Integrated Water and Coastal Governance: A Comparative Study of Sustainable Policies in Leading Coastal Countries

Khajedad, Fatemeh; Dehghani, Masoud; Yghoubi, NourMohammad

doi:10.22111/jneh.2026.54958.2162

Integrated Water and Coastal Governance: A Comparative Study of Sustainable Policies in Leading Coastal Countries

Articles in Press

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

¹ PhD Candidate, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

² Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, Velayat University, Iranshahr, Iran

³ Professor of Management, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

10.22111/jneh.2026.54958.2162

Abstract

Sustainable management of water resources and coastal zones under intensifying climate change, population growth, and increasing developmental pressures requires the establishment of integrated and adaptive governance systems capable of simultaneously managing the interactions among hydrological, ecological, social, and institutional dimensions. This study aims to comparatively analyze integrated water–coastal governance models in three leading countries: Australia, the Netherlands, and Singapore. The research adopts a qualitative approach based on comparative policy and document analysis. Data were collected from peer-reviewed scientific publications, national policy documents, reports of international organizations, and official water governance sources, and were examined through comparative analysis and data triangulation. The findings reveal that Australia, through basin-oriented governance, participatory mechanisms, and adaptive management; the Netherlands, through multi-level governance, spatial planning, and nature-based solutions; and Singapore, through institutional integration, technological innovation, and full-cycle water management, have developed distinct pathways for enhancing socio-ecological resilience and achieving integrated water and coastal governance. The results further indicate that the effectiveness of governance arrangements is closely associated with the nature of dominant risks. Rapid-onset hazards, such as flooding and sea-level rise, require more centralized coordination mechanisms, whereas slow-onset challenges, including chronic water scarcity, demand participatory, learning-oriented, and adaptive governance approaches. Overall, the synergy among institutional structures, policy instruments, technological innovations, and stakeholder participation emerges as a critical factor in achieving sustainable water–coastal governance and strengthening socio-ecological resilience. The findings provide valuable insights for the design and contextual adaptation of integrated water and coastal governance frameworks in maritime countries, particularly Iran.

Keywords

Main Subjects

Coastal Management

References

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