Stormwater management in transition: The influence of technical and governance attributes in the case of Brussels, Belgium. Issue 85 (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dobre, Catalina Codruta; Vinke-de Kruijf, Joanne; Moretto, Luisa; Ranzato, Marco
• Is Part Of: Environmental science & policy. Issue 85(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 10
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Urban stormwater management -- Alternative actions -- Sustainability transition -- Governance configuration; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Sciences de l'environnement -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Environmental sciences; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 363.70561
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2018.03.015
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1462-9011

Abstract

Highlights: Soft actions have the capacity to support and promote green actions. Alternative actions have different results, depending on who and how initiates them. Decentralised processes prevail in early stages transition in stormwater management. Collaboration between formal institutions and informal networks enhances diffusion. Abstract: Worldwide, conventional stormwater management policies and practices are under pressure due to the malfunctioning of existing urban drainage systems, population growth, urbanisation and climate change. In response to these developments, we have seen an increase in the development and uptake of alternative actions. These actions often involve physical infrastructure moving from the underground to the surface and an increase of stakeholder interactions and involvement. We draw upon the literature on transitions of socio-technical systems to understand these changes in stormwater management policies and practices in the case of a local municipality in Brussels, Belgium. Building upon previous research by Rijke et al. (2013), we assert that every transition stage (early, middle, late) can be linked to typical activities. We particularly aim to understand how a transition process is influenced by technical attributes of actions, i.e. whether they are soft, green or grey, and by governance configurations, i.e. whether actions are more centralised or decentralised and more formal or informal. In doing so, we looked into the development, implementation as well as the diffusion of alternative actions. Our results show that in the early stage of transition, soft actions, such as manuals, legislation and economic incentives, prevail. In the diffusion of actions, decentralised processes and collaboration between formal institutions and informal networks play a key role. We further found that attention should be given to preventing the alienation of civil society during diffusion processes.