Discourse and desalination: Potential impacts of proposed climate change adaptation interventions in the Arizona–Sonora border region

McEvoy, Jamie; Wilder, Margaret

doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2011.11.001

Cited by 98 publications

(74 citation statements)

References 41 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…My analysis resonates with these critical approaches that focus on the potential social, political and economic implications that dominant frameworks of environmental change might convey to local actors. In particular, my discussion echoes some analyses of adaptation initiatives in Mexico which point out issues of inequality and power relations, and criticize the technological approach to climate change (McEvoy and Wilder 2012;Manuel-Navarrete et al 2011). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Implementation challenges of climate change adaptation initiatives in coastal lagoon communities in the Gulf of Mexico

Vázquez

2017

Maritime Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper explores some key challenges the Mexican government may face when implementing climate change adaptation initiatives in coastal lagoon communities in the Mexican state of Tabasco, in the Gulf of Mexico. I discuss some challenges state initiatives of this type may encounter considering the existence of local contentious political issues among various actors -fishers and the state-owned oil industry -that are at the core of the emergence of coastal environmental changes in the study site. A close analysis of local political, economic and environmental processes in coastal lagoon communities illustrates the existence of contentious issues among powerful actors over territory and its resources. It is in the context of these local, on the ground, issues that I argue that climate change adaptation interventions become highly political. I also argue that climate change policy analysis must be done in light of past and failed state interventions in Tabasco that have had a negative impact on ecosystems and fishers' livelihoods. My analysis of climate change adaptation initiatives and fishers' views on their local environmental problems is based on political ecology approaches to environmental narratives and critical literature on climate change.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Implementation challenges of climate change adaptation initiatives in coastal lagoon communities in the Gulf of Mexico

Vázquez

2017

Maritime Studies

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The survey results were presented during the focus group and discussed in more detail. Results from the larger research project are available in other publications [8,[27][28][29]. …”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This technology poses a conundrum to water managers who are increasingly concerned with the environmental impacts of water development and water use. On one hand, there is concern about the negative environmental impacts of this energy-intensive technology, including the impact of brine discharge and chemical pollutants on marine ecosystems, the entrapment of marine organisms during the seawater in-take process, increased emissions of greenhouse gases, and the potential for growth inducement [7,8]. The California Coastal Commission identified growth inducement as potentially the "most significant effect" of a desalination facility [2] (p. 67).…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Swyngedouw's study on the recent desalination boom in Spain concluded that desalination is "increasingly seen as a socionatural fix that permits a productivist water logic to remain the bedrock of Spain's global eco-modernization projects so that 'nothing really has to change' (di Lampedusa 1960)" [9] (p. 268). Political ecologists argue that technological fixes to environmental problems, including water scarcity, is simply a deferral of the contradictions of capitalism, which requires the exploitation of labor and natural resources to sustain growth and accumulation [8][9][10][11].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Can the Adoption of Desalination Technology Lead to Aquifer Preservation? A Case Study of a Sociotechnical Water System in Baja California Sur, Mexico

McEvoy

2015

Water

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract:There is growing concern about the sustainability of groundwater supplies worldwide. In many regions, desalination-the conversion of saline water to freshwateris viewed as a way to increase water supplies and reduce pressure on overdrawn aquifers. Using data from reports, articles, interviews, a survey, and a focus group, this paper examines if, and how, the adoption of desalination technology can lead to aquifer preservation in Baja California Sur (BCS), Mexico. The paper outlines existing institutional arrangements (i.e., laws, rules, norms, or organizations) surrounding desalination in BCS and concludes that there are currently no effective mechanisms to ensure aquifer preservation. Four mechanisms that could be implemented to improve groundwater management are identified, including: 1) integrated water-and land-use planning; 2) creation of an institute responsible for coordinated and consistent planning; 3) improved groundwater monitoring; and 4) implementation of water conservation measures prior to the adoption of desalination technology. This paper concludes that viewing water technologies, including desalination, as sociotechnical systems-i.e., a set of technological components that are embedded in complex social, political, and economic contexts-has the potential to create a more sustainable human-environment-technology relationship. By assessing desalination technology as a sociotechnical system, this study highlights the need to focus on institutional development and capacity building, especially within local water utilities and urban planning agencies.

show abstract

“…At the same time, climate change will be contributing effects on marine ecosystems and causing many problems, including changes of species. McEvoy and Wildr [133] reported the potential negative impact and/or effect of desalination and climate change on the long-term salt balance, large-scale, less pathdependent, incorporating social learning and climate change adaptation interventions [134]. Large-scale marine ecosystem and active desalination environmental research efforts are in progress on ecological quality.…”

Section: Climate Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the role of ecological indicator use in assessing the effects of desalination plants

Chang¹

2015

Desalination

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Discourse and desalination: Potential impacts of proposed climate change adaptation interventions in the Arizona–Sonora border region

Cited by 98 publications

References 41 publications

Implementation challenges of climate change adaptation initiatives in coastal lagoon communities in the Gulf of Mexico

Implementation challenges of climate change adaptation initiatives in coastal lagoon communities in the Gulf of Mexico

Can the Adoption of Desalination Technology Lead to Aquifer Preservation? A Case Study of a Sociotechnical Water System in Baja California Sur, Mexico

Understanding the role of ecological indicator use in assessing the effects of desalination plants

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About