289
17.4.4 MWEPs as Coupled Technical-Social-Environmental
Systems
Technical solutions such as MWEPs are attractive for decision-makers because
they promise high gains, which can be harvested in manageable timescales.
Benefi ts can be expected within a short period after the construction phase is
completed. This is in contrast to institutional transformation processes, which
usually require longer planning, longer implementation and longer evaluation
phases. Commonly overlooked when planning MWEPs are not only often
“neglected values” like ecosystem and societal impacts but also their systemic
rebound effects, their irreversibility and their effects on coupled systems. Coupled
systems are characterised by high- complexity and self-organising structures leading to emergent phenomena. Such self-organising structures are illustrated by
new system properties, which cannot be understood from the properties of the
single component (Helbing 2014 ). Not only in socio-economic systems but also
in ecosystems, complexity leads to emerging systemic risks. Especially in conditions of uncertainty, incomplete information or even a basic lack of knowledge,
one has to be aware of the fragility of complex (eco)systems. Furthermore,
MWEPs create path dependencies, which limit the available range of choices for
future generations, and therefore pose ethical questions. On the other hand we can
use the self-organising, adaptive nature of the coupled systems to reach favourable system behaviours, which are robust to external disruptions and align to
changing conditions (Helbing 2010 ).
From the perspective of coupled systems, the planning, regulation and use of
MWEPs should respect the following:
Further research is needed to develop methods, models, tools and decisionsupport systems for coupled systems, which have stochastic characteristics. We
underline the necessity for an interdisciplinary research approach to answer the
pressing questions of a complex world.
• Considering not only aspects of uncertainty (where probabilities can be
defi ned), but a lack of knowledge
• Applying the precautionary principle
• Developing alternatives especially in the case of contingent events
• Using modelling tools (e.g. agent-based modelling) and analytical tools
(e.g. network analysis) that explicitly address complexity
• Establishing favourable system attributes, which are robust to external disruptions and adaptive to changing conditions
17 Lessons Learnt, Open Research Questions and Recommendations
17.4.4 MWEPs as Coupled Technical-Social-Environmental
Systems
Technical solutions such as MWEPs are attractive for decision-makers because
they promise high gains, which can be harvested in manageable timescales.
Benefi ts can be expected within a short period after the construction phase is
completed. This is in contrast to institutional transformation processes, which
usually require longer planning, longer implementation and longer evaluation
phases. Commonly overlooked when planning MWEPs are not only often
“neglected values” like ecosystem and societal impacts but also their systemic
rebound effects, their irreversibility and their effects on coupled systems. Coupled
systems are characterised by high- complexity and self-organising structures leading to emergent phenomena. Such self-organising structures are illustrated by
new system properties, which cannot be understood from the properties of the
single component (Helbing 2014 ). Not only in socio-economic systems but also
in ecosystems, complexity leads to emerging systemic risks. Especially in conditions of uncertainty, incomplete information or even a basic lack of knowledge,
one has to be aware of the fragility of complex (eco)systems. Furthermore,
MWEPs create path dependencies, which limit the available range of choices for
future generations, and therefore pose ethical questions. On the other hand we can
use the self-organising, adaptive nature of the coupled systems to reach favourable system behaviours, which are robust to external disruptions and align to
changing conditions (Helbing 2010 ).
From the perspective of coupled systems, the planning, regulation and use of
MWEPs should respect the following:
Further research is needed to develop methods, models, tools and decisionsupport systems for coupled systems, which have stochastic characteristics. We
underline the necessity for an interdisciplinary research approach to answer the
pressing questions of a complex world.
• Considering not only aspects of uncertainty (where probabilities can be
defi ned), but a lack of knowledge
• Applying the precautionary principle
• Developing alternatives especially in the case of contingent events
• Using modelling tools (e.g. agent-based modelling) and analytical tools
(e.g. network analysis) that explicitly address complexity
• Establishing favourable system attributes, which are robust to external disruptions and adaptive to changing conditions
17 Lessons Learnt, Open Research Questions and Recommendations