Aiding multi-level decision-making processes for climate change mitigation and adaptation

Progress towards climate change aware regional sustainable development is affected by actions at multiple spatial scales and governance levels and equally impacts actions at these scales. Many authors and policy practitioners consider therefore that decisions over policy, mitigation strategies and capacity for adaptation to climate change require construction and coordination over multiple levels of governance to arrive at acceptable local, regional and global management strategies. However, how such processes of coordination and decision-aiding can occur and be maintained and improved over time is a major challenge in need of investigation. We take on this challenge by proposing research-supported methods of aiding multi-level decision-making processes in this context. Four example regionally focussed multi-level case studies from diverse socio-political contexts are outlined—estuarine management in Australia’s Lower Hawkesbury, flood and drought management in Bulgaria’s Upper Iskar Basin, climate policy integration in Spain’s Comunidad Valenciana and food security in Bangladesh’s Faridpur District—from which insights are drawn. Our discussion focuses on exploring these insights including: (1) the possible advantages of informal research-supported processes and specifically those that provide individual arenas of participation for different levels of stakeholders; (2) the complexity of organisation processes required for aiding multi-level decision-making processes; and (3) to what extent progress towards integrated regional policies for climate change aware sustainable development can be achieved through research-supported processes. We finish with a speculative section that provides ideas and directions for future research.     

Climate change adaptation in European river basins

This paper contains an assessment and standardized comparative analysis of the current water management regimes in four case-studies in three European river basins: the Hungarian part of the Upper Tisza, the Ukrainian part of the Upper Tisza (also called Zacarpathian Tisza), Alentejo Region (including the Alqueva Reservoir) in the Lower Guadiana in Portugal, and Rivierenland in the Netherlands. The analysis comprises several regime elements considered to be important in adaptive and integrated water management: agency, awareness raising and education, type of governance and cooperation structures, information management and—exchange, policy development and—implementation, risk management, and finances and cost recovery. This comparative analysis has an explorative character intended to identify general patterns in adaptive and integrated water management and to determine its role in coping with the impacts of climate change on floods and droughts. The results show that there is a strong interdependence of the elements within a water management regime, and as such this interdependence is a stabilizing factor in current management regimes. For example, this research provides evidence that a lack of joint/participative knowledge is an important obstacle for cooperation, or vice versa. We argue that there is a two-way relationship between information management and collaboration. Moreover, this research suggests that bottom-up governance is not a straightforward solution to water management problems in large-scale, complex, multiple-use systems, such as river basins. Instead, all the regimes being analyzed are in a process of finding a balance between bottom-up and top–down governance. Finally, this research shows that in a basin where one type of extreme is dominant—like droughts in the Alentejo (Portugal) and floods in Rivierenland (Netherlands)—the potential impacts of other extremes are somehow ignored or not perceived with the urgency they might deserve.     

岷沱江流域水环境治理绩效综合评价方法研究

为全面研究生态文明背景下岷沱江流域水环境治理成效，该研究从水生态保护与修复、水污染治理与控制、水资源开发利用和社会经济承载4个维度构建评价指标体系，先采用灰色关联分析法和均方差决策法建立组合权重，再通过加权综合指数法和理想解模型对2011~2017年岷沱江流域10个主要地级市的水环境治理绩效进行动态评价，最后利用ArcGIS10.5软件进行评价结果的时空分异性的可视化。研究表明：在水环境综合管理下，岷沱江流域水环境治理绩效水平呈上升的趋势。空间分布上，虽岷沱江流域上、中、下游的水环境治理绩效整体水平差异性逐渐缩小，但流域中各地级市在水污染治理与水资源开发利用上存在明显的差异性，今后岷沱江流域应重点控制水污染和优化水资源配置，统筹流域可持续发展的水环境管理。     

Climate change adaptation,flood risks and policy coherence in integrated water resources management in England

