Resources, Services and Risks

This book discusses the role of observatories in supporting§evidence-based decision-making. The book focuses on issues of data accessibility,§monitoring frameworks and governance processes with regard to environmental§resources - water, soil and waste. This publication highlights challenges related to policy-implementation§measures and examines current monitoring approaches, and illustrates how the§UNU-FLORES Nexus Observatory seeks to overcome concerns related to data,§monitoring and governance of water, soil and waste resources. In particular,§given that extreme weather events such as droughts and floods are predicted to§become more frequent in the future, it discusses the need for improved hazard§risk monitoring. It proposes risk indices for drought and floods, which measure§exposure and vulnerability to the phenomena through a multitude of§bio-physical, socio-economic and institutional indicators. Furthermore, the§potential for using openly accessible data made available through observatories§in decision-making aimed at improving food security is also discussed. It acknowledges§governments as key players in environmental resource management, and recognizes§that decentralization reforms, as well as the emergence of information and§communication technologies, have significantly changed the role of governments§in promoting sustainable development. The book is particularly§relevant for decision-makers, donor agencies, practitioners and students with§an interest in environmental management who are also keen followers of§discussions on the post-2015 monitoring agenda.§