The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin
Droughts are intensifying in many mid-latitude river basins due to climate change; therefore understanding the influence of droughts on water policy is crucial. This study of the politics of water reforms in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) analyses contrasting discourses of water security d...
| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Water Alternatives Association
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Water Alternatives |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol14/v14issue3/644-a14-3-7/file |
| _version_ | 1818909065540009984 |
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| author | Jason Alexandra Lauren Rickards |
| author_facet | Jason Alexandra Lauren Rickards |
| author_sort | Jason Alexandra |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Droughts are intensifying in many mid-latitude river basins due to climate change; therefore
understanding the influence of droughts on water policy is crucial. This study of the politics of water reforms in
Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) analyses contrasting discourses of water security during the Millennium
Drought (1996-2010). The paper traces the historical evolution, mobilisation and effects of three discourses defined
as 'drought-proofing', 'higher value use' and 'river restoration'. These are broadly aligned with engineering,
economics and ecological perspectives, and while all discourses were integrated into government responses to the
drought, the resurgence of drought-proofing significantly altered policy settings intended to shift MDB water
management onto a more sustainable path. The paper illustrates the political and physical conditioning of water
policy, placing drought responses in their historical context. The analysis demonstrates how policy actors used
discourses of water security to define normative goals and legitimise policies, particularly when climatic extremes
provide opportunities to influence policy outcomes. The paper provides three key insights for water governance
and climate adaptation: first, drought responses can have far-reaching effects for water governance and policy
trajectories; second, droughts pose challenges to positive climate adaptation when they revitalise heroic droughtproofing initiatives; and third, understanding the historical roots of contemporary drought responses is vital for
effective climate adaptation. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:20:59Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a9d780ab8d4448e4b3ce1c86805582ef |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1965-0175 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T22:20:59Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Water Alternatives Association |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Water Alternatives |
| spelling | doaj.art-a9d780ab8d4448e4b3ce1c86805582ef2022-12-21T20:03:37ZengWater Alternatives AssociationWater Alternatives1965-01752021-10-01143773794The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling BasinJason Alexandra0Lauren Rickards1RMIT University RMIT, Melbourne, AustraliaDroughts are intensifying in many mid-latitude river basins due to climate change; therefore understanding the influence of droughts on water policy is crucial. This study of the politics of water reforms in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin (MDB) analyses contrasting discourses of water security during the Millennium Drought (1996-2010). The paper traces the historical evolution, mobilisation and effects of three discourses defined as 'drought-proofing', 'higher value use' and 'river restoration'. These are broadly aligned with engineering, economics and ecological perspectives, and while all discourses were integrated into government responses to the drought, the resurgence of drought-proofing significantly altered policy settings intended to shift MDB water management onto a more sustainable path. The paper illustrates the political and physical conditioning of water policy, placing drought responses in their historical context. The analysis demonstrates how policy actors used discourses of water security to define normative goals and legitimise policies, particularly when climatic extremes provide opportunities to influence policy outcomes. The paper provides three key insights for water governance and climate adaptation: first, drought responses can have far-reaching effects for water governance and policy trajectories; second, droughts pose challenges to positive climate adaptation when they revitalise heroic droughtproofing initiatives; and third, understanding the historical roots of contemporary drought responses is vital for effective climate adaptation.https://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol14/v14issue3/644-a14-3-7/filewater securitywater politicsdroughtclimate change adaptationdiscoursemurray-darling basinaustralia |
| spellingShingle | Jason Alexandra Lauren Rickards The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin Water Alternatives water security water politics drought climate change adaptation discourse murray-darling basin australia |
| title | The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin |
| title_full | The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin |
| title_fullStr | The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin |
| title_full_unstemmed | The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin |
| title_short | The contested politics of drought, water security and climate adaptation in Australia’s Murray-Darling Basin |
| title_sort | contested politics of drought water security and climate adaptation in australia s murray darling basin |
| topic | water security water politics drought climate change adaptation discourse murray-darling basin australia |
| url | https://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc/articles/vol14/v14issue3/644-a14-3-7/file |
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