Title: Integrated sustainability assessment of water systems: lessons from the Ebro River Basin

Authors: J. David Tabara, Elisabet Roca, Cristina Madrid, Pieter Valkering, Patrik Wallman, Paul M. Weaver

Addresses: Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ' Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ' Institute of Environmental Science and Technology, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. ' International Centre for Integrated Assessment and Sustainable Development, University of Maastricht, The Netherlands. ' LUCSUS, Lund University, Sweden. ' Wolfson Research Institute, University of Durham, UK

Abstract: This paper describes the co-development and implementation of visioning and experimenting exercises, agent-based modelling, and gaming tools in Integrated Sustainability Assessments (ISAs) involving stakeholders. These new tools are aimed at supporting reflexive learning and at building alternative policy relevant knowledge and evaluative paradigms for managing sustainability. The specific case study relates to water management within the Ebro River Basin. Conclusions concern the use of these tools to represent complexity, to learn how conflict and collaboration between agents can be addressed, and to explore the roles played by power regimes, institutional rules, and culture in constraining or enhancing transition in the water domain.

Keywords: integrated sustainability assessment; ISA; water management; Ebro river basin; sustainability transitions; agent-based modelling; gaming tools; social learning; sustainability learning; reframing; sustainable development; reflexive learning.

DOI: 10.1504/IJISD.2008.018193

International Journal of Innovation and Sustainable Development, 2008 Vol.3 No.1/2, pp.48 - 69

Published online: 11 May 2008 *

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