A Systems-Based Approach to Analyze Environmental Issues: Problem-Oriented Innovation System for Water Scarcity Problem in Iran

AuthorMohammad Khosravi,Shohreh Nasri,Sepehr Ghazinoory
DOI10.1177/10704965211019084
Published date01 September 2021
Date01 September 2021
Subject MatterArticles
Article
The Journal of Environment &
Development
2021, Vol. 30(3) 291316
© The Author(s) 2021
Article reuse guidelines:
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DOI: 10.1177/10704965211019084
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A Systems-Based
Approach to Analyze
Environmental Issues:
Problem-Oriented
Innovation System for
Water Scarcity Problem
in Iran
Sepehr Ghazinoory
1
, Mohammad
Khosravi
1
, and Shohreh Nasri
2
Abstract
Environmental issues such as water scarcity are typically multidimensional problems ,
and resolving them requires a systems-based approach and socio-technical innovations.
This article applies the Problem-oriented Innovation System (PIS)as a new approach
to resolve water scarcity problem. In Iran, this has not been the case as natural water
scarcity along with decades of mismanagement has turned water scarcity into a national
crisis and caused several interrelated socioeconomic problems. Using case study, in this
article, Irans water scarcity is analyzed to see how the PIS is able to help resolve this
problem. Results indicate that the ineff‌icient management and monitoring the water
scarcity and lack of appropriate standardization and tariffs are the most important
system failures of the water scarcity PIS in Iran. Also, the most important policy
implications are moving toward decentralization in water management based on
a participatory approach and establishing a national drought monitoring system.
1
Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
2
National Research Institute for Science Policy, Tehran, Iran
Corresponding Author:
Sepehr Ghazinoory, Department of Information Technology Management, Tarbiat Modares University,
VXC, Tehran 23234-23456, Iran.
Email: ghazinoory@modares.ac.ir
Keywords
Problem-oriented innovation system, water resources management, water scarcity,
drought, water-related problems, systems-based water management
Introduction
Water scarcity is one of the most serious sustainability challenges facing the planet as
the World Economic Forum listed it as one of the three major global systemic risks in
the world (Hoekstra, 2014). By 2025, it is projected that 1.8 billion people will ex-
perience absolute water scarcity, and by 2050, over 40% of the worlds population will
be living in water-stressed areas, and more than 240 million people will lack access to
clean water (Russ, 2018;OECD, 2015). The Middle East, which has only 1% of the
worlds freshwater, is the region most affected by water scarcity as almost all of the
countries in this region are exposed to high or extremely high water stress (Reig et al.,
2013). In this region, Iran is also one of the countries facing water scarcity due to factors
such as geographical location, arid and semiarid climates, high levels of water
evaporation (around 70% more than of the global average), low mean annual pre-
cipitation, and high levels of water demand in domestic, industrial, and agricultural
sectors (Nazari et al., 2018). Mean annual precipitation of the country is around
250 mm
3
(Mirzaei et al., 2017), and based on the Falkenmark Index, the country is on
the brink of a water crisis (Nanoindustry, 2017). Also, the severityduration index
indicates that the eastern, northwestern, and western parts of the country are exposed to
very high drought severity (Ghadami et al., 2020).
The Department of Environment estimates the rate of groundwater use in Iran to be
three times higher than the world standard. This is due to ineff‌icient water management
rather than water scarcity. Scientif‌ic and innovative solutions in the technical and social
f‌ields might be helpful in effectively addressing the water scarcity problem. But, the key
actors on water management have historically considered only water engineering
solutions and neglected to investigate societal aspects of the problem (Nazari et al.,
2018;Rezaei et al., 2017).
On the other hand, water-related problems are typically multidimensional and trans-
sectoral, and addressing them requires innovative, emergent, and technological sol-
utions (Wehn and Mantolvo, 2018). In other words, water scarcity is a socio-technical
problem with a trans-sectoral nature that requires the development of different tech-
nologies. It also involves different structural components (such as actors, institutions,
and technical and social subsystems) with different knowledge bases. Therefore, water
management requires a systems-based approach to innovation. This approach is
recognized as an innovation systemin the innovation literature. But, the application
of this approach in water management has not been studied yet.
An innovation system applies a systems-based approach to create, disseminate, and
use knowledge and technology to create economic value. This view has opened up
a new perspective for evaluating the innovative performance of countries and their
success or failure through taking into account the behavior of actors, their interactions,
292 The Journal of Environment & Development 30(3)

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