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Adaptation opportunities and constraints in coupled systems: Evidence from the U.S. energy-water nexus

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  • Ernst, Kathleen M.
  • Preston, Benjamin L.

Abstract

Over the past decade, adaptation has emerged as an important risk management strategy to address climate change and avoid adverse consequences. These endeavors overwhelmingly focus on actions within sectors and thus fail to account for coupled effects across systems. This paper focuses on adaptation constraints that arise from the interdependencies of coupled systems, and the opportunities that emerge when adaptation strategies integrate such interdependencies. Three general constraints to adaptation in coupled systems are identified and detailed using evidence from the United States energy-water nexus: insufficient data and information, path dependence, and institutional fragmentation and disorganization. Adaptation constraints within the energy-water nexus are especially difficult to avoid or overcome at local and regional scales owing to complex, and poorly integrated, governance structures. This indicates that some degree of national coordination is an important enabling condition to overcome constraints and enable adaptation throughout the energy-water nexus.

Suggested Citation

  • Ernst, Kathleen M. & Preston, Benjamin L., 2017. "Adaptation opportunities and constraints in coupled systems: Evidence from the U.S. energy-water nexus," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 70(C), pages 38-45.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enscpo:v:70:y:2017:i:c:p:38-45
    DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2017.01.001
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    Cited by:

    1. Tidwell, Vincent C. & Gunda, Thushara & Gayoso, Natalie, 2021. "Plant-level characteristics could aid in the assessment of water-related threats to the electric power sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 282(PA).
    2. Absar, Syeda Mariya & McManamay, Ryan A. & Preston, Benjamin L. & Taylor, Adam M., 2021. "Bridging global socioeconomic scenarios with policy adaptations to examine energy-water tradeoffs," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    3. Licandeo, Francisca & Flores, Francisco & Feijoo, Felipe, 2023. "Assessing the impacts of economy-wide emissions policies in the water, energy, and land systems considering water scarcity scenarios," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 342(C).

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