Assessing Adaptive Capacity - Climate Change and Water Governance: Adaptive Capacity in Chile and Switzerland - page 269

13.1.2 Knowledge

Table 13.2 Ope rationalised indicators of adaptive capacity relating to knowledge components of the governance system with case examples
Knowledge
indicators Operationalisation Case examples

Chile Switzerland

Evaluation and
Planning

Neutrality : Objective
research and
evaluation inputs
into planning
decisions.

Inter-linkage between political and technical aspects of
water management disrupts, slows down and politicises
technical assessments and their implementation,
leading to contentions over the technical feasibility
studies (pitching private consultancy assessments
against the DGA assessments) of groundwater
sustainability, the Puntilla de Viento Dam and related
groundwater exploitation studies. Ability to create long
term plans beyond the term of one president/
administration is a challenge (e.g. IWRM plans of
Bachelet government).

Sectoral motives infiltrate studies commissioned for
the TRC; technical studies are used by both sides
to justify 'their' proposed technique for flood
management. Private engineering offices play a
large role in technical support to municipalities in
conjunction with public administrative
departments.

Reactivity/Longevity :
Development of
both short term
coping plans and
longer term
adaptation plans.

Reliance mainly on traditional/observation of rainfall
amounts to predict preparation needs for a drought the
coming summer at farm/canal level. Uncertainty
calculations and climate impacts not taken specifically
into account in planning of large projects (e.g.
Aconcagua Project).

Proactive and prophylactic approach to planning |
(10 year cycle of planning in hydropower sector;
canton and municipal ordinances on disaster
management procedures; local risk hazard
mapping) flood management plans are cantonal
and federal responsibility to be implemented at
local level (warning times are about 6-8 h).
MINERVE generates short to medium term
precipitation prognosis to forecast bad weather
events and expected water volumes to be managed.
For water supply, water quality safety systems
indicate if spring levels are reaching critically low
levels from 1 year to the next.