Towards integrated water infrastructure systems for climate resilience and socio-economic co-benefits in the developing world
Year: 2017
Type: article
Abstract: Coupled with rampant urbanisation, climate change is impacting severely upon the water-based societies of Asia, both from severe flooding and water shortages.Adapting to these complex challenges is often dominated by one-dimensional, centralised and 'hard' engineering solutions to water resource management infrastructure, developed by governments and technical experts.Such approaches fail to empower the community in developing solutions, with the result that local indigenous culture and knowledge of water management are overlooked.This article seeks to demonstrate that integrated, whole system, decentralised and inclusive approaches to water and related infrastructures may lead to multiple benefits.Not only may flooding be reduced, but social livelihoods and equity may be improved, economic prosperity and employment increased, indigenous approaches to water respected and supported, health and education improved, and eco-systems sustained.Moreover, such decentralised approaches are likely to be more cost effective than centralised solutions.A case study is used to illustrate how combining top down and grassroots approaches and applying integrated systems thinking may result in synergistic solutions with a number of co-benefits.
Source: People Place and Policy Online
Authors: David Ness, Rumana Asad
Institutions: Khulna University, University of South Australia
Language: English
Subfield: Water Science and Technology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W2741281878