Developing and applying water security metrics in China: experience and challenges

In recent years the 'water security' concept has gained both increased public profile and also traction in policy-making circles in China. Moreover its strategic significance for the country has been more frequently addressed by central government. Indicators characterizing the major components of water security, such as socio-economic conditions, water resources, water environment, and aquatic ecosystems, have been used to develop composite metrics and measure China's progress towards water security at different spatial scales including national, provinces, cities, and river basins since the early 2000s. Aiming at providing sound decision-making, however, there are still critical methodological challenges to this now well-established practice - for example, the selection, banding and aggregation of indicators, and consideration of stakeholder participation.