Managing the Energy-Food-Water Nexus in Developing Countries: Case Studies in Agrarian and Industrial Regimes

Abstract

levels. Globally, some 1.3 billion people lack access to electricity, over 780 million people do not have reliable access to safe drinking-water and sanitation (World Bank, 2013), and it is estimated that 805 million people experience chronic undernourishment (Food and Agriculture Organization [FAO], 2014). Furthermore, it is anticipated that demand for energy, food, and water will grow strongly in the coming half-century, driven by population growth, economic growth, shifting consumption patterns, and urbanisation. By 2050, the demand for energy is expected to increase by 80 per cent, while the demand for food will increase by 60 per cent (OECD-FAO, 2014) and the demand for water by

An Integrated Approach to Peace and Resource Security

“…The "what" of the FEW/WELF nexus can be explained by considering each of its components (e.g., water, energy, land, and food) and their synergistic interactions. The "what" of the FEW/WELF nexus recognizes the different stages in the water, energy, land, and food supply chain services and their interactions (Wakeford et al, 2015). The "what" of the nexus is about the capacity to provide these services, where capacity is understood as the "ability of individuals, organizations, or systems to perform appropriate functions effectively, efficiently, and sustainably" (Milѐn, 2001).…”

“…For instance, prioritizing using freshwater for energy production over its use for growing crops (or vice versa) has consequences that go well beyond water and energy. Not ensuring the security of one or several of the FEW/WELF resources for populations would significantly affect populations (Wakeford et al, 2015). It is also clear that the costs of inaction and mismanagement of FEW/WELF resources when faced with increasing population growth, globalization, climate change, and urbanization could create risks that would impact those at the bottom of the economic pyramid the most (Hoff, 2011).…”

“…Security of each component of the nexus and across the nexus is critical to human well-being and prosperity and peace and social stability. A question remains as to how to guarantee these positive attributes over the long term (i.e., sustainability) as the nexus components change over time and are subject to multiple risks and change drivers (socioeconomic, environmental, technological, and political), whether they are demand-side drivers related to lifestyle and demographic changes, changing diets, urbanization, industrial and technological development, trade, and globalization, or supply-side drivers related to the depletion of resources or the degradation of ecosystems (Wakeford et al, 2015). As Voulvoulis (2012) suggested, there is a need to synergistically align the security of all nexus components with each other to avoid the unintended consequences (e.g., conflict) associated with prioritizing the security of one nexus component over the others.…”