The New Politics of Strategic Resources

The New Politics of Strategic Resources PDF

Author: David Steven

Publisher: Brookings Institution Press

Published: 2014-11-21

Total Pages: 375

ISBN-13: 0815725345

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Since 2008, energy and food markets—those most fundamental to human existence—have remained in turmoil. Resource scarcity has had a much bigger global impact in recent years than has been predicted, with ongoing volatility a sign that the world is only part-way through navigating a treacherous transition in the way it uses resources. Scarcity, and perceptions of scarcity, increase political risks, while geopolitical turmoil exacerbates shortages and complicates the search for solutions. The New Politics of Strategic Resources examines the political dimensions of strategic resource challenges at the domestic and international levels. For better or worse, energy and food markets are shaped by perceptions of national interest and do not behave as traditional market goods. So while markets are an essential part of any response to tighter resource supplies, governments also will play a key role. David Steven, Emily O'Brien, Bruce Jones, and their colleagues discuss what those roles are and what they should be. The architecture for coordinating multilateral responses to these dynamics has fallen short, raising questions about the effective international management of these issues. Politics impede here too, as the major powers must negotiate political and security trade-offs to cooperate on the design of more robust international regimes and mechanisms for resource security and the provision of global public goods. This timely volume includes chapters on major powers (United States, India, China) and key suppliers (Russia, Saudi Arabia). The contributors also address thematic topics, such as the interaction between oil and state fragility; the changing political dynamics of climate change; and the politics of resource subsidies.

Indian Water Policy at the Crossroads: Resources, Technology and Reforms

Indian Water Policy at the Crossroads: Resources, Technology and Reforms PDF

Author: Vishal Narain

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-01-12

Total Pages: 234

ISBN-13: 3319251848

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This book reviews and analyzes emerging challenges in water policy, governance and institutions in India. Recent times have seen the contours of water policy shaped by new discourses and narratives; there has been a pluralization of the state and a changing balance of power among the actors who influence the formulation of water policy. Discourses on gender mainstreaming and Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) are influential, though they have often remained rhetorical and difficult to put into practice. Debate over property rights reform and inter-linking of rivers has been polarized. At the same time, there has been a rising disenchantment with policy initiatives in participatory irrigation management, cleaning up of water bodies and pollution control. Fast depletion of groundwater resources and the importance of adopting new irrigation methods are getting increased focus in the recent policy dialogue. The contributors review current debate on these and other subjects shaping the governance of water resources, and take stock of new policy developments. The book examines the experience of policy implementation, and shows where important weaknesses still lie. The authors present a roadmap for the future, and discuss the potential of alternative approaches for tackling emerging challenges. A case is made for greater emphasis on a discursive analysis of water policy, to examine underlying policy processes. The contributors observe that the ongoing democratization of water governance, coupled with the multiplication of stresses on water, will create a more visible demand for platforms for negotiation, conflict resolution and dialogue across different categories of users and uses. Finally, the authors propose that future research should challenge implicit biases in water resources planning and address imbalances in the allocation of water from the perspectives of both equity and sustainability.

Water Policy Science and Politics

Water Policy Science and Politics PDF

Author: M. Dinesh Kumar

Publisher: Elsevier

Published: 2018-03-07

Total Pages: 326

ISBN-13: 0128149043

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Water Policy Science and Politics: An Indian Perspective presents the importance of politics and science working together in policymaking in the water sector. Many countries around the developed and developing world, including India, are experiencing major water scarcity problems that will undoubtedly increase with the impacts of climate change. This book discusses specific topics in India’s water, agriculture and energy sectors, focusing on scientific aspects, academic and political discourse, and policy issues. The author presents cases from the interrelated sectors of water resources, supplies, sanitation, and energy and climate, including controversial topics that illustrate how science and politics can work together. Challenges the linear and conventional approaches to water management and water policymaking in India that are also applicable in developing countries across South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa Presents best practice ideas and methods that help science and politics work together Highlights a key gap of communication between science and policy in water research, with solutions on how this can be addressed

Frontiers of Earth Science

Frontiers of Earth Science PDF

Author: K.L. Shrivastava

Publisher: Scientific Publishers

Published: 2015-01-01

Total Pages: 672

ISBN-13: 938610234X

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This book incorporate papers describing new and exciting results and timely reviews integrating an immense amount of knowledge in the field. Frontiers of Earth Science, the inter-and intra-disciplinary volume sets out to imbibes sixty selectively invited research papers from distinguished earth scientists. The volume incorporate sections on Mineral deposits, Climate Change and Environment, Remote Sensing, Stratigraphy and Palaeobiology, Petrology, Groundwater and Seismology and Tectonics. The book is an everlasting and invaluable documents and reference for academia, industry and planners specialized in the field of the Earth Science and for those who need updated information of current research. The volume will also be equally significant for advance level students and research scholars throughout the world.

Agroforestry for the Management of Waterlogged Saline Soils and Poor-Quality Waters

Agroforestry for the Management of Waterlogged Saline Soils and Poor-Quality Waters PDF

Author: Jagdish Chander Dagar

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2016-02-11

Total Pages: 214

ISBN-13: 8132226593

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Land degradation caused by salinity and waterlogging is a global problem afflicting about one billion hectares and endangering the food security of at least 75 countries. Since the social, economic and environmental costs of on and/off-farm reclamation techniques are high, agroforestry is now emerging as a potential tool, not only for arresting salinity and waterlogging, but also for other environmental services like mitigating climate change, sequestering carbon and restoring biodiversity. This publication addresses the vital issues, principles and practices related to rehabilitation using agroforestry and includes many site-specific case studies from a number of the world’s typical catchments. Written by leading researchers, the book is a must, not only for scientists whose research interests lie in soil salinity, waterlogging and poor-quality waters, but also policy makers, environmentalists, students, and educationists alike. More importantly, it contributes to reversing the salinity trends and ensuring the livelihoods of resource-poor farming families living in these harsh agro-ecosystems.