28 juil. 2026
Policy Brief // What "Nexus"? Towards Resource Nexus Standardization
This policy brief outlines a practical roadmap for strengthening the Resource Nexus approach by establishing a clear, operational definition alongside standardised governance and certification frameworks.
Key recommendations
- The Resource Nexus should be understood as a broad and flexible framework that extends beyond the traditional Water-Energy-Food Nexus to include soil, biodiversity, marine ecosystems, materials and urban environments.
- Environmental resources must be considered alongside socio-economic systems, with a clear focus on managing trade-offs and creating synergies across sectors.
- Resource Nexus projects should connect at least two resource systems and be supported by fair, inclusive and transparent governance involving multiple stakeholders.
- Transdisciplinary collaboration is essential to turn integrated analysis into practical solutions across local, national and international levels, while supporting global agendas such as the SDGs.
- A standardisation and certification scheme is urgently needed to harmonise project design, assessment and implementation, enabling effective projects to be identified, compared and scaled with confidence.
Published
17 February 2026
By
UNU-FLORES (now: UNU Resource Nexus)