in the ‘outcomes’ in terms of more source-based measures or effect-based measures and the emphasis in policy instruments used. This article is based on the screening of policy documents, 44 interviews and several (international) feedback workshops. We found a great variety in governance approaches, while the nature of measures, in terms of source-based and effect-based, is only slightly different. On closer inspection, there are interesting differences in the consensual or antagonist discourses and differences in the use of more mandatory instruments or area-based policies. In many countries, the major challenge is to strike a balance between taking source-based measures, where necessary, and accommodating the difficult situations farmers very often find themselves in, as the reduction of nutrients (as a source-based measure) use can lead to lower yields and higher costs for manure disposal.

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Upheaval in the distribution of power in the world economy: Problems and outlook of the world economy to 2050

Voprosy Ekonomiki ◽

10.32609/0042-8736-2017-7-114-127 ◽

2017 ◽

pp. 114-127 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

V. Klinov

Keyword(s):

Economic Policy ◽

International Trade ◽

World Economy ◽

Emerging Market ◽

Detailed Review ◽

Depressed State ◽

Industry Output ◽

The World ◽

Distribution Of Power ◽

The Eu

Causes of upheaval in the distribution of power among large advanced and emerging market economies in the XXI century, especially in industry output and international trade, are a topic of the paper. Problems of employment, financialization and income distribution inequality as consequences of globalization are identified as the most important. Causes of the depressed state of the EU and the eurozone are presented in a detailed review. In this content, PwC forecast of changes in the world economy by 2050, to the author’s view, optimistically provides for wise and diligent economic policy.

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Optimization of Hydrographic and Water-management Regionalization of Ukraine according to World Approaches and Principles of the EU Water Framework Directive

Hydrobiological Journal ◽

10.1615/hydrobj.v52.i5.90 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 52 (5) ◽

pp. 81-92 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

V. V. Grebin' ◽

Vitaliy B. Mokin ◽

Ye. M. Kryzhanivskiy ◽

S. A. Afanasyev

Keyword(s):

Water Management ◽

Water Framework Directive ◽

Eu Water Framework Directive ◽

The Eu

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Land-use and agriculture in Denmark around year 1900 and the quest for EU Water Framework Directive reference conditions in coastal waters

AMBIO ◽

10.1007/s13280-021-01536-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Bent T. Christensen ◽

Birger F. Pedersen ◽

Jørgen E. Olesen ◽

Jørgen Eriksen

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Water Framework Directive ◽

Coastal Waters ◽

Root Zone ◽

Reference Conditions ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Agricultural Activity ◽

Eu Water Framework Directive ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

The Eu

AbstractThe EU Water Framework Directive (WFD) aims to protect the ecological status of coastal waters. To establish acceptable boundaries between good and moderate ecological status, the WFD calls for reference conditions practically undisturbed by human impact. For Denmark, the nitrogen (N) concentrations present around year 1900 have been suggested to represent reference conditions. As the N load of coastal waters relates closely to runoff from land, any reduction in load links to agricultural activity. We challenge the current use of historical N balances to establish WFD reference conditions and initiate an alternative approach based on parish-level land-use statistics collected 1896/1900 and N concentrations in root zone percolates from experiments with year 1900-relevant management. This approach may be more widely applicable for landscapes with detailed historic information on agricultural activity. Using this approach, we find an average N concentration in root zone percolates that is close to that of current agriculture. Thus, considering Danish coastal waters to be practically unaffected by human activity around year 1900 remains futile as 75% of the land area was subject to agricultural activity with a substantial potential for N loss to the environment. It appears unlikely that the ecological state of coastal waters around year 1900 may serve as WFD reference condition.

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Circular Agreements—Exploring the Role of Agreements and Deals as a Political Tool for a Circular Economy

Circular Economy and Sustainability ◽

10.1007/s43615-021-00004-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Nils Johansson

Keyword(s):

Value Chain ◽

Circular Economy ◽

Policy Instruments ◽

Alternative Form ◽

Advantages And Disadvantages ◽

Free Rider Problem ◽

Political Governance ◽

The Eu

AbstractA problem for a circular economy, embedded in its policies, tools, technologies and models, is that it is driven by the interests and needs of producers, rather than customers and users. This opinion paper focuses on an alternative form of governance—agreements, which thanks to their bargaining approach brings actors from across the value chain into the policy process. The purpose of this opinion paper is to uncover and analyse the potential of such agreements for a circular economy. Circular agreements aim at increasing the circulation of materials and are an emerging form of political governance within the EU. These agreements have different names, involve different actors and govern in different ways. However, circular agreements seem to work when other types of regulations fail to establish circulation. These agreements bring actors together and offer a platform for negotiating how advantages and disadvantages can be redistributed between actors in a way that is more suitable for a circular economy. However, circular agreements are dependent on other policy instruments to work and can generate a free-rider problem with uninvolved actors. The agreements may also become too detailed and long term, which leads to problem shifting and lock-ins, respectively.

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Incorporating Ecosystem Services in the Assessment of Water Framework Directive Programmes of Measures

Environmental Management ◽

10.1007/s00267-021-01478-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ioannis Souliotis ◽

Nikolaos Voulvoulis

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Water Framework Directive ◽

Water Status ◽

Monitoring And Evaluation ◽

Well Being ◽

Ecological Condition ◽

Costs And Benefits ◽

Ecological Objectives ◽

The Eu

AbstractThe EU Water Framework Directive requires the development of management responses aimed towards improving water quality as a result of improving ecosystem health (system state). Ecosystems have potential to supply a range of services that are of fundamental importance to human well-being, health, livelihoods and survival, and their capacity to supply these services depends on the ecosystem condition (its structure and processes). According to the WFD, Programmes of Measures should be developed to improve overall water status by reducing anthropogenic catchment pressures to levels compatible with the achievement of the ecological objectives of the directive, and when designed and implemented properly should improve the ecological condition of aquatic ecosystems that the delivery of ecosystem services depends on. Monitoring and evaluation of implemented measures are crucial for assessing their effectiveness and creating the agenda for consecutive planning cycles. Considering the challenges of achieving water status improvements, and the difficulties of communicating these to the wider public, we develop a framework for the evaluation of measures cost-effectiveness that considers ecosystem services as the benefits from the reduction of pressures on water bodies. We demonstrate its application through a case study and discuss its potential to facilitate the economic analysis required by the directive, and that most European water authorities had problems with. Findings demonstrate the potential of the methodology to effectively incorporate ecosystem services in the assessment of costs and benefits of proposed actions, as well as its potential to engage stakeholders.

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There is a Conflict at the Heart of EU Water Pollution Policy

European Journal of Risk Regulation ◽

10.1017/s1867299x00004888 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 6 (3) ◽

pp. 426-430

Author(s):

David Taylor

Keyword(s):

Water Pollution ◽

Water Framework Directive ◽

Simple Solution ◽

Hazardous Substances ◽

Eu Water Framework Directive ◽

Current Application ◽

The Eu

The current application of the hazardous substances provisions of Article 16 of the EU Water Framework Directive are in fundamental conflict with a number of other Directives and Regulations controlling the use of those hazardous substances that are currently essential to the wellbeing of the Community and its citizens. There is a simple solution to this conflict although reaching political agreement in such a polarised area may prove to be impossible.

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