Water risks and sustainable water management

Abstract

This Special Issue of Water Economics and Policy was borne out of an interest in how the research area of water resources is dealing with an increasing level of risk and uncertainty. For economics and engineering, who hold some dominance in the debate, the focus appears firmly set on insurance markets and robust infrastructure. These approaches have many limits, where a future with little to no references to the past will provide substantial challenges for all water users/managers. We find no substantial progress in the study of risk and uncertainty has taken place in order to keep up with—if not ahead of—this problem. This is disappointing, but also valuable if we take the warning our assessment provides and shift the focus of water users/managers alike. The likelihood of that warning being heeded is unfortunately little more than a pipe-dream.