Can social theory help us to achieve sustainable urban water management?

J.J. Bos, Rebekah Brown

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

It has been acknowledged, in Australia and beyond, that existing policy and systems of contemporary urban water management lead to unsustainable outcomes. It has, therefore, become apparent that our current socio-technical systems, consisting of institutions, structures, and rules, which guide traditional urban water practices need to change. If a change towards sustainable urban water management practices is to occur, a transformation of our established social-technical configuration that shapes the behaviour and decision-making of actors is needed. At present, innovations aimed at this transformation are mainly of technical nature. These innovative projects do not manage to achieve the social and institutional change needed for further diffusion and up-take of sustainable urban water management practices. Social theory and its research is increasingly being recognised as important in responding to the challenges associated with evolving to a more sustainable form of urban water management. This paper integrates three areas of social theories around change, in order to provide a thinking framework that can assist with social-technical system change. This framework can be utilised by urban water practitioners when designing interventions aimed at transitioning towards sustainable urban water management.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationTowards water sensitive cities and citizens
Subtitle of host publicationConference Proceedings
Pages342-350
Number of pages9
Publication statusPublished - 2009
Event6th International Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference and Hydropolis #3, 2009: Towards Water Sensitive Cities and Citizens - Perth, Australia
Duration: 5 May 20098 May 2009

Conference

Conference6th International Water Sensitive Urban Design Conference and Hydropolis #3, 2009
Abbreviated titleWSUD 2009
Country/TerritoryAustralia
CityPerth
Period5/05/098/05/09

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