3.9 Importance of scales and simplicity for policy implementation (feat. Christian Bréthault)

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Ecosystem Services: a Method for Sustainable Development

127 classificações

University of Geneva

Ecosystem Services: a Method for Sustainable Development

127 classificações

Ecosystem services are a way of thinking about – and evaluating – the goods and services provided by nature that contribute to the well-being of humans. This MOOC will cover scientific (technical), economic, and socio-political dimensions of the concept through a mix of theory, case-studies, interviews with specialists and a serious-game. By the end of this course, our aim is to enable you to: • define the concept of ecosystem services, its principles and limitations • understand the key services associated with any ressource (e.g., fresh water) through readings and case-studies • appreciate the advantages and potential risks of monetising ecosystem services • appreciate the social dimensions (power issues, cultural biases) embedded within any method • integrate tactical advice on mainstreaming this approach into policy and standard government practices • Optional: learn how to map ecosystem services with GIS tools The session that runs May 29th- July 10th will be actively monitored by the instructors, and learners will have the opportunity to ask questions. This course was developed by instructors from the University of Geneva with the help of numerous researchers and input from the Geneva Water Hub and the Natural Capital Project. The course was financed by the University of Geneva, the Global Programme Water Initiatives of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Luc Hoffmann Institute. This MOOC is supported by the Geneva Water Hub and the University of Geneva along with the MOOC in « Water Resources Management and Policy » (www.coursera.org/learn/water-management) and the one in « International Water Law » (www.coursera.org/learn/droit-eau). We look forward to you joining us!

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Module 3: Understanding the Normative Dimensions of Ecosystem Services

Valuing ecosystem services is a new way of thinking about nature and the environment. Such a change reflects contemporary norms and values, and speaks to contemporary trends in social, cultural, political and economic policies. In this module, you will learn about how the idea of ecosystem services was born, and get a grasp of the specific historical events, places and people who were behind it. You will also understand why it is useful to understand how this approach fits into global trends such as neoliberalism, learn to evalute how you position yourself within these normative and critical perspectives. You will reflect on whether it matters to think about the big picture, and become away of how such an approach can unexpectedly serve to perpetuate unethical or practices

3.9 Importance of scales and simplicity for policy implementation (feat. Christian Bréthault)5:33

3.10 Interview with Prof Stephanie Pincetl (UCLA)9:11

Conheça os instrutores

Martin Schlaepfer
Senior Lecturer
Institute of Environmental Sciences
Anthony Lehmann
Associate Professor
Section of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Institute for Environmental Sciences and
Juliet Jane Fall
Professor
Department of Geography and Environment, Geneva School of Social Sciences

[MUSIC]

In the previous sequence, we spoke about the question of power and justice.

I want to start with another example now to explore another level of complexity

that we need to take into account when we're thinking of ecosystem services.

Christian, you've been working on the question of governance of rivers, and

in particular, the river which is just flowing out behind us here,

off down through France to the Mediterranean, the Rhone River.

And this is an interesting example, because we've got the whole question of

scales, different countries, and the whole complexity of actors.

Can you tell us just a little bit about this case?

>> Well, so the Rhone is an international river shared by Switzerland and France,

and it is quite interesting because it's a river with a long

history where you do not have any international commission,

which is responsible for the coordination of the river.

Which means that you have a river producing different type of services with

different consumer services, different sectors of activity,

which needs to find a way to coordinate the use of the water.

It's also the use of the other services such as, for example, sediments.

How do you ensure the sediments flow across the borders?

>> Why do you want them to flow?

So it don't get stuck at the dams.

>> The dams, exactly.

>> The whole hydroelectric dams.

>> Exactly, exactly.

>> All right.

>> And just this whole issue show how difficult it is to ensure coordination

regarding the provision of services across boundaries.

When you have multiple stakeholders, multiple institutional and

regulatory frameworks.

>> So in a sense,

this is a way of thinking about the whole complexity of space.

So because sometimes when we talk about ecosystem services,

there's an assumption that there's a flat space where services just happen.

>> Yeah, exactly. >> And this example shows us how that's

actually of course more complicated then.

>> Yeah, I mean, if you're working on ecosystem services,

then you need to somehow reduce nature's complexity.

You have to try to work on what is possible to measure and to get value on.

And this shows that this is quite difficult because

face is not flat, as you say.

It's also a space where you have power relations, were you have trade-offs.

So among multiple sectors, which need a resource,

which need this different services.

>> And presumably also,the data that is going to be collected

across this complex scales, it's going to be different.

The data produced in Switzerland, or in France, or from all the different actors

is going to be also something that needs to be taken into account.

>> Yeah, giving a value to nature and

defining data in order to measure this value is very relevant.

It opens the whole discussion on how to ensure the service,

in the long-term, the whole question about sustainability.

But on the other hand,

data must be taken into account carefully, and with a critical perspective.

Data also reflect the position of different cycles,

the hypothesis, which are behind them all.

>> So who's generating the data, in a sense, their agenda?

>> Exactly, yeah.

You will have total different data if you are trying to

use the water in a productive purpose, like producing electricity.

Or if you want to use the water in order to protect environment and biodiversity.

So this production of data must be taken with a critical

perspective in the states in order to really understand what it means and

how the service is defined.

>> And so then, how you can use it in somehow balancing interests and.

>> Yeah, exactly.

Data reflects also trade-offs.

And also, power relations among different perspective of nature and on the services.

>> And so when you have an international perspective, the whole scales, so

you got the local scales, regional scales, national scales, international scales.

>> Then you have a really created complexity because you have

different regulatory frameworks,

different stakeholders, which are not necessarily coordinated.

And then you have to find a way to find coherence for this common systems, but

also to ensure a really proper coordination between the different

users with really different objectives, obviously.

Using the water for producing hydropower, you will need water at a certain time.

If you need the water to produce nuclear energy,

then you will need always the same amount of water.

So this is really two modalities of use, which are always difficult to coordinate.

>> And obviously then the actor somehow negotiate who gets to use what

water, when.

>> Exactly.

>> So in this sense, what we have to learn form this is the question of scale is

going to be crucial and that the scale is multiple levels.

And this somehow complicates the idea that services happen in a flat space.

And then again, the question of power here.

The dynamics between countries, between different actors at different levels,

in the use of a particular service.

>> Exactly. And the perspective, and

the critical perspective of data, which is also crucial.

>> Exactly. >> Related to

these different trade-offs that you'll find behind to use the different services.

>> Thank you.

>> Welcome.

[MUSIC]

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