Applications for the ‘TWOWS Postgraduate Training Fellowships Programme for Women Scientists from Sub-Saharan Africa and Least Developed Countries (LDCs) at Centres of Excellence in the South’ will be accepted until 31 July 2006. Please help us spread the voice to young women scientists who may be interested in this opportunity! For more information, and to download the application form, see www.twows.org/postgrad.html.
Barnett, J. Webber, M. Wang, M. Finlayson, B. and Dickinson, D. 2006. ‘Ten Key Questions About the Human Dimensions of Water in the Yellow River Basin’, Environmental Management, 38(2): 179-188.
Abstract: Water is scarce in many regions of the world, clean water is difficult to find in most developing countries, there are conflicts between irrigation needs and urban demands, and there is wide debate over appropriate means of resolving these problems. Similarly, in China, there is limited understanding of the ways in which people, groups, and institutions contribute to, are affected by, and respond to changes in water quantity and quality. We use the example of the Yellow River basin to argue that these social, managerial, and policy dimensions of the present water problems are significant and overshadow the physical ones. Despite this, they receive relatively little attention in the research agenda, particularly of the lead agencies in the management of the Yellow River basin. To this end, we ask ten research questions needed to address the policy needs of water management in the basin, split into two groups of five. The first five relate to the importance of water in this basin and the changes that have affected water problems and will continue to do so. The second five questions represent an attempt to explore possible solutions to these problems.
GECHS Chair Karen O’Brien, along with four co-authors, has recently analyzed the wider social impacts of climate change in Europe. They have questioned the current complacency regarding climate change impacts, vulnerability, and the ability to adapt in Europe. The study, published in Ambio (Vol. 35 No. 2), concluded that greater attention needs to be paid to the social context and consequences of climate change, and to possible adaptation strategies. Download a summary.
The Environmental Change and Security Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars recently hosted GECHS SSC member Ken Conca as he presented research from his book Governing Water: Contentious Transnational Politics and Global Institution Building. Winner of the Chadwick F. Alger Prize and the Harold and Margaret Sprout Award, the book was inspired by the actions of the Itoiz protesters. Conca said: “The core question of the book is ‘What’s the relationship between this sort of contentious politics, this sort of extra-institutional disruptive politics, and our approaches to global environmental governance?’” His presentation is available online, along with video and other information about the event.
A summary of the workshop that was held in January on climate change and poverty is now available. The objective of this workshop was to discuss climate-poverty links relevant to mainstreaming adaptation to climate change into official development assistance. Participants from development agencies and academia shared experiences and information needs, including the challenges of linking scientific research on vulnerability with development projects aimed at reducing poverty.