Water Ethics in Practice
David Groenfeldt, Director Water-Culture Institute 14 March, 2012 [email protected]
Outline of this Presentation
1.Orientation to Water Ethics (WHY)
1.Domains of Water Ethics (WHERE / WHEN)
1.Categories of Water Ethics (WHAT)
1.Practical Application of Ethics to Water (HOW / WHO)
1. Orientation to Water Ethics
Water Ethics = Values that define how we ought act…
in relation to water and water ecosystems
In relation to people (with regard to water)
In relation to God (religious view)
Ethics are intrinsic to water decisionsDecisions have a value dimension
Values/ethics are sometimes explicit but usually implicit
Two basic approaches to working with ethicsDESCRIBE the values/ethics that are operating in a given
country, community, project, basin, etc.
PRESCRIBE the values/ethics that should be adopted in order to meet certain goals (usually “sustainability”)
2. Domains of Water Ethics
2.1 Managing Water EcosystemsRivers, lakes, wetlands
Aquifers
2.2 Managing Water UseAgriculture
Urban / domestic
Industrial
2.3 Managing Water GovernanceParticipation
Equity
2.1 Ethical Choices in Ecosystem Management
Physical Manipulation Channel straightening (Rhine, Rio Grande)
Levees (“Room for Rivers”)
Dams and reservoirs (Mekong)
Impacts to Flow Regime / QuantityEnvironmental Flow concepts (Santa Fe River; TNC Water
Funds)
Impacts to Water Quality (Territ’Eau)
Water quality standards
Principle of “Polluter pays”
2.2 Ethics of Water Use
Agriculture (agro-system services)Culture heritage
Social welfare (health, nutrition, employment)
Environmental sustainability
Urban / Domestic Water conservation / reuse
Access (Human right to water & sanitation)
Industrial / ExtractiveWater footprints (quantity and quality)
Community stewardship
Cross-sectoral allocationIWRM
2.3 Ethics of Water Governance
IrrigationFarmer/community participation (PIM – INWEPF)
Water Supply and SanitationHuman right to water/sanitation (Butterfly Effect)
Local vs centralized systems (Eau Vive – Mali)
Watersheds and River BasinsRiver Basin Approaches (WFD, Wladir River Commission)
Community Watershed Groups (Jal Bhagirathi Foundation)
3. Categories of Water Ethics
Social EthicsEquity and empowerment
Right to water, sanitation and health
Cultural EthicsRespect for cultural diversity and customary rights
Cultural heritage and identity
Economic EthicsFrugality and productivity
Economic security
Environmental EthicsEcosystem restoration
Rights of Nature
4. Applying Ethics to Water Management
4.1 Concept / Theory
4.2 Ethics in the Water Solutions
4.3 Ethics in the Green Economy
4.4 Conclusions about Applying Ethics
4.1 How Can Ethics Be Used in Practice?
Motivate ActionSymbols of religion, economics, or other shared goals
Build Consensus / Resolve ConflictsIdentify and clarify shared values
Set the framework for governancePrinciples underlying laws and regulations
Education and knowledge managementEthics as a type of knowledge about water
4.2 Ethics in the Water Solutions
Explicit Use of EthicsEducation and awareness-raising
Social and environmental solutions
Implicit Use of EthicsSetting goals / objectives
Planning / Defining the problem>Territ’Eau Framework for pollution control>Providing drinking water (Gunfus project)>Developing planning capacity
Consensus-building / mediation
4.3 Water Ethics in the Green Economy:An Alternative to “Payment for Ecosystem Services”
“Payment” is a management toolLet’s call it “management” instead of “payment”
“Ecosystem services” are defined through a lens of cultural values (ethics)
Which services are given priority? (a cultural and ethical judgment)
Integrate the management of ecosystem services with the management of other benefit categories (social, cultural)
Let’s call these benefits “ethical services”
“Management for Ethical Services” = MES
4.4 Conclusions: Quoi Faire?
Make the ethics explicit;
Describe and analyze
Promote “ethics” as a factor in water management;
Develop tools;For analyzing ethicsFor using ethics (mediation, decision-making)
Facilitate a learning process
Water Ethics Network (http://waterethics.org)