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Science–policy processes for transboundary water governance

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Abstract

In this policy perspective, we outline several conditions to support effective science–policy interaction, with a particular emphasis on improving water governance in transboundary basins. Key conditions include (1) recognizing that science is a crucial but bounded input into water resource decision-making processes; (2) establishing conditions for collaboration and shared commitment among actors; (3) understanding that social or group-learning processes linked to science–policy interaction are enhanced through greater collaboration; (4) accepting that the collaborative production of knowledge about hydrological issues and associated socioeconomic change and institutional responses is essential to build legitimate decision-making processes; and (5) engaging boundary organizations and informal networks of scientists, policy makers, and civil society. We elaborate on these conditions with a diverse set of international examples drawn from a synthesis of our collective experiences in assessing the opportunities and constraints (including the role of power relations) related to governance for water in transboundary settings.

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Acknowledgements

This perspective was initially developed at a workshop funded by the Water Institute at the University of Waterloo, and then further refined through a special session of the Global Water System Project conference, “Water in the Anthropocene: Challenges for Science and Governance” held in Bonn, Germany (May 2013). Additional support for this collaboration has been provided by the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada. We gratefully acknowledge the constructive feedback of anonymous reviewers and the Associate Editor on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Change & Governance Group, Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Derek Armitage

  2. Water Policy & Governance Group, Department of Environment and Resource Studies, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Rob C. de Loë & Michelle Morris

  3. Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Tom W. D. Edwards

  4. Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, University of Arizona, Arizona, USA

    Andrea K. Gerlak

  5. Department of Biology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Canada

    Roland I. Hall

  6. Institute of Environmental Studies, VU University Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Dave Huitema

  7. Engineering & Innovation, The Open University, Buckinghamshire, UK

    Ray Ison

  8. Holarctic Environmental Consulting Ltd., Yellowknife, NWT, Canada

    David Livingstone

  9. Institute of the Environment & Sustainability, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, USA

    Glen MacDonald

  10. Department of Geography, King’s College London, London, UK

    Naho Mirumachi

  11. Environmental Sustainability Research Centre, Brock University, St. Catharines, Canada

    Ryan Plummer

  12. Department of Geography & Environmental Studies, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Canada

    Brent B. Wolfe

  13. Faculty of Management, Science & Technology, Netherlands Open University, Heerlen, The Netherlands

    Dave Huitema

  14. Monash Sustainability Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia

    Ray Ison

  15. Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm, Sweden

    Ryan Plummer

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  1. Derek Armitage
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Armitage, D., de Loë, R.C., Morris, M. et al. Science–policy processes for transboundary water governance. Ambio 44, 353–366 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13280-015-0644-x

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