Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living History

At a time of climate change, sea level rise, flooding, drought, and changing groundwater and rainwater patterns, water managers need to adjust their current practices and develop new approaches. Technological innovation remains a key element in adaptation and mitigation; but technological innovatio...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Carola Hein
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Stichting OpenAccess 2022-09-01
Series:Blue Papers
Online Access:https://bluepapers.nl/index.php/bp/article/view/2
_version_ 1827337696314392576
author Carola Hein
author_facet Carola Hein
author_sort Carola Hein
collection DOAJ
description At a time of climate change, sea level rise, flooding, drought, and changing groundwater and rainwater patterns, water managers need to adjust their current practices and develop new approaches. Technological innovation remains a key element in adaptation and mitigation; but technological innovation is not enough. Changing water patterns will affect everyone and every structure. How we manage water depends on local conditions, spatial and social developments and cultures as well as decisions of the past. That is why water management needs to go hand in hand with sustainable practices that are connected to the context of specific places, social systems and cultures and their changes over time. Sustainable development also requires recognizing the long-term impact of buildings and human-made structures. They may have been erected in the past for specific purposes and functions that have disappeared or are no longer welcome, yet the buildings and landscapes still exist. Sometimes they are valued cultural heritage; sometimes they are considered a nuisance, standing in the way of future development. Finally, water managers and other decision-makers may need new tools and methodologies for a holistic approach to sustainable development, which accounts for local particularities, achieves buy-in from society at large, and acknowledges historic path dependencies. As a first step toward such an approach, this chapter reflects on the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the lens of water and culture.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T18:59:58Z
format Article
id doaj.art-06db5a136eac4094a5f0910a6133d3ba
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 2950-1423
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T18:59:58Z
publishDate 2022-09-01
publisher Stichting OpenAccess
record_format Article
series Blue Papers
spelling doaj.art-06db5a136eac4094a5f0910a6133d3ba2024-03-01T15:42:40ZengStichting OpenAccessBlue Papers2950-14232022-09-011110.58981/bluepapers.2022.1.01Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living HistoryCarola Hein0Delft University of Technology At a time of climate change, sea level rise, flooding, drought, and changing groundwater and rainwater patterns, water managers need to adjust their current practices and develop new approaches. Technological innovation remains a key element in adaptation and mitigation; but technological innovation is not enough. Changing water patterns will affect everyone and every structure. How we manage water depends on local conditions, spatial and social developments and cultures as well as decisions of the past. That is why water management needs to go hand in hand with sustainable practices that are connected to the context of specific places, social systems and cultures and their changes over time. Sustainable development also requires recognizing the long-term impact of buildings and human-made structures. They may have been erected in the past for specific purposes and functions that have disappeared or are no longer welcome, yet the buildings and landscapes still exist. Sometimes they are valued cultural heritage; sometimes they are considered a nuisance, standing in the way of future development. Finally, water managers and other decision-makers may need new tools and methodologies for a holistic approach to sustainable development, which accounts for local particularities, achieves buy-in from society at large, and acknowledges historic path dependencies. As a first step toward such an approach, this chapter reflects on the UN Sustainable Development Goals through the lens of water and culture. https://bluepapers.nl/index.php/bp/article/view/2
spellingShingle Carola Hein
Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living History
Blue Papers
title Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living History
title_full Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living History
title_fullStr Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living History
title_full_unstemmed Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living History
title_short Water, Culture and the SDGs as Living History
title_sort water culture and the sdgs as living history
url https://bluepapers.nl/index.php/bp/article/view/2
work_keys_str_mv AT carolahein watercultureandthesdgsaslivinghistory