27 nov. 2017

Research // System Complexity and Policy Integration Challenges: the Brazilian Energy-Water-Food Nexus

By J.-F. Mercure, et al. The Energy-Water-Food Nexus is one of the most complex sustainability challenges faced by the world. This is particularly true in Brazil, where insufficiently understood interactions within the Nexus are contributing to large-scale deforestation and land-use change, water and energy scarcity, and increased vulnerability to climate change. In this paper, we identify and discuss the main Nexus challenges faced by Brazil across sectors (e.g. energy, agriculture, water) and scales (e.g. federal, state, municipal). We use four case studies to explore all nodes of the Nexus.

Research Papers, Publications and Books Americas América Latina y el Caribe

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For each, we survey current scientific and economic knowledge, and existing policy, in order to identify governance shortcomings in the context of growing challenges. We analyse the complex interdependence of developments at the global and local (Brazilian) levels, highlighting the impact of global environmental and economic change on Brazil and, conversely, that of developments in Brazil for other countries and the world. We conclude on the need to adjust the scientific approach to these challenges as an enabling condition for stronger science-policy bridges for sustainability policy-making.

Table of content

Review of the general context
- Global and local environmental change
- Global economic change driving environmental degradation
- Overview of the domestic policy landscape addressing the nexus in Brazil
- International law and policy influencing the nexus in Brazil
Nexus analysis: four case studies
- Selection of case studies of cross-sectoral interactions
- Water-Energy - hydroelectricity and climate change
- Food-Energy - liquid biofuels and competition for land between food and energy
- Water-Food - climate change impacts on food and water
- Energy-Water-Food - indirect land-use change and deforestation
Discussion and concluding remarks

Authors

J.-F. Mercure
M.A. Paim
P. Bocquillon
S. Lindner
P. Salas
P. Martinelli
I.I. Berchin
J.B.S.O.A. Guerra
C. Derani
C. L. de Albuquerque Junior
J.M.P. Ribeiro
F. Knobloch
H. Pollitt
N. R. Edwards
P. B. Holden
A. Foley
S. Schaphoff
R.A. Faraco
J.E. Vhiuales

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Published

November 2017

In

C-EENRG Working Papers 2017-6 The C-EENRG Working Papers provide a platform to convey research aiming to support the effective governance of environmental transitions. The series hosts research across disciplines, induding law, economics, policy, and modelling, and welcomes research on a wide range of environmental topics across the food-energy-water-land nexus.

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The Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG) The Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG) was established in 2014 within the Department of Land Economy in order to conduct integrative research on the governance of environmental transitions, such as the climate-driven transition from a carbon-intensive inefficient energy matrix to a decarbonised and efficient one, or the water/population-driven transformation of food production systems. The role of law and governance in such transitions is of particular importance. C-EENRG approaches law as a technology to bring, guide and/or manage, environment-driven societal transformations. Whereas other research groups within the University of Cambridge cover questions relating to the environment, energy and natural renources from a natural science, engineering, conservation and policy perspective, until 2014 there was no centre concentrating on the law and governance aspects of environmental transitions. C-EENRG was established to fill this gap in the policy research cycle, in line with University's strategic research initiatives on energy, conservation, global food security and public policy.