Droughts are intensifying in many mid-latitude river basins due to climate change; therefore understanding the influence of droughts on water policy is crucial.
This study, by Jason Alexandra and Lauren Rickards, of the politics of water reforms in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) analyses contrasting discourses of water security during the Millennium Drought (1996-2010). The paper traces the historical evolution, mobilisation and effects of three discourses defined as 'drought-proofing', 'higher value use' and 'river restoration'. These are broadly aligned with engineering, economics and ecological perspectives, and while all discourses were integrated into government responses to the drought, the resurgence of drought-proofing significantly altered policy settings intended to shift MDB water management onto a more sustainable path.
The paper illustrates the political and physical conditioning of water policy, placing drought responses in their historical context. The analysis demonstrates how policy actors used discourses of water security to define normative goals and legitimise policies, particularly when climatic extremes provide opportunities to influence policy outcomes.
The paper provides three key insights for water governance and climate adaptation:
Ukame unazidi kuongezeka katika mabwawa mengi ya mito ya latitudo ya kati kwa sababu ya mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa; kwa hivyo kuelewa ushawishi wa ukame kwenye sera ya maji ni muhimu. Jason Alexandra na Lauren Rickards, wanaofundisha katika utafiti wao wa siasa za maji katika bonde la Murray-Darling la Australia, wanachunguza mazungumzo tofauti ya usalama wa maji wakati wa ukame wa Milenia (1996-2010). Karatasi inafuatilia mageuzi ya kihistoria, uhamasishaji na athari za mazungumzo matatu yaliyofafanuliwa kama 'kushinda ukame','matumizi ya thamani ya juu' na 'kurudisha mto'. "Hizi ni kwa ujumla aligned na uhandisi, uchumi na ikolojia mtazamo, na wakati wote hotuba walikuwa kuunganishwa katika majibu ya serikali kwa ukame, resurgence ya ukame-upinzani kwa kiasi kikubwa kubadilishwa mipangilio ya sera lengo la kuhamisha MDG maji usimamizi juu ya njia ya ""kuendelea.""" Karatasi inaonyesha hali ya kisiasa na kimwili ya sera ya maji, kuweka majibu ya ukame katika muktadha wao wa kihistoria. Uchambuzi unaonyesha jinsi watendaji wa sera walivyotumia mazungumzo ya usalama wa maji kuelezea malengo ya kanuni na kuhalalisha sera, haswa wakati hali mbaya ya hali ya hewa hutoa fursa za kuathiri matokeo ya sera. Karatasi hutoa ufahamu tatu muhimu kwa ajili ya usimamizi wa maji na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa: