http://hdl.handle.net/10451/3212 2013-05-25T04:43:36Z 2013-05-25T04:43:36Z Stigter, Tibor Bento, Sofia Varanda, Marta Pedro Nunes, João Pedro Hugman, Rui http://hdl.handle.net/10451/8347 2013-04-19T17:05:21Z 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Combined assessment of climate change and socio-economic development as drivers of freshwater availability in the South of Portugal Authors: Stigter, Tibor; Bento, Sofia; Varanda, Marta Pedro; Nunes, João Pedro; Hugman, Rui Abstract: A combined assessment of the potential impacts from climate change (CC) and socio-economic development (SED) on water resources is presented for a large aquifer in the south of Portugal, under large pressures from water consuming and contaminating activities. We aim to understand how this may further be aggravated by CC and SED, particularly for agriculture, the largest water consumer in the region. Short-term (2020-2050) and long-term (2070-2100) CC scenarios were developed and used to build aquifer recharge and crop water demand scenarios, using different models and methods to account for uncertainty. SED scenarios were developed using a number of techniques, and discussed at workshops with farmers and institutional stakeholders in the water sector. Groundwater use was quantified for each scenario and then integrated with the CC scenarios. They were run through a calibrated groundwater flow model, to study their individual and joint impacts on water levels and discharge rates into the bordering coastal estuary where relevant freshwater dependent wetlands exist. Recharge scenarios show clearly negative long-term trends, but high uncertainties in the short-term. Scenario SED1 predicting intensification and decline of small farms, considered by stakeholders to be most likely, shows a large drop in agricultural area and water demand. SED2, the most desired scenario, foresees growth and modernization of agriculture, but could be unsustainable in combination with CC. The joint analysis of CC and SED revealed to be challenging but useful. It involved the use of different methods across the border between natural and social sciences, aiming to contribute to transdisciplinary water management.

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z Varanda, Marta Bento, Sofia http://hdl.handle.net/10451/8278 2013-04-12T16:46:27Z 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Scientists and stakeholders: can two separate worlds be joined for sustainable water management? Authors: Varanda, Marta; Bento, Sofia Abstract: According to the International Council for Science, science should be developed for the benefit of all. In face of complex environmental problems and of a need for the sustainable management of water, answers are increasingly requested from science. A science that can face such challenge must be constructed in cooperation with policy makers and society (hence enlarging the traditional scientific sphere), and its product must be effectively linked to policy. However, these new forms of science production always raise a number of obstacles: differences in interests, incentives and languages among these actors. These obstacles are further increased when the scientific issues are of low social relevance, which is the case with climate change. This paper focuses a set of scientific projects financed by Circle–Med programme which dealt with management of hydrological resources in the Mediterranean region in a context of climate change. In this call, a strong appeal was made for research to be pursued in collaboration with local stakeholders and for the interdisciplinary of teams, as to include social science researchers. After the analysis of research projects’ documents and interviews to coordinators, we conclude that the liaison to stakeholders has a very secondary role (and is often not even considered) in the scientific outputs. The current organization of science and public administration, as well as its under financing and focus on short term goals, was unanimously considered to be strong deterrents of the collaboration of science and society.

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z Tulumello, Simone, 1982- http://hdl.handle.net/10451/8047 2013-03-22T18:43:57Z 2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Title: Fortificazione residenziale e sviluppo urbano a Palermo Authors: Tulumello, Simone, 1982-

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z Mourato, João Morais, 1975- http://hdl.handle.net/10451/7996 2013-03-15T14:54:30Z 2013-03-01T00:00:00Z

Title: The functional gap: a reflection on the limits to institutional capital Authors: Mourato, João Morais, 1975- Abstract: Functional regions have earned a growing relevance in EU documents and proposed regulations for the EU financial framework for 2014-2020. In fact, the European Commission proposals for the five Funds of the Common Strategic Framework, as well as several other strategic documents, let believe that the concept of functional region may be an important tool in the design and implementation of some instruments of EU cohesion, rural development and even specific sectoral policies in the 2014-2020 financial programming period. The use of functional regions, as a policy tool, brings along a large set of challenges that test the limits of the institutional capital of the territories where they will be implemented. In this paper we will expand on the institutional constraints and capacity gaps that may emerge in the face of the use of functional regions as a policy concept and forward a set of pre-emptive guidelines towards an institutional environment that will better accommodate partnership-based functional policies.; As regiões funcionais ganharam crescente importância nos documentos e propostas de regulamento da preparação do quadro financeiro da União Europeia para 2014-2020. De facto, as propostas da Comissão para os cinco fundos do Quadro Estratégico Comum, e outros documentos estratégicos, deixam antever que o conceito de região funcional pode ser importante no desenho e implementação de alguns instrumentos da política de coesão, desenvolvimento rural e até de algumas políticas sectoriais no período de programação financeira de 2014-2020. O uso das regiões funcionais, como instrumento de política pública, testa os limites do capital institucional dos territórios onde serão implementadas. Neste artigo iremos debater os obstáculos institucionais e lacunas de capacitação que podem emergir do uso das regiões funcionais e iremos sugerir algumas linhas de orientação para a construção de um ambiente institucional mais acolhedor de políticas públicas funcionais.

2013-03-01T00:00:00Z