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) assumes coherence between cognate aspects of water governance at the river basin scale, for example water quality, energy production and agriculture objectives. But critics argue that IWRM is often less ‘integrated’ in practice, raising concerns over inter-sectoral coherence between implementing institutions. One increasingly significant aspect of IWRM is adaptation to climate change-related risks, including threats from flooding, which are particularly salient in England. Although multiple institutional mechanisms exist for flood risk management (FRM), their coherence remains a critical question for national adaptation. This paper therefore (1) maps the multi-level institutional frameworks determining both IWRM and FRM in England; (2) examines their interaction via various inter-institutional coordinating mechanisms; and (3) assesses the degree of coherence. The analysis suggests that cognate EU strategic objectives for flood risk assessment demonstrate relatively high vertical and horizontal coherence with river basin planning. However, there is less coherence with flood risk requirements for land-use planning and national flood protection objectives. Overall, this complex governance arrangement actually demonstrates de-coherence over time due to ongoing institutional fragmentation. Recommendations for increasing IWRM coherence in England or re-coherence based on greater spatial planning and coordination of water-use and land-use strategies are proposed.

     

湖泊型水源地管理研究——以苏州市太湖水源地为例

饮用水安全是最大的民生工程，也是自然资源管理研究的热点。基于实地调研、部门访谈和制度条文的梳理与分析，以苏州市太湖水源地为例研究湖泊型水源地管理体制。研究表明：我国水源地管理由国家、省、市、县的法律法规、规章和规范性文件构成相对完善的制度体系，具有水资源和水环境分割管理、流域管理和行政区管理交错的制度特征，初步具备了综合管理的架构；水源保护缺乏流域管治的思维，农村面源污染治理制度支撑不足；在管理手段上以命令控制型手段为主，经济激励与公众参与不足。建立水源地综合管理协调机制，完善经济激励手段，推进公众参与，实施水源地管理共同责任机制将有利于提高水源地管理效率     

流域水资源管理中政府角色与各国经验借鉴

以流域为单元进行水资源综合管理已经成为学术界和各国政府的共识，我国流域水资源管理面临的严峻形势，要求尽快建立行之有效的管理体系。首先归纳了流域水资源管理的四大目标，探讨政府在其中的角色，即水安全保障需政府主导、高效配置需政府协调、公平分配需制度保障、可持续利用需政府调控；然后通过比较各国实践，总结了适用于我国的经验：（1）完善立法是推动流域水资源管理的核心步骤；（2）建立利益主体间的协调机制是提高管理效率的关键前提；（3）灵活的水价政策是平衡公平与效率的重要手段；（4）促进公众参与能提高管理有效性，也是未来发展的重要趋势。最后从这4个方面提出了完善我国流域水资源管理体系的具体建议     

Management of catchments for the protection of water resources: drawing on the New York City watershed experience

Primary purposes for catchment management are to establish a cost-effective allocation and use of its water resources and to most effectively apply measures to protect the quantity and quality of the water produced by the catchment. For the latter purpose, diffuse sources of contamination are the greatest difficulty. Diffuse (or non-point source) water pollution poses challenges for public policy and requires innovative management approaches. Solutions ultimately require behavioural change and a broad societal response, and must be flexible and adaptive to stochastic catchment conditions and to long-term trends. Internationally, new models of governance for difficult land and water resource management problems are developing. This paper reviews the characteristics of ‘wicked’ environmental management problems and the specific policy challenges posed by diffuse water pollution. A framework for action is derived and compared to the activities and outcomes of water protection in the New York City watershed. Successes to date in this case indicate that because land management and diffuse sources of pollution have a local basis, protection of water at source necessitates the fostering of local instruments for an adaptive and twin-track strategy of applied research and stakeholder deliberation, supported by multi-level partnerships and an enabling regulatory environment. Although long running, evidence from this case alone is insufficient to establish whether potential trade-offs between water protection and the economic vitality of catchment communities can be fully resolved.     

