The evolution of water governance in France from the 1960s: disputes as major drivers for radical changes within a consensual framework

Marine Colon (1) , Sophie Richard (1) , Pierre-Alain Roche (2)

1 UMR G-EAU - Gestion de l'Eau, Acteurs, Usages
2 Ministère de l'écologie de l'Energie, du Développement durable et de l'Aménagement du territoire

This paper provides a synthetic presentation of French water governance and its evolution since the 1960s. Through this French experience, it discusses the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) water governance cycle showing disputes as the main drivers of change. France has been a pioneer in introducing water river basin management some 50 years ago. It is also noted for its water services management by local authorities, leaving a significant role to private and public companies. But French water governance has not been frozen since the 1960s and continues to change radically within a framework based upon its unique history.

Mots clés: water governance; OECD governance principles; water supply and sanitation

Domaines: Gestion et management; Environnement et Société

Marine Colon, Sophie Richard, Pierre-Alain Roche. The evolution of water governance in France from the 1960s: disputes as major drivers for radical changes within a consensual framework. Water International, 2018, The OECD Principles on Water Governance: from policy standards to practice, 43 (1), pp.109-132. ⟨10.1080/02508060.2018.1403013⟩. ⟨hal-01668129⟩