PES4URBANWATER

The PES4URBANWATER project promotes innovative solutions to advance towards fairer, more resilient and sustainable urban water management. Through the analysis of payment for ecosystem services (PES) schemes, the project explores their potential as a tool to improve water quality, protect water resources and support climate change adaptation from an equity-based perspective.

The project draws on the cases of Barcelona and Melbourne to analyse how different water governance models influence the design, implementation and effectiveness of PES. To this end, PES4URBANWATER will combine public policy analysis, environmental and economic assessment, and the application of Water-Oriented Living Labs (WOLLs), an innovation and co-creation methodology aimed at the joint development of solutions between public administrations, companies, the scientific community and citizens.

The knowledge generated will be translated into strategic recommendations and decision-support tools aimed at policymakers, water authorities, water management companies and other key actors. In this way, PES4URBANWATER will contribute to building a shared understanding and vision of more effective, inclusive and evidence-based water governance models, strengthening cities’ capacity to address the challenges of climate change and move towards more sustainable urban water management.

PES4URBANWATER is developed within the framework of AuSpire programme, co-funded by the European Union.

AuSpire has received funding as a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) COFUND grant through the European Union’s Horizon Europe Research and Innovation programme under Grant Agreement number 101177949.