Governing Nature-based Solutions in Small and Medium-sized Cities for Improved Water Quality and Water Resources Management
(2024) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEM01 20241The International Institute for Industrial Environmental Economics
- Abstract
- Fresh water resources face risks due to urbanisation, economic development, and climate change (CC). Many small and medium-sized cities (SMCs) are particularly vulnerable to these risks due to the lower resource capacity required to mitigate them. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for water resource management (WRM) are promising to tackle these issues in urban areas while providing extra benefits to society. NbS adoption is growing in the European Union (EU) and in international strategies and agendas. However, SMCs like Rivne in Ukraine face challenges in implementing NbS due to conflicting stakeholder interests and other institutional, organisational, and cultural obstacles, which call for enhanced governance processes. At the same time, the... (More)
- Fresh water resources face risks due to urbanisation, economic development, and climate change (CC). Many small and medium-sized cities (SMCs) are particularly vulnerable to these risks due to the lower resource capacity required to mitigate them. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for water resource management (WRM) are promising to tackle these issues in urban areas while providing extra benefits to society. NbS adoption is growing in the European Union (EU) and in international strategies and agendas. However, SMCs like Rivne in Ukraine face challenges in implementing NbS due to conflicting stakeholder interests and other institutional, organisational, and cultural obstacles, which call for enhanced governance processes. At the same time, the research on NbS governance is dominated by studies from large cities, and the knowledge on effective NbS governance in SMCs remains fragmented. This thesis aims to address this research problem by developing and testing a conceptual framework for NbS governance in SMCs. It does so through a systematic literature review of 60 journal articles, six expert interviews and the empirical application of the framework to four case studies of NbS for WRM in the EU and to the case study of Ustya river in Rivne, Ukraine. The framework for effective governance consists of transformative processes such as adaptability, learning and reflection, six principles including geographical and institutional embeddedness, evidence-based decision-making, inclusivity and equity, collaboration, transparency, long-term perspective, and conditions that influence the capacity to apply those principles. The EU case studies included in the analysis are Ljubljanica Connects, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Historic Utrecht Canal, Utrecht, Netherlands; Wupper Stream, Wuppertal, Germany; and Augustenborg Ecocity, Malmö, Sweden. These were chosen as successful examples of NbS governance from the EU-wide database, the Urban Nature Atlas (UNA), and they are therefore instrumental in drawing lessons for the enhancement of Ustya river governance in the Rivne case study.
With Ukraine on its way towards EU membership, such knowledge is particularly beneficial to advance the harmonisation of its legislation and enhance learning on innovative governance, which would improve local knowledge and practice. The data for the Rivne case study was collected via a review of academic and grey literature and six stakeholder interviews. This analysis uncovers existing challenges that slow down the implementation of projects for the Ustya river while exploring opportunities and lessons that could enhance the governance of water resources in Rivne. Lastly, this thesis proposes directions for future research and practical application of its results in WRM. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9171360
- author
- Horbachevska, Alisa LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- IMEM01 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- keywords
- nature-based solutions, small and medium-sized cities, urban governance, water resources management
- publication/series
- IIIEE Master Thesis
- report number
- 2024.02
- ISSN
- 1401-9191
- language
- English
- id
- 9171360
- date added to LUP
- 2024-08-19 14:55:52
- date last changed
- 2024-08-19 14:55:52
@misc{9171360, abstract = {{Fresh water resources face risks due to urbanisation, economic development, and climate change (CC). Many small and medium-sized cities (SMCs) are particularly vulnerable to these risks due to the lower resource capacity required to mitigate them. Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for water resource management (WRM) are promising to tackle these issues in urban areas while providing extra benefits to society. NbS adoption is growing in the European Union (EU) and in international strategies and agendas. However, SMCs like Rivne in Ukraine face challenges in implementing NbS due to conflicting stakeholder interests and other institutional, organisational, and cultural obstacles, which call for enhanced governance processes. At the same time, the research on NbS governance is dominated by studies from large cities, and the knowledge on effective NbS governance in SMCs remains fragmented. This thesis aims to address this research problem by developing and testing a conceptual framework for NbS governance in SMCs. It does so through a systematic literature review of 60 journal articles, six expert interviews and the empirical application of the framework to four case studies of NbS for WRM in the EU and to the case study of Ustya river in Rivne, Ukraine. The framework for effective governance consists of transformative processes such as adaptability, learning and reflection, six principles including geographical and institutional embeddedness, evidence-based decision-making, inclusivity and equity, collaboration, transparency, long-term perspective, and conditions that influence the capacity to apply those principles. The EU case studies included in the analysis are Ljubljanica Connects, Ljubljana, Slovenia; Historic Utrecht Canal, Utrecht, Netherlands; Wupper Stream, Wuppertal, Germany; and Augustenborg Ecocity, Malmö, Sweden. These were chosen as successful examples of NbS governance from the EU-wide database, the Urban Nature Atlas (UNA), and they are therefore instrumental in drawing lessons for the enhancement of Ustya river governance in the Rivne case study. With Ukraine on its way towards EU membership, such knowledge is particularly beneficial to advance the harmonisation of its legislation and enhance learning on innovative governance, which would improve local knowledge and practice. The data for the Rivne case study was collected via a review of academic and grey literature and six stakeholder interviews. This analysis uncovers existing challenges that slow down the implementation of projects for the Ustya river while exploring opportunities and lessons that could enhance the governance of water resources in Rivne. Lastly, this thesis proposes directions for future research and practical application of its results in WRM.}}, author = {{Horbachevska, Alisa}}, issn = {{1401-9191}}, language = {{eng}}, note = {{Student Paper}}, series = {{IIIEE Master Thesis}}, title = {{Governing Nature-based Solutions in Small and Medium-sized Cities for Improved Water Quality and Water Resources Management}}, year = {{2024}}, }