IMAGINING JUST TRANSITIONS AROUND WATER AND THE FUTURE: TWO ACTION-RESEARCH AND SERVICE-LEARNING EXPERIENCES IN GIPUZKOA AND LATIN AMERICA

This article describes, on the one hand, research at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) aiming to facilitate spaces for connection between the public administration, the public university and the citizens of Gipuzkoa, a territory of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, with the purpose of reflecting on the challenges of the future in the short-medium term. On the other hand, it describes the creation of an International Diploma in Governance, Regulation and Integrated Water Management with the objective of strengthening the capacities of change agents who could influence the agendas of water governance and regulation in Latin America by proposing solutions to complex problems. Starting from very heterogeneous realities but with the objective that citizens develop capacities to think collectively about plausible, desirable and actionable future scenarios, we argue that these futures will only be possible within the framework of a just transition, understood as one that aims at the common good and promotes relationships based on collaborative and anticipatory governance.This article describes, on the one hand, research at the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) aiming to facilitate spaces for connection between the public administration, the public university and the citizens of Gipuzkoa, a territory of the Autonomous Community of the Basque Country, with the purpose of reflecting on the challenges of the future in the short-medium term. On the other hand, it describes the creation of an International Diploma in Governance, Regulation and Integrated Water Management with the objective of strengthening the capacities of change agents who could influence the agendas of water governance and regulation in Latin America by proposing solutions to complex problems. Starting from very heterogeneous realities but with the objective that citizens develop capacities to think collectively about plausible, desirable and actionable future scenarios, we argue that these futures will only be possible within the framework of a just transition, understood as one that aims at the common good and promotes relationships based on collaborative and anticipatory governance.