IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/p/osf/osfxxx/tdhw5.html
   My bibliography  Save this paper

The Water-Energy-Food Nexus Index: A Tool for Integrated Resource Management and Sustainable Development

Author

Listed:
  • Simpson, Gareth
  • Jewitt, Graham
  • Becker, William
  • Badenhorst, Jessica
  • Neves, Ana
  • Rovira, Pere
  • Pascual, Victor

Abstract

The Water-Energy-Food (WEF) nexus has, in the past decade, gained prominence as an approach for assessing integrated resource management. One challenge related to the WEF nexus approach is how to represent and monitor it since a system that includes water-, energy- and food-related parameters is complex. Not only are these resources quantified utilising different units, but they vary both spatially and temporally. This paper presents a national-level composite indicator that has been established for 170 countries, utilising the methodology developed by the Joint Research Centre: Competence Centre on Composite Indicators and Scoreboards. Following an assessment of 87 globally applicable water-, energy- and food-related indicators, 21 were selected to constitute the WEF Nexus Index. This index is made up of three equally weighted pillars representing the three constituent resource sectors, and six sub-pillars. A core element in the development of this index is equitable access to resources, which is characterised by each resource sector's ‘access’ sub-pillar. The WEF Nexus Index provides a quantitative perspective and offers a lens for evaluating trade-offs to be considered in the pursuit of sustainable development. To this end, it is intended for assessing national progress relating to integrated resource management as well as supporting decision making and policy development. The relevance and usefulness of the outcomes are demonstrated through an assessment of South Africa. The development of the WEF Nexus Index has demonstrated that no country is undertaking integrated resource management flawlessly. Every nation has the potential for improvement; which is evidenced by, for example, the top-ranking country for the index needing to reduce CO2 emissions. Neither the composite indicator nor the WEF nexus approach is, however, the panacea that will solve all the significant development or environmental challenges facing the global society. It can, however, contribute to integrated resource management and is complementary to the Sustainable Development Goals. It should ideally be utilised as an entry point into the underlying pillars, sub-pillars and indicators, in parallel with other qualitative and quantitative studies.

