Terrestrial aquatic environments and sustainable development governance

Abstract

This chapter examines the sustainable governance of water resources, its historical development, underlying principles and policy objectives. It starts out by analysing the suite of policy instruments typically applied in water policy, including regulatory, economic and behavioural approaches. With a particular focus on the hydrological cycle, river basin management, and public participation, it then studies the concept of policy integration and integrated water resources management (IWRM) as the leading discourse here. Initially restricted to environmental sustainability, global water policy goals gradually expanded to include social and economic considerations, leading to the three E's: environmental sustainability, efficient water use and equal access. The chapter introduces into key international agreements to reflect this new agenda, their implementation on the ground and how the three E's reinforce the sustainability agenda or contradict each other. Finally, the partnership approach will be discussed, designed to respond to these governance challenges and implementation deficits.