The special session took place on May 21, 2021 and was organized for the IASC 2021 Water Commons Virtual Conference. It was moderated by
Dr Fan Mingxuan and the panelists were
Dr Corinne Ong,
Dr Joost Buurman,
Dr Maki Nakajima and
Dr Hoon Cheol Shin.
From irrigation and rural livelihood to growing urban water demand and increasing floods, the challenges we face on climate change and water security are diverse and complex. Therefore, the research on water crises and the corresponding polices involve a wide range of disciplines and methods. In this session, we focus on showcasing selected research methods.
Empirical Analysis: Real-time information through Automated Meter Readers may encourage water conservation. This study empirically evaluates one such program in Singapore. Using survey data and a Difference-in-Differences method, it finds that the use of AMR App lowers water consumption in both short-term (3 months) and long-term (12 months).
Choice Experiment: Investments in climate adaptation require careful evaluation. This study uses a Choice Experiment to assess people’s willingness to pay for measures that protects Singapore against increasing flooding risks due to climate change. It shows that while Choice Experiments may not provide a precise value, they do provide a clear indication of people’s preferences.
Experimental Games: How can serious games be used for influencing and assessing changes in individuals’ climate adaptation behaviours? This experiment introduces, within a virtual scenario-based game, tactical messages to influence individual water consumption during a drought. The results substantiate the efficacy of in-game tactical messages in influencing consumption, suggesting the utility of serious games in sensitizing individuals to the issue of climate adaptation.
Qualitative Comparative Analysis: Sustaining shared irrigation systems is critical to global food security as well as local livelihoods. However, rural out-migration has threatened sustainable governance of the systems that require labour mobilization for collective maintenance. This study conducts a fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis of 62 irrigation communities in China. Results indicate that irrigation governance types can affect the configurations of socioeconomic and biophysical conditions that are likely to make irrigation communities more robust to out-migration.