Unlikely Innovators’ Adapt to Climate Change: Transforming Water Utilities in Oklahoma

Water utilities are central actors in water systems, controlling many of the components that make up the water regime. They can therefore influence the extent to which a water system transitions to a more sustainable or flexible state in response to external risks attributable to climate, policy or economic changes, or to address internal system vulnerabilities such as supply shortages or aging infrastructure. This project examined the rate of water system change as influenced by the rate of innovation that occurs within water utilities. The project team conducted interviews with Oklahoma water utilities to assess both these external and internal factors.

Publications:

Widener J, Gliedt T, Hartman P, 2017, “Visualizing dynamic capabilities as adaptive capacity for municipal water governance” Sustainability Science, 12(2), 203-219

Hartman P, Gliedt T, Widener J, Loraamm R W, 2017, “Dynamic capabilities for water system transitions in Oklahoma” Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 25, 64-81