The exigencies of transboundary water security: insights on community resilience

Published in Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, v. 44: 74-84
Authors

Varady, R. G., T. R. Albrecht, A. K. Gerlak, M. O. Wilder, B. M. Mayer, A. Zuniga-Teran, K. C. Ernst, and M. C. Lemos.

Publication year 2020
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cosust.2020.06.005
Affiliations

Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, The University of Arizona, United States
School of Geography, Development and Environment and Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, The University of Arizona, United States
School of Geography, Development and Environment, The University of Arizona, United States
School of Sociology, The University of Arizona, United States
School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, and Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy, The University of Arizona, United States
Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, United States
School for Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, United States

IAI Program

CRN3

IAI Project CRN3056
Keywords

Abstract

Societies across the globe strive to achieve water security&mdashthat is, assure access to sufficient water of acceptable quality for humans and the environment for changing, sustainable societies and ecosystems. But rapid and significant changes in environmental and social systems complicate attempts to assure water-secure conditions. This challenge is further magnified by transboundary conditions&mdashwhile landscapes and physical processes disregard political borders, human institutions managing these resources often lack the traditions and capital for ensuring resilient, community-based responses to water shortage and contamination. This review highlights how features of community resilience contribute to enhancing transboundary water security using nine examples from the U.S.&ndashMexico border region. The cases demonstrate how public participation, adaptivity and flexibility, and social mobilization to promote equity and justice help to nurture and maintain community resilience, to the benefit of transboundary water security.