10 nov. 2016
09:00
COP22 Side Event // Informing NDC Implementation through a Water-Energy-Food Nexus Framework: Lessons from Amazonia and South East Asia
There is a wide community of actors applying WEF Nexus frameworks (e.g. FAO, IUCN, CEPAL, OECD, SEI) in a range of countries and ecosystems, using different methodologies, definitions and tools. This event will bring together practitioners using a WEF Nexus framework and policymakers.
The event's target is to:
- Share experiences and lessons from tropical forest countries, focussing on Amazonia and Indonesia;
- Assess the limitations, opportunities and usefulness of such an approach in improving multi-scale and cross-sectoral coordination;
- Discuss the barriers and enabling factors to integrate WEF Nexus thinking into policy design and implementation for NDCs.
Where and when
- Date: 10th November 2016
- Time: 8.30 – 11.00 am
- Venue: Hotel el Andalous Lounge & Spa, Av. President Kennedy, Marrakech
Background
In the context of growing natural resource pressures from population growth, urbanization, economic development and climate change, the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus has emerged as an important conceptual framework for improving natural resource governance. By accounting for the complex interdependencies between water, energy, and food systems, such an approach can support decision-makers in identifying, evaluating and managing resource trade-offs and synergies across different economic sectors and actors. It is increasingly recognised that such holistic approaches will be needed to effectively implement sustainability agendas, including nationally-determined contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Climate Agreement and the broader Sustainable Development Goals. To date the WEF Nexus framework has largely been applied in resource-constrained regions, yet growing threats from climate change and climate extremes, and the need for tropical forest countries to achieve significant emissions reductions from land use change in line with their NDC commitments, have made resource trade-offs increasingly relevant in resource rich tropical forest countries. Experiences in applying the WEF Nexus to evaluate policy coherence across development and climate plans in tropical forest regions like Amazonia and Indonesia, demonstrate the importance of this approach in identifying key policy gaps and conflicts – in particular around agriculture and renewable energy targets, and forest conservation efforts under NDCs. However, integrating the WEF Nexus concept into development discourse and decision-making in these regions remains a challenge. Limitations include insufficient data/evidence to enable an accurate or in-depth analysis of resource trade-offs and opportunity costs that can support policy interventions across different actors and scales under climate and policy scenarios. Further challenges remain on building a common understanding of the WEF Nexus and incorporating multiple framings of water, energy and food security across multiple actors and scales of governance. Addressing these barriers will be vital in mobilising efforts to integrate WEF Nexus thinking into decision-making, strengthening institutions and policy frameworks that can realise NDC commitments.Format
- Case study presentations from Amazonia and South East Asia - focussing on informing decision-making (30 mins, 5 mins each)
- Moderated panel discussion – challenges and usefulness of nexus for different policy makers, resource managers, practitioners (20 mins)
- Round table group discussion on key guiding questions (20 mins)
- Moderated plenary discussion on group results (50 mins, 10 mins/table)