跨国水资源保护的法律措施——兼及中国的实践

国际流域各国在自己境内利用跨国水资源或进行其他活动时，有义务保护国际流域水资源，防止对其他流域国造成重大损害。对有关国际文件的规定和国际社会的实践进行了系统的分析和比较，从促进跨国水资源包括涉及我国的跨国水资源保护的目的出发，运用比较、概括和归纳的方法，对流域各国保护国际流域水资源的法律措施进行了归纳和总结。这些措施包括但不限于环境影响评价、交流信息、监测、通知、紧急情况下的援助、控制污染、公众参与等。最后就中国促进相关跨国水资源的保护提出了具体的措施建议：严格执行《环境影响评价法》、《水污染防治法》等法律法规；建立跨国河流水环境监测网；保持和加强与相邻国家和沿岸各国的信息交流与合作；继续与更多的沿岸国谈判和签署双边或多边流域保护协议，并建立流域保护或管理委员会负责对跨国河流流域的保护与管理.     

Laying a solid foundation for sustainable development in Bolivian mountain villages

In Bolivia, recent decentralisation policies have broadened the participation of local actors in development processes. However, development is far from sustainable, and poverty and natural resources degradation still increase. The challenge is to develop strategies that achieve the genuine participation of poor farmers in natural resources management and sustainable development. The logical strategy, which was developed and validated in five Bolivian mountain villages, is an example. In this strategy, first a solid foundation for sustainable development is laid, with activities focussing on five basic conditions for sustainable development in rural villages: leadership and organisation, responsible participation, effective collaboration, mutual trust and environmental awareness. The results show that the existence of a solid foundation is crucial for the success of other development activities, such as soil and water conservation activities. However, given that 2 years after the project’s withdrawal the firmness of the foundation had slightly weakened, it was concluded that a better integration of these villages in local development processes is essential to profit from the new dynamics. This is especially true for soil and water conservation. To achieve this integration, municipalities—with the support of international development agencies—must be encouraged to invest in laying this solid foundation in rural villages and in facilitating follow-up activities to keep the dynamic process going. This study shows that such investments result in better organised villages, more equality, and the genuine participation of more people in sustainable village development. Effective collaboration and accountability at institutional level are, however, required.     

跨国气候伙伴关系治理及其对中国的启示

《巴黎协定》为全球应对气候变化确立了"自下而上"的治理路径,有助于增强各类行为体的参与动力,而后续的巴黎进程更适用于建立以跨国气候伙伴关系为代表的治理模式。在这一模式下,主要施动者是地方政府和包括气候NGO、市民社会在内的非国家行为体。他们不仅在议程设定、透明度、监督执行和代表利益攸关方等方面具有不可替代的作用,而且还具有擅长短期本土化项目管理等优势。本文从国际关系的跨国行为体视角出发,对这类伙伴关系的兴起及其合法性、有效性进行分析,所获得的基本结论为:(1)各国达成《巴黎协定》的内在逻辑有助于跨国伙伴关系发挥作用;(2)当前跨国气候伙伴关系参与全球气候治理的路径呈现不断制度化的趋势;(3)跨国伙伴关系治理的合法性和有效性具有一定特殊性;(4)非国家行为体在参与治理的过程中逐渐交叉,更易形成联盟且相关的观念外溢也更为便利。这一新兴治理关系对中国的启示包括:(1)重新审视非国家行为体在全球气候治理中的作用;(2)评估一些具有重大影响力的跨国伙伴关系,并适当鼓励国内相关机构和组织参与全球进程;(3)在国内层面,以渐进的方式,有针对性地参与、建立一些跨国气候伙伴关系,有助于提升中国的城市与地方政府的气候治理能力;(4)在国际合作中,利用非国家行为体的优势推动中国所提出的南南气候合作倡议及相关项目的落实,进一步提升中国气候治理的话语权,并弥补资金、技术及能力建设上的不足。     

Forest protected area governance in Bangladesh:a focus on the legal and policy framework

