In this study, we examined the extent to which global warming management is currently integrated into the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), the central legal framework for water management in the EU. We focused on the Elbe River Basin District and how global warming is addressed in its water management. We used the social–ecological systems (SES) approach as our theoretical framework, representing an eminent analytical frame of biosphere-based sustainability science. In our study, we analysed core characteristics of SES in the context of global warming to evaluate the effectiveness of current water management in the Elbe River basin concerning long-term changing climate conditions. To determine to what extent each SES feature is considered in the Elbe water management, we applied a scale of 1 to 5. Our results show that the SES feature “scale and openness” is best addressed (score 4.0) by the Elbe River basin management, followed by “context dependency” (score 3.9); however, “non-linearity, uncertainty, unpredictability” (score 3.2), “self-organisation and adaptability” (score 3.1), and “dynamics” (score 3.0) have only moderate impacts. SES features can only be considered comprehensively if global warming is accounted for in an integrated way at a European level. In order to ensure effective implementation, explicit regulations and legally binding obligations are most likely required.
<p>Managing water resources in a sustainable way means, a fortiori in the context of increasingly visible climate change impacts, taking into account decisions made by other sectors having a significant effect on the availability and quality of water. Water quality and quantity are often affected by the energy sector on the one hand, and agriculture and food production on the other. Moreover, ecosystem requirements, such as minimum ecological flows or water quality, should always be considered. Thus, facing climate change impacts calls for increasing water-energy-food-ecosystems nexus considerations.</p> <p>This being said, how can managers of these natural resources and stakeholders using them consider intersectoral coherence needs? Are these needs only theoretical or are they reflected by concrete actions in practice? Last but not least, how to assess the state of WEFE nexus governance in territories?</p> <p>In order to address these questions, the present paper describes the methodological aspects of the WEFE nexus governance assessment tool (NXGAT) co-developed in the NEXOGENESIS project (H2020-funded). This tool assesses the state of the WEFE nexus governance in catchments. The goal of the NXGAT is to highlight what is actually supportive and what is actually restrictive to WEFE nexus governance.</p> <p>The NXGAT is the first step in the WEFE nexus governance approach (H&#252;esker et al., 2022&#160;; Mooren et al., 2022) aiming at developing WEFE nexus policies. The NXGAT lays the foundation for cross-sectoral dialogue by both raising awareness and identifying solutions for more WEFE nexus governance. &#160;The NXGAT assesses five dimensions (levels and scales; actors and networks; problem perspectives and goal ambitions; strategies and instruments; and responsibilities and resources) and five qualities (extent, coherence, flexibility, intensity of action, and fit) of the governance system. The tool is implemented in the Lielupe transboundary catchment (Lithuania-Latvia) by a team of transdisciplinary experts during face-to-face interviews. Interviewees are selected to cover the multi-scalar levels of all sectors.</p> <p>The results of the implementation in the Lielupe transboundary catchment provide preliminary results on the efficiency of the method and the importance of the preparatory phases of the field investigation. The implementation of the NXGAT contributed to both underline blockages and leverages to urge for more intersectoral governance in this case study.</p>
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
hi@scite.ai
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.