Suggested Citation

  • Simpson, Gareth & Jewitt, Graham & Becker, William & Badenhorst, Jessica & Neves, Ana & Rovira, Pere & Pascual, Victor, 2020. "The Water-Energy-Food Nexus Index: A Tool for Integrated Resource Management and Sustainable Development," OSF Preprints tdhw5, Center for Open Science.
    • Handle: RePEc:osf:osfxxx:tdhw5
    DOI: 10.31219/osf.io/tdhw5
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://osf.io/download/5f5a7e351e8b9c0067e91148/
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.31219/osf.io/tdhw5?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, 2012. "Evaluating the impact of coal mining on agriculture in the Delmas, Ogies, and Leandra districts: A focus on maize production," BFAP Reports 279783, Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), BFAP Reports.
    2. Unknown, 2016. "Water Energy and Food Security Nexus," Conference Proceedings 253272, Guru Arjan Dev Institute of Development Studies (IDSAsr).
    3. Johan Rockström & Will Steffen & Kevin Noone & Åsa Persson & F. Stuart Chapin & Eric F. Lambin & Timothy M. Lenton & Marten Scheffer & Carl Folke & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber & Björn Nykvist & Cynthia , 2009. "A safe operating space for humanity," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7263), pages 472-475, September.
    4. Bazilian, Morgan & Rogner, Holger & Howells, Mark & Hermann, Sebastian & Arent, Douglas & Gielen, Dolf & Steduto, Pasquale & Mueller, Alexander & Komor, Paul & Tol, Richard S.J. & Yumkella, Kandeh K., 2011. "Considering the energy, water and food nexus: Towards an integrated modelling approach," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(12), pages 7896-7906.
    5. repec:ocp:dbbook:book:1 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. Anonymous, 1965. "Food and Agriculture Organization," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 19(1), pages 112-120, January.
    7. Owen, Anne & Scott, Kate & Barrett, John, 2018. "Identifying critical supply chains and final products: An input-output approach to exploring the energy-water-food nexus," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 632-642.
    8. Raghbendra Jha & K.V. Bhanu Murthy, 2003. "A Critique of the Environmental Sustainability Index," Departmental Working Papers 2003-08, The Australian National University, Arndt-Corden Department of Economics.
    9. Janina Hundenborn & Ingrid Woolard & Jon Jellema, 2019. "The effect of top incomes on inequality in South Africa," International Tax and Public Finance, Springer;International Institute of Public Finance, vol. 26(5), pages 1018-1047, October.
    10. Anonymous, 1962. "Food and Agriculture Organization," International Organization, Cambridge University Press, vol. 16(3), pages 601-603, July.
    11. Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, 2015. "The Balance of Natural Resources: Understanding the long term impact of mining on food security in South Africa," BFAP Reports 279769, Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), BFAP Reports.
    12. World Bank & International Energy Agency, "undated". "Sustainable Energy for All 2015," World Bank Publications - Reports 22148, The World Bank Group.
    13. Wichelns, Dennis, 2017. "The water-energy-food nexus: Is the increasing attention warranted, from either a research or policy perspective?," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 113-123.
    14. Sullivan, Caroline, 2002. "Calculating a Water Poverty Index," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 30(7), pages 1195-1210, July.
    15. Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy, 2018. "BFAP Baseline Agricultural Outlook 2018-2027," BFAP Reports 279774, Bureau for Food and Agricultural Policy (BFAP), BFAP Reports.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. White, David J. & Hubacek, Klaus & Feng, Kuishuang & Sun, Laixiang & Meng, Bo, 2018. "The Water-Energy-Food Nexus in East Asia: A tele-connected value chain analysis using inter-regional input-output analysis," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 210(C), pages 550-567.
    2. Pitak Ngammuangtueng & Napat Jakrawatana & Pariyapat Nilsalab & Shabbir H. Gheewala, 2019. "Water, Energy and Food Nexus in Rice Production in Thailand," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-21, October.
    3. Reidar Staupe-Delgado, 2020. "The water–energy–food–environmental security nexus: moving the debate forward," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 22(7), pages 6131-6147, October.
    4. Cássia Juliana Fernandes Torres & Camilla Hellen Peixoto de Lima & Bárbara Suzart de Almeida Goodwin & Terencio Rebello de Aguiar Junior & Andrea Sousa Fontes & Daniel Veras Ribeiro & Rodrigo Saldanha, 2019. "A Literature Review to Propose a Systematic Procedure to Develop “Nexus Thinking” Considering the Water–Energy–Food Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(24), pages 1-32, December.
    5. Rianna Teresa Murray & Gili Marbach-Ad & Kelsey McKee & Amy Rebecca Sapkota, 2021. "Experiential Graduate Course Prepares Transdisciplinary Future Leaders to Innovate at the Food-Energy-Water Nexus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-20, January.
    6. Joel O. Botai & Christina M. Botai & Katlego P. Ncongwane & Sylvester Mpandeli & Luxon Nhamo & Muthoni Masinde & Abiodun M. Adeola & Michael G. Mengistu & Henerica Tazvinga & Miriam D. Murambadoro & S, 2021. "A Review of the Water–Energy–Food Nexus Research in Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-26, February.
    7. Märker, Carolin & Venghaus, Sandra & Hake, Jürgen-Friedrich, 2018. "Integrated governance for the food–energy–water nexus – The scope of action for institutional change," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 97(C), pages 290-300.
    8. Najam uz Zehra Gardezi & Brent S. Steel & Angela Lavado, 2020. "The Impact of Efficacy, Values, and Knowledge on Public Preferences Concerning Food–Water–Energy Policy Tradeoffs," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Chrysaida-Aliki Papadopoulou & Maria P. Papadopoulou & Chrysi Laspidou & Stefania Munaretto & Floor Brouwer, 2020. "Towards a Low-Carbon Economy: A Nexus-Oriented Policy Coherence Analysis in Greece," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(1), pages 1-22, January.
    10. Zhang, Tong & Tan, Qian & Yu, Xiaoning & Zhang, Shan, 2020. "Synergy assessment and optimization for water-energy-food nexus: Modeling and application," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    11. Ding, Tao & Liang, Liang & Zhou, Kaile & Yang, Min & Wei, Yuqi, 2020. "Water-energy nexus: The origin, development and prospect," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 419(C).
    12. World Bank [WB], 2016. "High and Dry : Climate Change, Water, and the Economy," Working Papers id:10736, eSocialSciences.
    13. Song, Feng & Reardon, Thomas & Tian, Xin & Lin, Chen, 2019. "The energy implication of China’s food system transformation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 617-629.
    14. Víctor Correa-Porcel & Laura Piedra-Muñoz & Emilio Galdeano-Gómez, 2021. "Water–Energy–Food Nexus in the Agri-Food Sector: Research Trends and Innovating Practices," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(24), pages 1-31, December.
    15. Jing-Li Fan & Qian Wang & Xian Zhang, 2021. "A bibliometric analysis of the water-energy-food nexus based on the SCIE and SSCI database of the Web of Science," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 26(2), pages 1-26, February.
    16. Junfei Chen & Tonghui Ding & Ming Li & Huimin Wang, 2020. "Multi-Objective Optimization of a Regional Water–Energy–Food System Considering Environmental Constraints: A Case Study of Inner Mongolia, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-22, September.
    17. Cholho Song & Sea Jin Kim & Jooyeon Moon & Soo Jeong Lee & Wona Lee & Nahui Kim & Sonam Wangyel Wang & Woo-Kyun Lee, 2017. "Classification of Global Land Development Phases by Forest and GDP Changes for Appropriate Land Management in the Mid-Latitude," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-16, August.
    18. Valeria De Laurentiis & Dexter V.L. Hunt & Christopher D.F. Rogers, 2016. "Overcoming Food Security Challenges within an Energy/Water/Food Nexus (EWFN) Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-23, January.
    19. Lei Jin & Yuanhua Chang & Xianwei Ju & Fei Xu, 2019. "A Study on the Sustainable Development of Water, Energy, and Food in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(19), pages 1-16, September.
    20. Ribas, Aline & Lucena, André F.P. & Schaeffer, Roberto, 2017. "Bridging the energy divide and securing higher collective well-being in a climate-constrained world," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C), pages 435-450.

    More about this item

    NEP fields

    This paper has been announced in the following NEP Reports:

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:osf:osfxxx:tdhw5. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: OSF (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://osf.io/preprints/ .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.