Calling systematic thinking in addressing water security issues

Water security is arguably one of the top global water issues. A definition of water security is that it is the sustainable availability of water of adequate quantity and quality for a particular use, whether for humans or the environment. It is becoming increasingly important for food security, conflict mitigation, environmental conservation, and economic development. According to Grey and Sadoff (2007), the issue of water security has been the object of increased academic and policy interest over the past decade, although the international water community has used the term “water security” much earlier. In 2000 the concept of water security was introduced in two prominent declarations, namely (1) “A Water Secure World — Vision for Water, Life, and the Environment” introduced by the World Water Council (WWC 2000) and (2) “Towards Water Security: A Framework for Action” published by the Global Water Partnership (GWP 2000). In 2009, the World Economic Forum (WEF) prioritized water security as a global concern, stating that “water security is the gossamer that links together the web of food, energy, climate, economic growth, and human security challenges that the world economy faces over the next decades” (WEF 2011). In 2013, the UN-Water Task Force on Water Security proposed a working definition of water security, aiming to capture the dynamic and constantly evolving dimensions of water and water related issues, offering a holistic outlook for addressing water challenges through the umbrella of water security, and serving as a starting point for dialogue on water security in the UN system (UNU 2013). In 2015 the WEF further reported that “Global water crises — from drought in the world’s most productive farmlands to the hundreds of millions of people without access to safe drinking water — are the biggest threats facing the planet over the next decade. Other global risks are inextricably tied to water management, inadequate and heterogeneous access, increased risks of extreme weather events, failure of national governance, state collapse or crisis; rapid and massive epidemics; and failure to adapt to climate change.” Regardless of the definition adopted, water security involves the sustainable development and use of water resources, protection of water systems, protection against water-related hazards (floods and droughts), and the safeguarding of access to water functions and services for humans and the environment. Water security is a precondition for any effective poverty reduction strategy, and for effective environmental sanitation, wastewater management, and flood control (Laušević et al. 2016). This featured collection includes invited papers from the International Specialty Conference on Water Security: New Technologies, Strategies, Policies, and Institutions convened by the American Water Resources Association and Center for Water Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CWRR-CAS) held on September 16–18, 2019 in Beijing, China. The conference was attended by 180 people, of which approximately three-quarters were from China and the rest from 15 other countries (Ethiopia, Germany, Iran, Japan, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Mongolia, Pakistan, Singapore, Tajikistan, UK, USA, Uzbekistan). Participants represented 57 research institutes and organizations. The conference was held at the Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China. Based on recommendations of session moderators, we invited authors of selected presentations to submit their full papers or related paper on the same topic for consideration of publication in the Journal of the American Water Resources Association as featured collection series. The guest associate editors (see list below) recruited three expert peer reviewers to evaluate each submission and all papers were evaluated following the publication standards of the journal. We are in debt to all the associate editors and reviewers for their honest and thorough assessment of submitted manuscripts in a timely manner despite the interruptions created due to COVID-19 pandemic. Special thanks go to the Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Venki Uddameri, and Managing Editors, Ms. Corrie Williams and Ms. Kylie Bade. Shaofeng Jia (CAS), Jinjun Kan (University of Delaware), Yanqing Lian (CAS), Yi Liu (Morgan State University), Di Long (Tsinghua University), Aifeng Lv (CAS), John Sabo (Arizona State University), Chad Staddon (University of the West of England), Qiuhong Tang (CAS), Gregory Torell (New Mexico State University), John Tracy (Texas A&M AgriLife Research), Jun Xia (Wuhan University and CAS), Yonghui Yang (CAS), Xiang Zhang (Wuhan University), and Wenbin Zhu (CAS).

Food and water security: Analysis of integrated modeling platforms

This chapter broadens the lens of Water, Energy, Food (WEF) nexus by bringing regional and river basin dimensions in WEF literature. Looking at WEF nexus at basin, sub-basin, and regional levels can help further the understanding about the potential synergies and trade-offs across countries at different scales (local, national, regional) and inform policy and action at different levels. For instance, Indo-Gangetic Plain, which is the food basket for South Asia, depends on water sources from upstream areas of India, Nepal, and Bhutan. Similarly, change in food production in Indo-Gangetic Plain influences food prices and food security in upstream areas, including upstream countries Afghanistan, Bhutan, and Nepal. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown the world - how interconnected we are and how important it is to work together between countries whether it is on issues of health security, food security, water security and energy security. The rapid spread of the virus call for a cooperation both at regional and global level.

