Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
4.2.1 Background
The proposed setting below assumes that the National Government of a particular
country is committed to a rational approach to development based on or with strong
focus on the nexus approach.
It also assumes that, after a thorough discussion process with a broad spectrum
of stakeholders, a decision was made as to:
The range of sectors and subsectors that will be included in the initial stages.
￿
The sectors that may join in the future, if not included from the onset.
￿
The geographical areas where the policies will be implemented and the different
interventions will take place.
￿
The levels of government that will lead the efforts in each sector and subsector.
￿
The institutions that will perform supporting, but critical roles like data gath-
ering, processing and analysis to improve the policies.
￿
Let us also assume that the main problems identi
ed linked to the nexus com-
ponents are:
￿
Water resources pollution
￿
Soil pollution
Flooding in urban centres
￿ Water productivity at farm level (revenue and protein productivity per unit of
water used)
￿
Furthermore, notwithstanding the imperfect understanding of all the causes
related to such problems, it has been established that some of the most critical
contributors to the current situation are:
Poor solid waste management practices, from household garbage being thrown
into creeks and streams that are consequently obstructed causing
￿
flooding
upstream and pollution downstream.
Poor solid waste disposal practices, using inappropriate dumpsites leading to
soil and aquifer pollution.
￿
Inadequate use of fertilizers and pesticides leading to water resources pollution.
￿
Resistance to change crops and production uses at farm level.
￿
Still, some questions remain like:
Once the policies are set, how will these policies be sustained in the end, beyond
political changes?
￿
￿
How will the targets be set?
￿
How will progress towards those targets be measured?
￿
How will the policies be implemented at the national, provincial and municipal
levels?
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