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This UFCOP Knowledge Note outlines key principles for flood risk management in river basins, that can be adapted for use by policymakers and project managers alike. It draws on a wide range of best practice case studies globally, where flood risk at the river basin scale has been well managed.

Environment --- Flood Control --- Hazard Risk Management --- Natural Disasters --- River Basin Management --- Urban Development --- Water Resources

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This research focuses on incorporating a representation of water supply and infrastructure costs into an energy systems model (SATIM-W) to better reflect the interdependent nature of the energy-water nexus in South Africa and the water supply challenges facing the energy system. The research methodology developed embeds the various water supply options in a least cost optimization energy planning tool, so that the cost of water is captured. A key feature of the developed SATIM-W model is that it regionalizes power generaation, refining, and energy resource supply, thereby introducing a spatial dimension to the water demands of the energy sector. It also contains a regionalized structure of the basins and delivery infrastructure that would be required to supply the energy sector and assesses the impact of meeting those needs on the cost of supplying water. The results of this investigation demonstrate the process and type of tools that can be employed to examine the energy-water nexus in a national level planning context, and the insights that can be gained from water-smart energy planning. A number of relevant policy scenarios in South Africa were explored, and the results show that specific energy sector policies can have significant implication for both new investment in water supply infrastructure and in some cases can lead to stranded energy and water investments, reinforcing the importance of planning these sectors through a nexus approach. This case study is the first time the cost of water supply has been assessed in a sector wide energy supply expansion plan. By documenting the methodology, the authors aim to help energy sector planners and modelers properly incorporate water constraints in their work.

Electric Power --- Energy --- Energy and Environment --- Energy Consumption --- Environment --- River Basin Management --- Water Resources --- Water Resources Management

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River and basin management covers various factors, including disaster management, river water use, and conservation of the river environment. Any of these factors involves a number of intricately intertwined stakeholders who may have different needs. Over time, efforts to manage water-related disasters in Japan have led to the concept of integrated river basin management and to a mechanism allowing central management of river basins by river management authorities. These attempts to promote more advanced integrated management of river basins have provided the foundation of social and economic development in Japan today. The collected hydrological data and forecast information are used by river management authorities themselves and also delivered to municipalities, fire and police authorities, and the Self-Defense Forces in an effort to prevent disasters from occurring, assist residents in evacuating safely, and provide emergency response quickly. At present, hydrological information is used for operating and managing structures such as dams and water gates, monitoring unusual events during floods, and forecasting inundation. This is widely shared by local governments, which make decisions on evacuation orders and advisories; organizations that support disaster management efforts of local governments; government headquarters for disaster control, which are activated in case of large-scale disasters; organizations that operate lifeline utilities (e.g., electric power, gas) and traffic infrastructure (e.g., expressway, railway); and mass media.

Climate Change --- Climate Change and Environment --- Environment --- Hydrology --- Natural Disasters --- River Basin Management --- Water --- Water Policy & Governance --- Water Resources --- Water Resources Management

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Rapid urbanisation is taking place at an unprecedented rate throughout the world, with the rate of growth often outpacing urban planning and the capacity of city managers. As a result, existing natural areas within cities,which provide a range of benefits to urban dwellersare becoming smaller and degraded, and problems such as flooding, air pollution and water pollution are becoming worse in many places. African cities often lackthe resources to deal with these problems. However, anumber of studies have suggested that investing in the maintenance or restoration of natural infrastructurein many cases may not only address given problems at comparable or lower cost than conventional engineering projects, but also generate multiple additional benefits that ultimately translate into cost savings and increased human wellbeing. Meanwhile, great strides have been made in the design of sustainable mechanisms to deal with urban environmental issues, stormwater flows and the attendant pollution problems, and management and planning of cities is increasingly taking a holistic approach that includes the use and conservation of semi-natural and natural areas within cities as part of a green urban development strategy. One of the challenges of green urban development will be to findthe right balance between ecological infrastructure(natural systems), "green" = environmentally friendly)built infrastructure, and conventional ("grey") built infrastructure. Dar es Salaam, located on Africa's Indian Ocean Coast,faces a multitude of environmental problems. Prominent among them is the problem of flooding in and around the city centre, which frequently brings the city to a standstill, as well as causing infrastructural damage. Many factors have contributed to this problem, including unplanned informal settlements in the upper catchment and floodplain areas, a lack of drainage and a lack of solid waste management. The impacts of flooding are also exacerbated by high levels of pollution in the rivers, which increases the risks associated with flooding. In consultations for this study, stakeholders in Dar esSalaam identified the Msimbazi River as being amongthe most degraded ecosystems in the city and also the source of the most serious flooding problems. The aim of the study was to explore the potential costs and benefits of undertaking a green urban development approach, including catchment-to-coast restoration measures, to ameliorate flood risk in the Msimbazi Rivercatchment.

City Development Strategies --- Decentralization --- Environment --- Flood Control --- Green Issues --- National Urban Development Policies & Strategies --- Public Sector Governance --- Rainfall --- River Basin Management --- Urban Development --- Urban Environment --- Water Resources --- Water Resources Management --- Watershed Management

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The connections between water, food and energy are currently being discussed more than ever before, thanks to the recently emerged concept of the water–energy–food security nexus. Various organizations and authors have defined and addressed the concept from their own view points: nexus is, indeed in the air. This Special Issue looks at the water–energy–food security nexus in the context of large Asian river basins, with a focus on transboundary rivers shared by several countries. The articles included in the Special Issue analyse what benefits the nexus approach could bring to these kinds of, often quite demanding, settings. And where are the potential pitfalls that call for further development. The thematic areas covered in the Special Issue thus include water resources management; energy planning and policies with an emphasis on hydropower; and food production systems, including fisheries, irrigation and cropland management. Due to its focus on transboundary contexts, the articles also look at the geopolitical, international cooperation and security aspects related to the nexus. The articles of the Special Issue include case studies from relevant transboundary river basins, with a focus on the Mekong River Basin in Southeast Asia as well as the river basins in Central Asia. Articles also include a comparative analysis in several large Asian river basins as well as more theoretical discussions of the water–energy–food security nexus and its linkages to other framings and approaches, such as IWRM and sustainable development.

water security --- water resources management --- transboundary rivers --- benefit sharing --- Central Asia --- transboundary water–energy–food nexus --- Southeast Asia --- Mekong --- Asia --- water–energy–food nexus --- river basin management --- China --- food security --- water governance --- water–energy–food security nexus --- energy security --- water security --- water resources management --- transboundary rivers --- benefit sharing --- Central Asia --- transboundary water–energy–food nexus --- Southeast Asia --- Mekong --- Asia --- water–energy–food nexus --- river basin management --- China --- food security --- water governance --- water–energy–food security nexus --- energy security