<p>Water security in Central Asia (CA) plays a vital role because of transboundary river systems and interconnected infrastructure assets. Each CA country has differently contextualized the water security notion to serve national priorities and needs. Various scholars have studied and interpreted the concept of water security in CA through economic, environmental, social, and technical perspectives. Yet however, there is very little information on the perceptions of policymakers and water professionals that are directly engaged with the water policy discourse in the CA region.</p><p>In this regard, we attempted to identify policy makers and water professionals' views on water management and security aspects in CA.  A Delphi method was introduced through a two-round survey to decision-makers and water professionals to assess the rate of agreement on different water security dimensions that have been identified through a thorough literature review.</p><p>Namely, the dimensions associated with urban & household facilities, economic activities, environmental aspects and natural hazards were assessed, whereas different attributes related to each dimension were also considered. The first survey round explored the rate of agreement in the following six different sections: the proposed water security dimensions (1) and attributes (2) in CA; historical trends and dynamics of each dimension (3) and the implications on a policy level (4); the national priorities for each country (5); and the effectiveness of mechanisms dealing with regional water security issues (6).  The second round synopsized the initial findings by exploring whether a higher agreement rate was attained in each of the sections mentioned above.</p><p> Clustering analysis was applied to better identify the agreement rate and assess decision-makers and water professionals' behavioral patterns within the two-survey rounds.  A number of clustering techniques were tested out. Methods such as K-Medoids, Spectral, Hierarchical, and Agglomerative clustering, as well as the Affinity Propagation, were applied. Hyperparameters were chosen based on the observations of how well the clusters are formed, i.e., how similar the responses are within the cluster and how much they differ from other clusters. The clustering was applied to the whole range of responses, as well as separately on different sections of the surveys.  </p><p>The findings indicate that the clustering of all six parts did not clearly define separation and distinctive agreement rates in the first survey round. However, when the clustering was performed within specific sections, e.g., the national priorities in each country, behavioral patterns were revealed among respondents. The clustering trends among sections became more apparent in the second survey round.  Our preliminary findings indicate that a set of socio-demographic and professional-related features of the participants are aligned with the patterns of the clustering outcomes on water security priorities in CA. The study findings could identify the major challenges that policymakers and water professionals face being mutually addressed by improving water security dialogue in the CA region.</p>

<p><span>The term water security constantly evolves. In </span><span>different contexts, </span><span><span>water is valued differently and t</span>he perception of water security is closely affected by local <span>history, culture as well as the political systems where the agents are located. In Asia, water politics has been explored from a range of perspectives, reflecting the complicated discourses, processes and narratives when the global South respond to water-related challenges. Lacking of a coherent conceptual tool of water security, the region suffers mistrust among nations, along with misinterpretation of the water security situation in policy dialogues.</span></span></p><p><span><span> </span></span></p><p><span><span>Because of its sheer size, China’s commodities importation and especially food imports induced by water shortages can have a large impact on international markets. The Central government has constantly revised its water governance, with an intention to demonstrated that on a national scale, the overall volume of water supply from the country is sufficient to support its economic and industrial development. However, domestic water governance has shown its inefficiencies. Additionally, being the source of many international rivers, China’s policies toward international river basins have also significantly impacted inter-state negotiation and the peacefully resolution of tensions over shared international river basins. </span></span></p><p><span><span> </span></span></p><p><span><span>In Central Asia, after the dissolution of the Soviet regime, divergent views and perceptions exist on water security. Apart from attention for water allocation issues in the entire region, there has been an effort to reconsider the dimensions of water use and control in CA in order to protect and utilize water resources on national level. Different measurable indicators and indexes have been introduced to assess the most vulnerable or else insecure aspects of water use among the five Central Asian countries. However, the suggested approaches often represent these frameworks in a fragmented manner, lacking of a holistic evaluation of the understanding of the vulnerability status at a country or regional level. </span></span></p><p><span><span> </span></span></p><p><span><span>We adopt the evaluation framework proposed in the Asian Water Development Outlook (AWDO) as the main platform to conduct our assessment. Namely, the five key dimensions on household, economic, urban, and environmental and resilience to water-disasters are accounted as the major parameters to evaluate the degree of vulnerability of water resources in Central Asia and China. With regard to method, data is sourced from literature review published between 1991-2019. Consistent data screening method will be applied to the case of China and Central Asia to understand the evolution of national water interest. The analysis will be based on the identification and evaluation of different indicators and attributes through coding and data classification approaches.</span></span></p><p><span><span> </span></span></p><p><span><span>We conduct an extensive literature review on the approaches and methods that directly or indirectly touch upon the above-mentioned dimensions. The findings will fill a major gap on the perception of water security in Asia, where both differences and mutual understanding of water risks exist between China and the Central Asian countries. This work has significant policy implications. It’ll contribute to a better understanding of water vulnerability in the region, which also contribute to policy dialogues.</span></span></p>

Water is an integral part of our daily lives, yet most of us have little idea about how much water we use to maintain our lifestyles and the extent to which our lifestyles pollute and degrade water resources. The increasing occurrence of floods, droughts and water pollution incidents are reminders of our vulnerability in relation to water. Estimates suggest that global water demand could outstrip supply by the middle of the century if we continue with the current 'business as usual' approach to water management.<br><br>Melvyn Kay and Olcay Ünver use Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 as a framework to explore the concept of sustainable water resources management and how to improve water security. They provide a synthesis of water resources planning and management issues across all water-using sectors to dispel misunderstandings and myths and enable informed approaches to decision-making. In so doing, they offer an in-depth critical review of SDG6, including what it does and does not do. Case studies from around the world are used throughout the book to illustrate the key issues of water (in)security.

