Transforming Water Governance in the Face of Climate Change

Abstract

Climate change is often referred to as a ‘wicked problem’, characterized by high levels of uncertainty, interconnectivity and complex dynamics, affecting a host of public, private and civil society actors. Such wicked problems are typically regarded as incompatible with traditional forms of governance and arguably demand transformative change in existing governance arrangements. This raises a number of quintessential questions to address: What barriers and underlying ‘lock-in’ mechanisms reinforce path dependencies and constrain alternative pathways? What governance mechanisms and policy instruments are needed to leverage change and effectively adapt? What mechanisms are required to readdress social inequalities and ensure just transitions? Focusing on water governance, and drawing from a diverse range of contextual settings, this Panel explores these questions across a wide spectrum of water management issues exacerbated by climate change - from flood to drought management and water resource management more broadly.

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