In the context of renewed interest in collaboration in natural resource management,the collaborative governance approach has lately been introduced to the forest Protected Areas(PAs)in Bangladesh.The adoption of this co-management approach is seen as an attempt to influence the governance process towards a transformation from the conventional custodian system to a more participatory management regime.Recognition of rights and responsibilities,effective participation,and equitable distribution of benefits amongst the key stakeholders working under a facilitative policy and legal framework are believed to address the broader goals of sustainable development Notwithstanding the resurgence of interest in governance of forest PAs through the co-management approach,academic research on the subject remains limited.This article attempts to review selected key information and milestones on the forest PAs governance with special reference to the major policies and legal documents.With a brief introductory section,this article focuses on the genesis and selected major features of the Forest PAs in the country.The discussion then dwells on the policy and legal framework and provides a critique on its relevance for promoting community participation.The existing institutional arrangements for community engagement in protected area governance are also analyzed in light of the national and international commitment and policy obligations on the part of the country.The salient observations and key findings of the study include the following:(1)despite its limitations,comanagement as concept and practice has gradually taken roots in Bangladesh;(2)the degree and level of active community participation remain low and limited,and there is also clear weakness in conscientizing and orientating the local community on the key legal and policy issues related to PA governance in the country;and(3)policy makers,practitioners,and other local stakeholders related to PA governance need to be oriented on international commitment and national de     

长江流域的水资源配置与水资源综合管理

回顾总结了我国近年来在水资源配置方面的理论研究和工作进展,论述了我国水资源配置的特点及其与联合国倡导的水资源综合管理的相互关系,阐述了长江流域水资源综合管理在我国的重要地位。提出我国开展的水资源配置在重视公众参与的基础上,与水资源综合管理是一致的。长江流域水资源综合管理是一个多学科、跨学科的研究课题。流域层面的水资源综合管理是国家层面和行业层面水资源配置的基础。长江水资源综合管理应该遵循水文系统优先的原则,使水资源利用和管理在流域层面上首先达到优化状态。环境用水需求是一个重要课题,它是流域层面水资源配置的基础,急待开展大量的研究。在流域系统优先原则下,各行政区与水用户参与者在讨论和协商的基础上,确定共同的准则、目标和具体措施,在不损害它方利益的前提下都能取得自己的利益。具体细化新《水法》中提出的流域管理与行政管理相结合的原则是开展长江水资源综合管理的关键。《长江法》的制定应该为水资源综合管理提供具体的法律依据。流域与地方水利机构的体制改革是十分重要的,它应该为开展水资源综合管理创造条件。在我国国情条件下,水资源综合管理中的用户参与应该如何开展,需要研究和实践。     

Institutional challenges of adopting ecosystem-based adaptation to climate change

In view of past environmental degradation and anticipated climate change impacts, we assessed the potential for ecosystem-based adaptation in the Murray-Darling Basin, Australia. In a workshop with staff from three Catchment Management Authorities (CMAs) who had jurisdiction over three sub-basins, as well as technical experts, nine adaptation options were identified that ranged from environmental flows, restoring river channel habitat, reoperating infrastructure and controlling invasive species. A Catchment Adaptation Framework was developed and used to assess and compare these adaptation options with each of the CMAs, drawing on interviews with their key stakeholders, to identify the risks, benefits and costs. We found that ecosystem-based adaptation can augment catchment management programs and requires investment in a suite of different but complementary measures to lower risk. Our research found institutional challenges in implementing this approach, including the complexities of multi-agency management, constricting legal requirements, narrow funding arrangements, under-developed institutional capacity, difficulties of implementing catchment-scale programs on private property and the need to adhere to community expectations. These institutional issues are ubiquitous internationally and point to the wider issues of providing sufficient management capacity to support adaptation. The Catchment Adaptation Framework presented here enables river basin managers to systematically assess the adaptation options to better inform their decision-making.     

