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Water Resour Manage (2007) 21:249267 DOI 10.1007/s11269-006-9052-0
ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Rutger van der Brugge Jan Rotmans
Received: 20 April 2006
C
Springer Science + Business Media B.V. 2006
Abstract Global change fundamentally changes the nature of water-related problems. We will illustrate this by showing how perceptions of the water-problems in the Netherlands have shifted in the past four decades. The nature of water-related problems changed from a technical problem to a so-called persistent problem, characterized by plurality, uncertainty and complexity. Although integrated water resource management (IWRM) has been advocated to cope with this type of problem, the complexity of the transition process towards such a water management regime is often underestimated. Therefore, transition management is needed in the water sector. Transition management theory is presented and applied to the Dutch case. Transition management strategies are suggested that would reinforce this transition. Comparison between the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) and transition management indicates that the Common Implementation Strategy (CIS) in its current form is not sufciently stimulating an innovation climate.
Keywords Transition management . Integrated water resource management (IRWM) . European Water Framework Directive (WFD)
Introduction
Our world is rapidly changing. Human induced climate change is expected to have profound consequences on large parts of the world. Especially the impacts on large aquatic systems upon which many people depend - pose a considerable threat to current and future generations. However, due to the high complexity of this problem, that is the many interactions between atmospheric processes, hydrological processes and ecosystem processes, it is impossible to calculate local impacts accurately. Bearing this in mind, water managers are now analyzing the possibilities to create adaptive water systems that are more resilient to extreme impacts.
R. Van der Brugge J. Rotmans
D.R.I.F.T Dutch Research Institute For Transitions, Erasmus University Rotterdam, Faculty of Social Sciences, P.O. Box 1738, 3000 DR Rotterdam, The Netherlandse-mails: [email protected]; [email protected]
Springer
Towards transition management of European water resources
250 Water Resour Manage (2007) 21:249267
Global change not only affects the water management strategies, but also changes the nature of water-related problems. The interconnectedness of different water functions reects the increasing complexity of our modern society. Economic functions for navigation, agriculture and energy supply, ecological functions for sustaining ecosystems, and social functions in terms of safety...