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Governing Nature-based Solutions in Small and Medium-sized Cities for Improved Water Quality and Water Resources Management

Horbachevska, Alisa LU (2024) In IIIEE Master Thesis IMEM01 20241
The 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)
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author
Horbachevska, Alisa LU
supervisor
organization
course
IMEM01 20241
year
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}},
}