汉水流域水环境安全管理对策探讨

汉水是长江中游北岸跨省级行政区的一级支流。汉水流域上游的丹江口水库为规划中的南水北调中线工程水源地 ;流域中下游工农业生产发达 ,人口密集。因此 ,汉水流域水环境安全问题备受人们关注。初步研究了汉水流域水环境安全管理问题 ,首先探讨流域水环境质量的时空变化特征 ,然后就流域水环境安全的主要点源和非点源压力因素进行了识别。结果表明 :在时间上 ,汉水流域水质总体上有逐年恶化的趋势 ,枯水期存在点源污染问题 ,丰水期存在点源和非点源污染问题 ;在空间上 ,上游干流个别江段和整个流域多数支流水质污染严重 ,丹江口水库水质良好 ,中下游干流水质时有污染现象 ;河南 -湖北省界水体存在水质污染问题。最后 ,根据汉水流域水环境质量特征及存在的问题 ,从流域水资源保护体制、法制建设、管理的理论与方法、监测和评价的内容与方法、流域水环境规划与科研、流域生态建设、行政区之间利益分配、现代高新技术的应用等方面提出了国家层次和流域层次的水环境安全管理对策     

基于水足迹的流域生态补偿标准模型研究

流域水资源是一种公共物品,其系统的整体性以及资源外部性等特征要求各相关区域应共同承担环境保护.如何衡量各区域水资源开发利用与环保投入的关系,建立合理的生态补偿标准模型,已成为流域管理研究领域普遍关注的问题.本文运用水足迹理论和方法,界定流域水足迹内涵,通过反映流域沿岸各区域水生态服务耗费情况判断分析水生态系统安全状态,提出流域生态补偿标准计量流程及不同情况下的流域生态补偿标准测算模型,从而客观、准确地量化流域生态补偿额度,为管理者正确分析和解决流域各区域间利益冲突提供科学的决策依据与支持.同时本文以碧流河为案例,收集并分析了2002-2006年间碧流河沿岸各行政区水足迹和环保投入情况,理清各区域生态系统状态及相互关系,计算补偿标准,进而验证模型的可行性.     

长江流域治理开发对生态与环境的改善和保护作用

长江流域治理开发是长江治理、开发、保护和管理的总称，包括流域治理、水资源开发利用、水资源保护、水土保持生态建设以及流域管理等内容，经过建国以来半个多世纪的发展和努力，长江流域治理开发取得了巨大的成就。在可持续发展战略和和谐社会思想的指导下，流域治理开发与生态环境建设息息相关，正确评价长江流域治理开发对生态与环境的改善和保护作用，对于促进治江事业的健康发展，充分发挥其生态环境效益具有十分重要的意义。通过对长江流域近五十多年来治理开发的总结归纳，分别从治理、开发、保护和管理等角度分析和总结了其对生态环境的保护和改善作用，认为长江流域治理开发总体上对生态、环境保护发挥了充分和积极的作用。     

Sustainable management of transboundary river basins: a line of reasoning

This paper identifies a line of reasoning based on a number of concepts and tools to facilitate river basin management, which have been applied in a case study. For long-term sustainable river basin management, a balance is needed between the human use of the river and its basin, the ecological functioning of the river and receiving waters, and the river's capacity to supply goods and services. To find such a balance a framework is needed that illustrates and clarifies possible trade-offs between economic use and environmental supply by integrating scientific information on cause–effect chains on a catchment scale. A number of concepts and tools are proposed as a basis for this framework. The tools are: (1) indicators that describe the complex interactions and processes in rivers; (2) a suite of linked models that predict the economic, environmental and ecological effect of management measures; (3) an evaluation framework to rank different management alternatives on the basis of three objectives: economic efficiency, spatial equity in costs and benefits and environmental quality of the river and receiving lakes. The concept of environmental quality defines the potential of the river environment (i.e. natural capital) to contribute to human welfare. The concept of environmental functions is used to identify societal interest in natural capital. The concept and tools have been applied in a case study involving the evaluation of four management strategies on nutrient abatement in the Rhine basin. The result of the case study is that economic efficiency is in conflict with spatial equity and environmental quality. Spatial equity is in agreement with environmental quality. Electronic Publication     

