A Systems-Based Approach to Analyze Environmental Issues: Problem-Oriented Innovation System for Water Scarcity Problem in Iran

Abstract

Environmental issues such as water scarcity are typically multidimensional problems, and resolving them requires a systems-based approach and socio-technical innovations. This article applies the “Problem-oriented Innovation System (PIS)” as a new approach to resolve water scarcity problem. In Iran, this has not been the case as natural water scarcity along with decades of mismanagement has turned water scarcity into a national crisis and caused several interrelated socioeconomic problems. Using case study, in this article, Iran’s water scarcity is analyzed to see how the PIS is able to help resolve this problem. Results indicate that the inefficient management and monitoring the water scarcity and lack of appropriate standardization and tariffs are the most important system failures of the water scarcity PIS in Iran. Also, the most important policy implications are moving toward decentralization in water management based on a participatory approach and establishing a national drought monitoring system.

Exploring the relationship between sustainable entrepreneurship and the United Nations sustainable development goals: A comprehensive literature review

“…Policymakers can promote entrepreneurship and sustainable business activities by providing an enabling environment for entrepreneurship, such as access to finance, training and education, and regulatory support. Moreover, policymakers can encourage sustainable business activities by providing incentives and regulations that promote environmental and social sustainability (Ghazinoory et al, 2021).…”

Investigating the Impacts of the Political System Components in Iran on the Existing Water Bankruptcy

“…In addition to a democratic structure, the necessity of establishing a polycentric [67][68][69] and decentralized administrative structure-with no major conflicts of interest between governmental institutions and agencies-is one of the necessary (and not sufficient) requirements for the proper management of water resources [19,70]. In such a structure, major water resources decisions are made solely by local governmental and public stakeholders [41], local communities, professionals, and those impacted [71] by the resources, under the extensive supervision and imposed regulations/compliances of a country-wide organization, such as the DOE.…”

“…Therefore, through the payment of costs by affected local public and stakeholders (e.g., through transparent taxation systems and water pricing), stakeholders can become more conscious and sensitive to the supply of water resources [72,73] and may comply with water-related regulations, resulting in improved management of water resources. In the governing political structure in Iran, most major decisions regarding water resources are made by the center/capital [19,[74][75][76]. Thus, due to the limited office term of the parliament members and ministers, politics plays a critical role, because the number of water resources projects is often used to show the success of the ministries or parliament members over a limited period of four or eight years.…”

“…IMSC was initially planned to be constructed in Bandar Abbas, a port city near the Persian Gulf in 1978, prior to the Islamic Revolution; however, due to intense political pressures imposed by the central government and parliament political actors, it was constructed and initiated operation in the water-scarce City of Isfahan in 1993 [83]. Overall, decentralization based on a participatory approach with no conflicts of interest between governmental agencies, extensive supervision by the DOE, and as a major policy implication, is recommended in Iran [19,70] to improve the sustainability of water resources management.…”

“…Few studies have evaluated the extent of the existing water bankruptcy and its consequences and attempted to propose technical and fundamental solutions to combat the water bankruptcy and anthropogenic desertification problems in Iran [1,5,[17][18][19]. Despite the importance of the political power structure, no study has assessed the role of political system components in Iran (on a macro-level) regarding the existing water bankruptcy.…”