Systems thinking for water security

Water security covers a wide range of issues and risks to people, the natural built environment, economy, interactions between these. This breadth creates an interconnected complexity potential for perceived intractability. Tackling water meaningfully therefore requires judgement in balancing holistic nature with reductionist understanding key processes elements. paper demonstrates that systems thinking can be adapted achieve this through different framings security, tailored local context. Through four case studies, we show how has been applied fit contextual analysis management multiple issues. We approach dissolved disciplinary sectoral silos; changed spatial scale at which is addressed; improved data acquisition better understand relationships sub-systems; integrated socio-ecological justice power more traditional bio-physical understandings security. important step towards turning into transformation making concept actionable accessible policy, planning, practice.