Details zur Publikation

Kategorie Textpublikation
Referenztyp Zeitschriften
DOI 10.3390/su13169111
Lizenz creative commons licence
Titel (primär) Management of global warming effects in the European Water Framework Directive: Consideration of social–ecological system features in the Elbe River basin district
Autor Sievers, E.; Zielhofer, C.; Hüesker, F.
Quelle Sustainability
Erscheinungsjahr 2021
Department UPOL
Band/Volume 13
Heft 16
Seite von art. 9111
Sprache englisch
Topic T5 Future Landscapes
Keywords social–ecological systems approach; EU Water Framework Directive; global warming; Elbe River; climate change adaptation; water management; river basin management; adaptive water resource management; European water governance
Abstract In this study, we examined the extent to which global warming management is currently integrated into the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), the central legal framework for water management in the EU. We focused on the Elbe River Basin District and how global warming is addressed in its water management. We used the social–ecological systems (SES) approach as our theoretical framework, representing an eminent analytical frame of biosphere-based sustainability science. In our study, we analysed core characteristics of SES in the context of global warming to evaluate the effectiveness of current water management in the Elbe River basin concerning long-term changing climate conditions. To determine to what extent each SES feature is considered in the Elbe water management, we applied a scale of 1 to 5. Our results show that the SES feature “scale and openness” is best addressed (score 4.0) by the Elbe River basin management, followed by “context dependency” (score 3.9); however, “non-linearity, uncertainty, unpredictability” (score 3.2), “self-organisation and adaptability” (score 3.1), and “dynamics” (score 3.0) have only moderate impacts. SES features can only be considered comprehensively if global warming is accounted for in an integrated way at a European level. In order to ensure effective implementation, explicit regulations and legally binding obligations are most likely required.
dauerhafte UFZ-Verlinkung https://www.ufz.de/index.php?en=20939&ufzPublicationIdentifier=25036
Sievers, E., Zielhofer, C., Hüesker, F. (2021):
Management of global warming effects in the European Water Framework Directive: Consideration of social–ecological system features in the Elbe River basin district
Sustainability 13 (16), art. 9111 10.3390/su13169111