Conceptual framework for scenarios development in the Water futures and Solutions project

Magnuszewski, P., Wiberg, D., Cosgrove, W., Fischer, G., Floerke, M., Hizsnyik, E., Pahl-Wostl, C., Segrave, A., Toth, G., Tramberend, S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7024-1075, van Vliet, M., Yillia, P., & Zeller, D. (2015). Conceptual framework for scenarios development in the Water futures and Solutions project. IIASA Interim Report. IIASA, Laxenburg, Austria: IR-15-011

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Abstract

The major purpose of the Water Futures & Solutions (WFaS) initiative is to develop a set of adaptable resilient and robust solutions and a framework to facilitate access to and guidance through them by decision makers facing a variety of water-related challenges to sustainable evelopment, and a set of optional pathways to achieve plausible sustainable development goals by 2050.

The WFaS Initiative addresses the multidimensional aspects of the water system and is guided by stakeholders representing these various aspects. The Initiative views freshwater systems as being strongly interweaved with human activities (Economy, Society) and Nature as a whole. Dynamics and health of freshwater systems is critical to human well- being. The Initiative will go beyond scenario production and model comparisons and will focus on exploring solutions and necessary innovations to address the growing water challenges. Solutions can be combinations of technological innovations, regulatory approaches, manageent or institutional changes that improve the balance of water supply and demand, improve water quality, or reduce water-related risks for society. Solutions will often be embedded in and cut across all sectors of social and economic activities. In order to represent the aspirations and interdependencies as described above, the conceptual framework has been developed, to communicate project results to the target audiences.

This document describes this conceptual framework that will be used:

-to support development of qualitative water scenarios -to identify and select critical dimensions of the water scenarios -to guide integration of scenarios with quantitative models -to guide integration of information from various data sources into the scenarios -to support development and assessment of solutions -to support collaboration between project and stakeholder groups -to facilitate presentation of results to target audiences

The WFaS conceptual framework is developed using the 'concept maps' technique (Caqas and Carff, 2005; Novak and Caqas, 2006b). Concept maps method was develop to represent knowledge in an organized way. It allows practitioners to represent concepts and specific relationships between concepts. It is flexible enough to adapt to different knowledge domains to support better understanding and communication between individuals and groups from different backgrounds.

Item Type:	Monograph (IIASA Interim Report)
Research Programs:	Water (WAT)
Bibliographic Reference:	24
Depositing User:	IIASA Import
Date Deposited:	15 Jan 2016 08:54
Last Modified:	27 Aug 2021 17:25
URI:	https://pure.iiasa.ac.at/11678

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