Governança da água com aprendizagem social em contextos de escassez hídrica

Abstract

The thesis argues that contemporary water governance is facing a critical turning point: either evolving toward adaptive and socially inclusive models that recognize territorial specificities, or continuing to operate as a mechanism that centralizes resources and power. The thesis is structured around scientific articles addressing drought risk management, the evolution of water governance regimes through social learning in contexts of water scarcity, and the feasibility of the green hydrogen (H2V) industry. Article 1 explored the advances and challenges associated with incorporating climate risk management into water resources management in the State of Ceará, located in Brazil’s semi-arid region. The findings indicate that the evolution of water resources management began with efforts to increase water availability through the construction of reservoirs and the interconnection of river basins, followed by the gradual consolidation of water allocation meetings involving multiple water uses and stakeholders. The study contributes by adapting a climate risk management framework structured around the stages of mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery, while incorporating governance responsibilities across federal, state, and municipal levels. These governance arrangements trigger short-, medium-, and long-term actions to address extreme hydrological events. The results suggest that effective climate risk management requires strengthening water resources governance through enhanced social participation. Article 2 examined how shortcomings in the design of water governance and social learning processes affect regional development. The findings indicate the consolidation of a vicious cycle that favors the development of the metropolitan region at the expense of the state’s inland areas. By understanding how social learning can sustain existing water governance arrangements and perpetuate this vicious cycle, the study highlights the need for a governance model that enables a more equitable distribution of water resources, thereby advancing the socioeconomic development of vulnerable regions in the Global South. Article 3 analyzed the role of governance modes in promoting inclusive regional development, using as its empirical focus a comparison between water governance models in Brazil and Chile within the context of green hydrogen (H2V) expansion. A qualitative approach based on a comparative case study was adopted. The findings revealed a predominance of hierarchical and network governance characteristics across the cases investigated. These results demonstrate that governance structures constitute an essential mechanism for fostering inclusive regional development through the incorporation of hybrid governance arrangements centered on collaboration and public–private partnerships. Rather, achieving inclusive regional development requires a combination of governance modes capable of aligning green hydrogen development with water security objectives. The thesis contributes to both managerial practice and theory by demonstrating how social learning processes shape institutional arrangements and interactions among stakeholders in contexts of water scarcity. By articulating proactive drought climate risk management, the evolution of water governance regimes through learning processes, and the potential impacts of the green hydrogen (H2V) industry, the study highlights the potential of public policies to overcome barriers to the transition toward more inclusive governance models that recognize local specificities, while avoiding vicious cycles that create institutional arrangements centered on the concentration of resources and power. Furthermore, the thesis advances water governance studies by recognizing social learning as a central mechanism in reconfiguring actor interactions and institutional relationships within governance regimes constructed in response to wicked problems related to water and regional development.