生态流量的法律表达及制度实现

生态流量制度是流域生态环境保护的重要制度保障,是水资源、水环境、水生态“三位一体”保障体系的重要组成部分,是满足水生态承载能力刚性约束的制度体现。目前,水资源开发利用以及水环境污染防治由《水法》以及《水污染防治法》做出了全面规定,而保障水生态功能实现的生态流量则作为水电工程环境影响评价制度的一个因子予以考量,这显然无法达成“维持水体生态功能”之目标。生态流量制度作为保护水生态功能的独立法律制度,应当在涉水立法中予以明确,同时形成完整的生态流量制度体系。基于此,本文对生态流量在立法中的法律表达提出制度建议,包括:①生态流量底线是为了满足流域及其周边区域原有生态系统功能所需要的水流数量以及水文过程的最低要求。生态流量底线制度包括生态流量底线的划定、生态流量监测以及生态流量底线的适应性管理。②流域生态流量协议,是在生态流量底线之上企业与政府达成的更高标准的生态流量约束,是企业与政府合作进行生态环境治理的新模式;是政府、企业、社会共同保障水生态的制度体现;它在公众参与的基础上形成流域规则嵌套,通过绿色水电认证提高企业落实的积极性。③生态流量法律责任制度依据生态流量底线和流域生态流量协议为用水主体设置的不同义务,分别规定了不同的法律责任。违反生态流量底线要求且拒不改正的按日连续处罚,体现出督促企业遵守生态流量底线要求的立法目的;仅违反流域生态流量协议而未突破生态流量底线要求的,则追究其违约责任,撤销其已享受的生态环境优惠,体现对其违背契约精神的惩罚。     

基于利益相关者理论的企业环境绩效影响因素研究

基于利益相关者理论,通过构建企业环境绩效与企业受到各利益相关者环境压力的计量模型,并在江苏常熟地区展开问卷调查,分析了影响企业环境绩效的利益相关者,结果表明:在该实证区域,以主动性环境管理行为度量企业环境绩效时,投资者、竞争者、消费者和社区居民等外部利益相关者对企业环境绩效的提高有显著的正影响;政府虽然给企业造成了很高的环境压力,但并不是造成企业之间环境绩效差异的原因;媒体和环保非政府组织等外部利益相关者作用尚不明显.结论说明:我国政府通过引入利益相关者参与企业环境治理,已经取得一定成效.建议我国政府继续推动环境政策创新,积极创造更多利益相关者成长的制度空间,为我国企业环境绩效的提高提供更多动力.     

流域立法视角下生态流量保障的制度供给--以长江流域为例

生态流量保障的重难点在于流域生态流量不足问题的妥善解决。生态流量不足基于产生的原因可分为“自然型”和“人为型”。“人为型”生态流量不足的根源在于《水法》第4条规定的三生用水关系未得到妥善处理,实质上是水资源分配和管理不合理所致。具体表现为水资源保护理念镶嵌在制度表层、生态流量缺乏核心制度保障、流域规划匮乏强效监督机制、流域水资源分配信息公开不足、末端行政考核制度偏重水质管控、生态用水制度顶层设计与地方实施间落差巨大等。流域立法作为立法体系的中间环节,对上位法具有填补协调功能,对地方立法具有引领指导作用。建议在流域立法过程中,通过制度设计解构流域生态流量保障现存的制度困境,主要包括以下几个方面:一是完成流域特有保护理念到实体制度的转型。二是基于流域生态修复、水资源生态红线管控制度的开展以及有效衔接规划环境影响评价制度的需要,建立生态流量管控指标制度体系不可或缺。三是基于流域规划对三生用水的初始分配性,将生态流量供给纳入流域规划体系中,从水资源分配初始阶段保障生态流量,同时强化流域水资源规划制度的监督机制,健全规划制定的程序性规范,明确科学考察和调查评价人员的构成规则、方式及模式。四是依法加深政府信息公开程度保障公众的知情权、参与权及监督权。五是完善行政考核制度体系强化对生态流量供给的考核。