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São Paulo’s Water System: A Megacity’s Efforts to Fight Water Scarcity

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The Political Economy of Urban Water Security under Climate Change

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Abstract

The Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP) has faced significant water crises. In this chapter, the authors describe the challenges faced by the city as policymakers consider the ways and means of achieving water security. The State Government of São Paulo and SABESP have taken several steps in the wake of the 2014–15 water crisis: infrastructure development, encouraging conscious consumption and improving the national regulatory framework. The authors argue that São Paulo must make better use of the water that it does have; improve coordination among water authorities; and meaningfully engage all stakeholders, including slum-dwellers in devising a way forward.

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Correspondence to Larry Swatuk .

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Mannan, A.B., Velasquez, A., Swatuk, L. (2022). São Paulo’s Water System: A Megacity’s Efforts to Fight Water Scarcity. In: Swatuk, L., Cash, C. (eds) The Political Economy of Urban Water Security under Climate Change . International Political Economy Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-08108-8_2

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