Science–policy processes for transboundary water governance

• DOI: 10.1007/s13280-015-0644-x
• Publication Date: 2015-03-13T09:49:29Z
• Authors: Derek Armitage; Rob C. de Loë; Michelle Morris; Tom W. D. Edwards; Andrea K. Gerlak; Roland I. Hall; Dave Huitema; Ray Ison; David Livingstone; Glen MacDonald; Naho Mirumachi; Ryan Plummer; Brent B. Wolfe
• Keywords: Canada; Conservation of Natural Resources; 330; RESOURCES; Decision Making; Environment; 01 natural sciences; 333; BASINS; MEKONG; SDG 17 - Partnerships for the Goals; MANAGEMENT; KNOWLEDGE; Adaptation; Cooperative Behavior; Transboundary water management; ADAPTATION; COOPERATION; 0105 earth and related environmental sciences; VULNERABILITY; Governance; CLIMATE-CHANGE; 16. Peace & justice; Collaboration; COLORADO RIVER DELTA; 6. Clean water; Environmental Policy; Sustainability; 13. Climate action; Government Regulation; Water Resources; SDG 6 - Clean Water and Sanitation; State Government

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.