Swathes of global water challenges, such as water shortages, water pollution, water-related disasters, and degradation of water environments, have seriously threatened human development. The discussion of water security or insecurity has been instrumental in drawing the attention of political leaders thanks to its political nature and strategic and urgent messages for society to take action. This study introduces a modified concept and definition of water security and a water security assessment framework based on a review of previous works on water security; the water security framework intends to shed light on five core areas: (1) social equity; (2) economic efficiency; (3) environmental sustainability; (4) resilience to water-related disasters; and (5) government competency. A total of 28 countries in Asia and the Pacific have been chosen and appraised for their level of water security. The assessment result unveils that Japan, Malaysia, and South Korea show high levels of water security. In contrast, India, Pakistan, and the Philippines are regarded as the countries with water insecurity. The magnitude of the study lies in critically assessing good or challenging aspects of water security so that the countries can start to consider possible policy options for achieving sustainable water resource management.

Facing Global Environmental Change

Discover how digital innovation is transforming water security in Asia and the Pacific. The second edition of Digitalizing H2O spotlights bold solutions, resilient communities, and a united vision for a water-secure future. This second edition of Digitalizing H2O arrives at a pivotal moment for Asia and the Pacific, where over 2 billion people still lack access to safe water and sanitation. As disasters triggered by natural hazards intensify and urban populations surge, the need for smart, resilient water solutions has never been more urgent. This e-magazine showcases transformative case studies and innovations—from intelligent leak detection in India to integrated water management in the People’s Republic of China—that are reshaping how we manage water. By harnessing digital tools and fostering collaboration, the Asian Development Bank is empowering communities to make data-driven decisions and build shock-resilient infrastructure. Dive into this edition to explore how technology is unlocking a water-secure future for the region.

Problem statement: This study considered the issue of water security and food security for the poor towards sustainable livelihoods. Involvement of water organization to scarceness mitigation means that it stands an essential for movements that type water more manageable for poor people. Pro-poor water and food authority, enhanced contact towards worth water and sustenance services, pro-poor financial development and maintenance development, public capability constructing and authorization, adversity preclusion and vindication and management of the environment have been recognized as a context for deed to develop water safety and food security for the poor. Approach: The study has three parts. Firstly, we considered the case for water security. Secondly, we addressed the food security for the poor. Thirdly, we suggested the progress of maintainable livings for the poor. Results: The analysis of this study was to focus and simplify the issues reported in the literature surrounding water security and food security for the poor. Conclusion: We concluded with some recommendations about the types of data around which water security and food security for the improvement of sustainable livelihoods of the poor might be designed.

“Water security” and “water safety” is defined differently. As the terms are related they may lead to confusion and misinterpretations, depending on the context. Water security generally refers to a lack of resources of an acceptable quality, i.e. water scarcity that may be related either to an excess of water demand or drought impacts (with links to climate change and e.g. salt water intrusion into coastal aquifers). Further, water security is closely related to food security, energy security, health security and ecological security. From a (human) security viewpoint, however, water security may also be understood in the light of possible intentional degradation of the resources, e.g. criminal or terrorist act leading to a deliberate (chemical or biological) contamination of water supply systems. Water safety on the other hand refers to the quality or chemical status of the water resources that has to comply with the defined quality standards for drinking water specifically to protect human health, both from elevated concentrations of contaminants and natural geogenic elements. This review gives a snapshot of various (ground)water safety and security issues written by authors from different sectors and disciplines. Illustrating and clarifying the many societal challenges related to water security and safety in cities.

Quantitative simulation of the water-energy-food (WEF) security nexus in a local planning context in indonesia

This article explores the role which courts could play in promoting water security in South Africa. As the country is one of the driest on the continent, its water security issues remain at the forefront of the service delivery conundrum. Therefore, issues of water security often need to be litigated to arrive at a favourable and just outcome. This is where the focus of this article lies. Based on a critical analysis of the legal framework governing water security and relevant case law, the article argues that courts could promote water security by discharging certain duties. Firstly, the courts must uphold the applicable law by weighing the rights and interests that relate to water and must then make reasonable, just and equitable findings. Secondly, the courts must solve water-related disputes between parties by interpreting and applying the applicable laws and policies. It is submitted that by executing these two functions, the courts contribute to a deeper understanding of the water security discourse. Finally, it is argued that through the execution of their traditional judicial functions, courts contribute to the making of law that directly affects water security.

Water security is one of the significant challenges that many countries worldwide face. In the context of population growth, climate change, and environmental pollution today, the issue of water security is more urgent than ever for countries. In recent years, water security for countries in the Mekong River Basin has been facing great challenges, potentially leading to disputes and conflicts between the countries involved. From a regional perspective, the article clarifies the relationship between the lower Mekong countries in protecting water security and especially Vietnam's role in that relationship to clearly see the achievements that countries have achieved, as well as the challenges posed in the relationship on water security. From there, some policy suggestions are given to promote effective relations between countries in stabilizing the water security of the Mekong River, especially for Vietnam, a country located at the bottom of the Mekong River.
 
 Received: 21 January 2023 / Accepted: 16 April 2023 / Published: 5 May 2023

Governing the nexus: Water-energy-food nexus governance strategies in Ghana and Uganda