Systems thinking for the sustainability transformation of urban water systems

Several frameworks, concepts and indicators have been developed in the past decades to help policy makers and water managers improve the sustainability of urban water systems, but overall progress has been slow. Water-related challenges have been increasing, with the number of cities suffering from lack of access to safe water and sanitation expected to soar, exacerbated by population increases and dwindling availability. While it is widely acknowledged that these challenges require systemic solutions to address them in a more integrated way, the concept, in current urban water literature, remains ambiguous. Here, we examine the potential of systems thinking in addressing urban water challenges and review the shortcomings of conventional paradigms and current management practices. System thinking allows for understanding of the web of interrelations that create these challenges and rethinking assumptions about how change happens. We highlight its potential to empower policymakers, water managers, urban planners and other stakeholders to address the root causes of urban water challenges, to shape and influence the broader enabling environment and conditions for the uptake of sustainable practices leading to the sustainability transformation of urban water systems.

近数十年来，学界已开发出多种框架、概念与指标，用以辅助政策制定者与水务管理者提升城市水系统的可持续性，但整体进展仍较为缓慢。水相关挑战日益严峻，受人口增长与可用水资源量缩减的影响，面临安全饮水与卫生设施短缺问题的城市数量预计将大幅攀升。尽管学界普遍认为，此类挑战需要以更整合的系统性方案加以应对，但当前城市水领域学术文献中，相关概念仍界定模糊。本文探讨了系统思维（systems thinking）应对城市水挑战的潜力，并梳理了传统范式与现行管理实践的缺陷。系统思维能够帮助人们理解催生此类挑战的相互关联网络，并重新思考变革发生的底层假设。本文着重阐明了系统思维的应用潜力：可助力政策制定者、水务管理者、城市规划者及其他利益相关方找准城市水挑战的根源，塑造并影响更广泛的支撑环境与条件，以推广可持续实践，最终实现城市水系统的可持续转型。