Adapting to climate change: the social perception of voluntary water transfers in the Italian context. (2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vollaro, Michele; Zavalloni, Matteo; Raggi, Meri; Viaggi, Davide
• Is Part Of: International journal of sustainable agricultural management and informatics. Volume 1:Number 1(2015)
• Page Start: 26
• Page End: 48
• Publication Date: 2015
• Subjects: climate change -- water scarcity -- drought -- economic instruments -- policy instruments -- social sensitiveness -- social acceptability -- social perception -- voluntary water transfer -- Italy -- water management -- agriculture -- public participation -- water markets; Sustainable agriculture -- Management -- Periodicals; Sustainable agriculture -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Agricultural productivity -- Management -- Periodicals; Agricultural productivity -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Agricultural resources -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Agricultural systems -- Management -- Periodicals; Agricultural systems -- Data processing -- Periodicals; 338.1
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2054-5819

Abstract

Climate change is expected to increase the frequency of water scarcity and drought events in Italy. To respond to these challenges, water management in agriculture requires major reforms involving broad public participation. In this paper, we empirically analyse the social perception of climate change and the social acceptability of potential policy reforms of water management in the Italian context. The results show the interviewees' awareness of climate change phenomena and a common consensus on the need to improve efficiency in water management. Furthermore, a positive attitude toward engagement in water exchange mechanisms emerged along with a preference for farm-to-farm and agriculture-private exchanges. Normative and ethical inertias represent the main obstacles for the social acceptability of water markets. Research is needed to address the interactions between social acceptability, economic viability and the implementability of the proposed instruments.