Barriers to Holistic Governance of Transboundary River Systems. An Institutional Analysis of Blue and Green Governance in the Scheldt River Basin
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2024-12-15
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en
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Effective governance of transboundary river systems is becoming increasingly important as we face challenges brought on by climate change, including flooding, biodiversity loss, and droughts. This research examines the institutional barriers and enablers for integrating Blue and Green governance policies in the Scheldt River Basin, a complex transboundary river system shared by the Netherlands, Belgium, and France. Using the Politicised Institutional Analysis and Development (P IAD) framework from Clement (2010), the study investigates how physical conditions, governance structures, political and economic contexts, community characteristics, and institutional discourses influence policy-making and implementation. The research highlights differences in flood risk management strategies, such as Flanders’ approach using nature-based solutions compared to the Netherlands’ dependence on grey infrastructure within the Western Scheldt. It also reveals significant differences in resources and knowledge between regions and structural inefficiencies in international coordination efforts, particularly within the International Scheldt Commission. By identifying key enablers, such as shared knowledge systems and strategies for linking issues, the findings provide insights into promoting more cohesive transboundary cooperation. Ultimately, this study contributes to the developing field of holistic water governance by proposing ways to align water and land policies across borders.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen