Getting to Grips with the Water-Energy-Food Nexus?
By Alexandra Howe. Global demand for food, energy and water is increasing and these resources cannot be considered in isolation. Chemical engineers play a major role in delivering sustainable solutions at the water-energy-food Nexus. This Green Paper presents a range of case studies highlighting examples where the application of a systems thinking approach has improved our understanding of Nexus.
Recommendations and conclusions
- Greater investment is required from funding agencies for systems thinking Nexus research. Stronger collaboration between disciplines is imperative.
- Governments must work together to solve this problem by developing international platforms to promote Nexus-thinking through the circular economy and other novel solutions.
- The role of the Nexus in the new United Nations (UN) 17 Sustainable Development Goals needs to be explored, and the consequences for policy and commercial activity clarified.
- Operating companies and manufacturers should refrain from making decisions on sustainability and efficiency until they have studied their impact on the water-energy-food Nexus.
- Industry should publicise case studies of effective, good practices chemical engineering solutions to Nexus challenges.
- New tools are required for investigation the interconnectedness of the Nexus at different scales, and developing solutions to Nexus challenges.
- Better understanding is required of the trade-offs between Nexus security and ecosystem health.
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Published
November 2015
In
IChemE Green Papers
By
The Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE)
is the global professional membership organisation for chemical, biochemical and process engineers and other professionals involved in the chemical, process and bioprocess industries. With a membership exceeding 40,000 members in around 100 countries, and offices in Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia and the UK; IChemE aims to be the organisation of choice for chemical engineers.