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The Energy-Water-Food Nexus
D L Keairns1, R C Darton2, A Irabien3
1Booz Allen Hamilton, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15146;
Annual Review of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
|March 30, 2016
Summary
Meeting global sustainable development goals requires addressing the interconnected energy, water, and food Nexus. Integrated Nexus analysis, incorporating societal and technical factors, is crucial for effective environmental and climate change adaptation strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science and Sustainability
- Systems Analysis
- Resource Management
Background:
- Growing global population and urbanization increase demand on the energy, water, and food Nexus.
- Climate change and environmental degradation pose significant threats to essential ecosystem services supporting the Nexus.
- Current consumption patterns exacerbate pressure on integrated resource systems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the need for integrated frameworks and tools for Nexus analysis.
- To emphasize the importance of stakeholder involvement in understanding Nexus issues.
- To explore the necessity of transformative social and political changes for sustainable development goals.
Main Methods:
- Application of existing techniques like computational modeling and Life Cycle Assessment.
- Development of new frameworks integrating societal and technical dimensions.
- Analysis of case studies to understand stakeholder roles and systems interrelationships.
Main Results:
- Stakeholder involvement is vital for clarifying Nexus issues, priorities, and values.
- An integrated systems view is essential for planning effective Nexus remedies.
- Existing analytical techniques need augmentation with new, integrated frameworks.
Conclusions:
- Transformative social and political change is necessary to address the Nexus.
- New structures, markets, and governance models are required for Nexus management.
- Effective Nexus governance is critical for achieving sustainable development goals.
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