Urban Water Governance in Times of Multiple Stressors: An Editorial

Abstract

"This special feature on 'urban water governance' comprises seven case studies from very different settings. They all share the common feature of addressing the problem of water governance in cities and taking into account both environmental and social concerns. In addressing these issues, there is a widespread recognition of the need for integrated approaches to water governance. The term governance emerged as reaction to a previous narrow focus on government as the prime actor in shaping society. Governance implies the recognition that many more actors and structures are at play, and they interact in myriad ways. There is no universally accepted definition of governance but there is wide agreement that governance today goes beyond regulation, public management, and traditional hierarchical state activity. In addition to these traditional forms of political steering, governance emphasizes the use of novel instruments, such as voluntary and market-based approaches, and cooperative structures between state and nonstate actors from various sectors of society, including the private sector and civil society. Most often governance implies certain degrees and forms of self-regulation and cooperation among different types of actors and coalitions."