Management of the nexus in Australia

Australia offers considerable lessons for other countries managing the nexus of climate, energy, food and water. As an old, dry land subject to great climatic variability, Australia is both highly vulnerable to climate and environmental changes and has great opportunities to better manage water, energy and food production. The socio-economic context has driven innovation and there is scope to better exploit natural resources if social and economic transitions in disadvantaged regions and legacy industries are managed. Politically, reform in the polycentric Australian federation has been slow but the states provide opportunities to innovate. Australia could become a renewable energy superpower and reduce regional socio-economic disadvantage if it manages trade-offs with water and land use well. Better water management could help sustain food production and sustain freshwater ecosystems. A new political -social contract is required to manage a transition from fossil fuel industries.