{"id":951,"date":"2026-03-09T12:43:37","date_gmt":"2026-03-09T12:43:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/?page_id=951"},"modified":"2026-05-05T14:00:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-05T13:00:15","slug":"water-energy-food-ecosystems-nexus","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/gwpo-gwp.org\/mediterranean\/work-areas\/thematic-areas-and-key-projects\/water-energy-food-ecosystems-nexus\/","title":{"rendered":"Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystems Nexus"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How to deliver water, energy and food for all in a sustainable and equitable way, while preserving the health of natural ecosystems that form the basis of any economic activity? The Nexus approach moves beyond traditional sectoral thinking in order to achieve overall security and sustainability of all resources.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Interlinkages between water-energy-food-ecosystems<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Nexus approach stems from the realization that water, energy, agriculture and natural ecosystems exhibit strong  interlinkages (see Table 1), and that under a traditional sectoral approach, attempting to achieve resource security independently often endangers sustainability and security in one or more of the other sectors. Under the Nexus approach, interlinkages, synergies and trade-offs are analysed, with the aim of identifying solutions, fostering water-food-energy security and efficiency, and reducing impacts and risks on water-dependent ecosystems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Capturing synergies and managing trade-offs<\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Nexus approach allows the analysis of interlinkages between sectors, in order to reap positive synergies and to effectively manage trade-offs. This is done by adopting an integrated and coordinated approach across sectors, with a view to reconcile potentially conflicting interests, as sectors compete for the same scarce resources, all the while capturing existing opportunities and exploring emerging ones. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For example, a large hydropower plant provides benefits by producing electricity, providing water storage for irrigation and urban uses, and mitigating flood effects. However, this can have negative effects for downstream ecosystems and coastal zones, including flooding of agricultural land, or resettling of communities. Similarly, using irrigation to grow biofuel crops can help improve energy security, but it may also compete for land and water resources with agriculture, therefore negatively impacting food security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Significant opportunities for synergies can arise from such interlinkages. Typical examples include: the potential of wastewater treatment plants to produce energy from biogas and make available treated water for agricultural or environmental uses; installing floating solar panels on reservoirs and using renewable energy for desalination plants.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits of the Nexus approach<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The application of a Nexus approach can lead to multiple and cross-sectoral benefits including:<\/p>\n\n\n\n