1.5 Water Scarcity Case Study

We invite you to watch the first two parts of the following Water Scarcity case study, conducted by the University of Basel.

Water Scarcity Case Study Part 1:

Water Scarcity Case Study Part 2:

In the first two parts of the case study,  you were introduced to the MontanAqua project and its context. The MontanAqua project is addressing water scarcity issues in the Swiss Alps. While you may be surprised that Switzerland faces water scarcity issues, the threat of water shortage is quite common in Crans-Montana-Sierre, a region in the Swiss Alps. In the future, the situation might even get worse. This calls for new strategies and management practices: an ideal case for transdisciplinary approaches.

Crans-Montana is one of the driest areas of Switzerland. Located in the Alps, it has faced several periods in which water became scarce. The problem is expected to intensify as climate change and various demographic developments take effect. The search for more sustainable water governance involves a group that combines scientists from various disciplines, as well as stakeholders from non-academic backgrounds.

After watching the two videos, we invite you to reflect on the following questions:

What would you consider as the main disciplines to be involved in the project, and what could be the main societal actors and actor groups to engage with? 

What may be the main challenges for the MontanAqua team to tackle the question of water scarcity in the Alps?